Particle fluidized bed receiver/reactor with a beam-down solar concentrating optics: Performance test of two-step water splitting with ceria particles using 30-kW_(th) sun-simulator

摘要

The first performance test of a novel windowed solar fluidized bed reactor was carried out for a two-step water splitting cycle with ceria particles by using a 30-kW_(th) sun-simulator. O_2 and H_2 were successfully produced by the reactor system. During the thermal reduction step of the two-step water splitting, a fluidized bed of ceria particles was created by passing N2 gas through the perforated bottom plate of the reactor, and about 30 kW_(th) of high flux visible light from 19 xenon-arc lamps of the sun-simulator was directed inside the reactor through a quartz window to directly irradiate the top of the fluidized bed. The central bed temperature reached the temperature of 1400 to 1500°C in the thermal reduction step. The subsequent water decomposition or hydrolysis step was performed at the central bed temperature of 800 - 900°C. About 6 - 12 Ndm~3 of hydrogen was produced by one cycle.