Systems and methods for reactor and receiver control of flux profile

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical reactor are disclosed, including a solar thermal receiver aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy. Some embodiments include a solar driven chemical reactor that has multiple reactor tubes. Some embodiments include one of 1) one or more apertures open to an atmosphere of the Earth or 2) one or more windows, to pass the concentrated solar energy into the solar thermal receiver. This energy impinges on the multiple reactor tubes and cavity walls of the receiver and transfer energy by solar radiation absorption and heat radiation, convection, and conduction. In this way, the energy causes reacting particles to drive the endothermic chemical reaction flowing in the reactor tubes. The design of the multiple reactor tubes and solar thermal receiver can be adapted per a solar flux profile to take advantage of variations in the concentrations of solar flux in the profile.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of both U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 248,282, filed Oct. 2, 2009 and entitled “Various Methods and Apparatuses for Sun Driven Processes,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 185,492, titled “VARIOUS METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR SOLAR-THERMAL GASIFICATION OF BIOMASS TO PRODUCE SYNTHESIS GAS” filed Jun. 9, 2009.NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the software engine and its modules, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office Patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]Embodiments of the invention generally relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for refining biomass and other materials. More particularly, an aspect of an embodiment of the inven...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Some embodiments relate to a method, apparatus, or system for a solar-driven chemical reactor. An example system may include a solar thermal receiver aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy from one or more solar energy concentrating fields including 1) an array of heliostats, 2) solar concentrating dishes, and 3) any combination of the two. Some embodiments include a solar driven chemical reactor that has multiple reactor tubes located inside the solar thermal receiver. The endothermic chemical reaction in the multiple reactor tubes is driven by radiant heat. Additionally, the multiple reactor tubes in this reactor design increase available reactor surface area for radiative exchange to the reactants as well as create an inter-tube radiation exchange. Additionally, the endothermic chemical reaction can include one of the following biomass gasification, steam methane reforming, methane cracking, steam ethane cracking to produce ethylene, metals refining, carbon dioxide splitting, decomposition of certain hazardous materials and other similar endothermic carbon-based chemical reactions to be conducted in this reactor using solar thermal energy.

Problems solved by technology

Between 30% and 40% of the biomass must be consumed to drive the process, and at the temperatures which the process is generally limited to (for efficiency reasons), conversion is typically limited, giving still lower yields.

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