Experimental Analyses on Feasibility of Chemical-Looping CoO/CoAl2O4 with Additive for Solar Thermal Fuel Production

摘要

Solar thermal fuel production from solar heat is considered an innovative technology for the utilization of solar energy. The process of solar-heat-driven hydrocarbon fuel reformation is a promising approach for solar thermal fuel production. Here, perspectives on the use of solar heat at approximately 673-723 K to drive dimethyl ether (DME) reformation with a looping material of (CoO+1.0% PtO2)/CoAl2O4 are given for the production of solar thermal fuel, and the experimental results for the thermochemical reactivity and the stability of this looping material are discussed in particular. The experimental results indicate that the synthesized (CoO+1.0% PtO2)/CoAl2O4 shows good reactivity at a solar thermal fuel production temperature of 673-723 K, at which the conversion rate is 80-95%. Moreover, the looping material also shows a satisfactory stable redox stability over 16 cycles. To avoid the deactivation of the looping material by carbon deposition, H2O is introduced to accompany the solar-driven reduction of (CoO+1.0% PtO2)/CoAl2O4 with DME. Although the PtO2 additive is expensive and not ideal, the results obtained in this study may provide a starting point for solar thermal fuel production from mid-temperature solar heat using the chemical-looping combustion of DME.