Internal Reflector Photoreactor for CO2 Fuel Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photocatalytic systems for CO2 conversion to green fuels suffer from low efficiency and selectivity, and photoreactors face limitations such as high energy requirements, unsustainability, and limitations in charge and mass transfer.
Innovation Solution
An internal reflector photoreactor system with a stainless-steel cylindrical vessel, a reflector, and a mesh coated with graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst, utilizing visible light to enhance CO2 conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a reflector is added to the photoreactor system, then fuel production efficiency is improved (1.4 to 1.8 times higher), but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The photoreactor system is segmented into distinct functional components: a stainless-steel cylindrical vessel for reaction containment, a separate reflector component for light enhancement, and a mesh substrate for catalyst support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve 1.4 to 1.8 times higher fuel production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh substrate coated with graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst is nested within the stainless-steel cylindrical vessel, with the reflector positioned inside the vessel to direct light onto the mesh. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization and ensures efficient light-catalyst interaction without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst is used on mesh, then CO2 conversion efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A mesh substrate with porous structure is used to support the graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst. The porous structure provides high surface area for light absorption and catalytic activity while facilitating mass transfer. This approach improves CO2 conversion efficiency while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through standard mesh coating processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a composite structure combining mesh substrate material with graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst coating. This composite material approach leverages the mechanical stability of the mesh and the catalytic properties of graphitic carbon nitride, achieving improved CO2 conversion efficiency through a manufacturing process that, while slightly complex, remains feasible using established techniques.
3Illumination intensity
If light reflection is enhanced, then illumination intensity is improved, but energy consumption may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector converts light that would otherwise be lost or scattered into useful illumination by directing it onto the photocatalyst mesh. This transforms potentially wasted optical energy into beneficial light-catalyst interaction, enhancing illumination intensity without requiring additional energy input beyond the initial light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector is pre-positioned within the photoreactor system to establish optimal light distribution patterns before CO2 conversion begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that light is continuously and efficiently directed onto the catalytic surface throughout operation, maintaining high illumination intensity while minimizing energy consumption through passive optical optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves a 1.4 to 1.8 times higher fuel production compared to systems without a reflector, improving yield and efficiency in CO2 conversion to green fuels.
Implementation Method 1
The internal reflector photoreactor system includes a light source and the light source is located above the stainless-steel cylindrical vessel... irradiating the gaseous water and carbon dioxide mixture with visible light from the light source into the stainless-steel cylindrical vessel while reflecting the visible light from the reflector
Implementation Method 2
The mesh is coated with a graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst... photocatalytic conversion of CO2 using light irradiation has been employed... The CO2 reduction by photoreaction technology
Data Source
AI summary
An internal reflector photoreactor system includes a stainless-steel cylindrical vessel having a window on a top face. The stainless-steel cylindrical vessel has a reflector inside the vessel on a bottom surface orientated towards the top face and the stainless-steel cylindrical vessel has a mesh bisecting the stainless-steel cylindrical vessel on a horizontal plane and the mesh is coated with a graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst. Further, the internal reflector photoreactor system includes a light source and the light source is located above the stainless-steel cylindrical vessel.