In the framework of the EU-project SOLZINC, a 300-kW solar chemical pilot plant for the production of zinc by carbothermic reduction of ZnO was experimentally demonstrated in a beam-down solar tower concentrating facility of Cassegrain optical configuration. The solar chemical reactor, featuring two cavities, of which the upper one is functioning as the solar absorber and the lower one as the reaction chamber containing a ZnO/C packed bed, was batch-operated in the 1300–1500 K range and yielded 50 kg/h of 95%-purity Zn. The measured energy conversion efficiency, i.e., the ratio of the reaction enthalpy change to the solar power input, was 30%. Zinc finds application as a fuel for Zn/air batteries and fuel cells, and can also react with water to form high-purity hydrogen. In either case, the chemical product is ZnO, which in turn is solar-recycled to Zn. The SOLZINC process provides an efficient thermochemical route for the storage and transportation of solar energy in the form of solar fuels.
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A Solar Chemical Pilot Plant for the Carbothermic Production of Zinc
C. Wieckert,
C. Wieckert
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute
, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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U. Frommherz,
U. Frommherz
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute
, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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S. Kräupl,
S. Kräupl
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute
, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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E. Guillot,
E. Guillot
PROMES-CNRS
, F-66120 Font Romeu Odeillo, France
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G. Olalde,
G. Olalde
PROMES-CNRS
, F-66120 Font Romeu Odeillo, France
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M. Epstein,
M. Epstein
Solar Research Unit,
The Weizmann Institute of Science
, IL-76100 Rehovot, Israel
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S. Santén,
S. Santén
Scanarc Plasma Technologies AB
, S-81321 Hofors, Sweden
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T. Osinga,
T. Osinga
Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich
, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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A. Steinfeld
A. Steinfeld
Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich
, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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C. Wieckert
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute
, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
U. Frommherz
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute
, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
S. Kräupl
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute
, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
E. Guillot
PROMES-CNRS
, F-66120 Font Romeu Odeillo, France
G. Olalde
PROMES-CNRS
, F-66120 Font Romeu Odeillo, France
M. Epstein
Solar Research Unit,
The Weizmann Institute of Science
, IL-76100 Rehovot, Israel
S. Santén
Scanarc Plasma Technologies AB
, S-81321 Hofors, Sweden
T. Osinga
Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich
, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
A. Steinfeld
Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich
, CH-8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandJ. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2007, 129(2): 190-196 (7 pages)
Published Online: March 29, 2006
Article history
Received:
January 10, 2006
Revised:
March 29, 2006
Citation
Wieckert, C., Frommherz, U., Kräupl, S., Guillot, E., Olalde, G., Epstein, M., Santén, S., Osinga, T., and Steinfeld, A. (March 29, 2006). "A Solar Chemical Pilot Plant for the Carbothermic Production of Zinc." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2007; 129(2): 190–196. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2711471
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