Solar Photochemical Process Engineering for Production of Fuels and Chemicals.

摘要

The engineering costs and performance of a nominal 25,000 scmd (883,000 scfd) photochemical plant to produce dihydrogen from water have been studied. Two systems were considered, one based on flat-plate collector/reactors and the other on linear parabolic troughs. Engineering subsystems were specified including the collector/reactor, support hardware, field transport piping, gas compression equipment, and balance-of-plant (BOP) items. Overall plant efficiencies of 10.3 and 11.6% are estimated for the flat-plate and trough systems, respectively, based on assumed solar photochemical efficiencies of 12.9 and 14.6%. Because of the opposing effects of concentration ratio and operating temperature on efficiency, it was concluded that reactor cooling would be necessary with the trough system. Both active and passive cooling methods were considered. Capital costs and energy costs, for both concentrating and non-concentrating systems, were determined and their sensitivity to efficiency and economic parameters were analyzed. Results predict energy costs in the range of $34 to $55/10 exp 6 kJ ($36 to $59/10 exp 6 Btu) for the flat-plate system and $94 to $141/10 exp 6 kJ ($99 to $149/10 exp 6 Btu) for the trough system. The overall plant efficiency is the single most important factor in determining the cost of the fuel. Therefore, solar quantum conversion processes were reviewed for the purpose of identifying processes which promise better performance and lower costs. Operating and systems options, including operation at elevated temperatures and hybrid and coupled quantum-thermal conversion processes, were also briefly examined. (ERA citation 10:002080)