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Wei L, Pan Z, Shi X, Esan OC, Li G, Qi H, Wu Q, An L. Solar-driven thermochemical conversion of H 2O and CO 2 into sustainable fuels. iScience 2023; 26:108127. [PMID: 37876816 PMCID: PMC10590985 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Solar-driven thermochemical conversion of H2O and CO2 into sustainable fuels, based on redox cycle, provides a promising path for alternative energy, as it employs the solar energy as high-temperature heat supply and adopts H2O and CO2 as initial feedstock. This review describes the sustainable fuels production system, including a series of physical and chemical processes for converting solar energy into chemical energy in the form of sustainable fuels. Detailed working principles, redox materials, and key devices are reviewed and discussed to provide systematic and in-depth understanding of thermochemical fuels production with the aid of concentrated solar power technology. In addition, limiting factors affecting the solar-to-fuel efficiency are analyzed; meanwhile, the improvement technologies (heat recovery concepts and designs) are summarized. This study therefore sets a pathway for future research works based on the current status and demand for further development of such technologies on a commercial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyang Wei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Zhefei Pan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xingyi Shi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Oladapo Christopher Esan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Guojun Li
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Hong Qi
- School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Qixing Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of New Lithium-ion Batteries and Mesoporous Materials, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Liang An
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Abanades S. A Review of Oxygen Carrier Materials and Related Thermochemical Redox Processes for Concentrating Solar Thermal Applications. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:ma16093582. [PMID: 37176464 PMCID: PMC10180145 DOI: 10.3390/ma16093582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Redox materials have been investigated for various thermochemical processing applications including solar fuel production (hydrogen, syngas), ammonia synthesis, thermochemical energy storage, and air separation/oxygen pumping, while involving concentrated solar energy as the high-temperature process heat source for solid-gas reactions. Accordingly, these materials can be processed in two-step redox cycles for thermochemical fuel production from H2O and CO2 splitting. In such cycles, the metal oxide is first thermally reduced when heated under concentrated solar energy. Then, the reduced material is re-oxidized with either H2O or CO2 to produce H2 or CO. The mixture forms syngas that can be used for the synthesis of various hydrocarbon fuels. An alternative process involves redox systems of metal oxides/nitrides for ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2O based on chemical looping cycles. A metal nitride reacts with steam to form ammonia and the corresponding metal oxide. The latter is then recycled in a nitridation reaction with N2 and a reducer. In another process, redox systems can be processed in reversible endothermal/exothermal reactions for solar thermochemical energy storage at high temperature. The reduction corresponds to the heat charge while the reverse oxidation with air leads to the heat discharge for supplying process heat to a downstream process. Similar reversible redox reactions can finally be used for oxygen separation from air, which results in separate flows of O2 and N2 that can be both valorized, or thermochemical oxygen pumping to absorb residual oxygen. This review deals with the different redox materials involving stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric materials applied to solar fuel production (H2, syngas, ammonia), thermochemical energy storage, and thermochemical air separation or gas purification. The most relevant chemical looping reactions and the best performing materials acting as the oxygen carriers are identified and described, as well as the chemical reactors suitable for solar energy absorption, conversion, and storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Abanades
- Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, PROMES-CNRS, 7 Rue du Four Solaire, 66120 Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, France
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Cong J, Ma T, Chang Z, Akhatov JS, Fu M, Li X. Coupling of the water-splitting mechanism and doping-mixture method to design a novel Cr-perovskite for rapid and efficient solar thermochemical H 2 production. Inorg Chem Front 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2qi01235a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The water-splitting mechanism-supported material design of a novel Cr-perovskite by Zr doping and ceria mixing for promising H2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Cong
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academic of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tianzeng Ma
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academic of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zheshao Chang
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jasurjon S. Akhatov
- Physical-Technical Institute, SPA “Physics-Sun”, Tashkent 100084, Uzbekistan
| | - Mingkai Fu
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xin Li
- Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academic of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Additive manufacturing and two-step redox cycling of ordered porous ceria structures for solar-driven thermochemical fuel production. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.116999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Wang H, Kong H, Wang J, Liu M, Su B, Lundin STB. Theoretical Thermodynamic Efficiency Limit of Isothermal Solar Fuel Generation from H 2O/CO 2 Splitting in Membrane Reactors. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26227047. [PMID: 34834141 PMCID: PMC8623103 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26227047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Solar fuel generation from thermochemical H2O or CO2 splitting is a promising and attractive approach for harvesting fuel without CO2 emissions. Yet, low conversion and high reaction temperature restrict its application. One method of increasing conversion at a lower temperature is to implement oxygen permeable membranes (OPM) into a membrane reactor configuration. This allows for the selective separation of generated oxygen and causes a forward shift in the equilibrium of H2O or CO2 splitting reactions. In this research, solar-driven fuel production via H2O or CO2 splitting with an OPM reactor is modeled in isothermal operation, with an emphasis on the calculation of the theoretical thermodynamic efficiency of the system. In addition to the energy required for the high temperature of the reaction, the energy required for maintaining low oxygen permeate pressure for oxygen removal has a large influence on the overall thermodynamic efficiency. The theoretical first-law thermodynamic efficiency is calculated using separation exergy, an electrochemical O2 pump, and a vacuum pump, which shows a maximum efficiency of 63.8%, 61.7%, and 8.00% for H2O splitting, respectively, and 63.6%, 61.5%, and 16.7% for CO2 splitting, respectively, in a temperature range of 800 °C to 2000 °C. The theoretical second-law thermodynamic efficiency is 55.7% and 65.7% for both H2O splitting and CO2 splitting at 2000 °C. An efficient O2 separation method is extremely crucial to achieve high thermodynamic efficiency, especially in the separation efficiency range of 0–20% and in relatively low reaction temperatures. This research is also applicable in other isothermal H2O or CO2 splitting systems (e.g., chemical cycling) due to similar thermodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongsheng Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Correspondence: (H.W.); (B.S.); (S.-T.B.L.)
| | - Hui Kong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Jian Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Mingkai Liu
- Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11 Beisihuanxi Rd., Beijing 100190, China;
| | - Bosheng Su
- College of Marine Equipment and Mechanical Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Energy Cleaning Utilization and Development, Xiamen 361021, China
- Correspondence: (H.W.); (B.S.); (S.-T.B.L.)
| | - Sean-Thomas B. Lundin
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Correspondence: (H.W.); (B.S.); (S.-T.B.L.)
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