A critical step of sulfur based thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production from water is the endothermic decomposition of sulfuric acid. The necessary heat can be provided by concentrated solar radiation. A solar receiver-reactor has been developed and built to investigate this process. Experiments with the test reactor were carried out in the DLR solar furnace in Cologne and confirmed the technical feasibility of a receiver-reactor containing porous ceramics for the decomposition of sulfuric acid. The receiver-reactor and strategy of operation were iteratively optimized with respect to chemical conversion and reactor efficiency. Parametric studies were conducted with varying partial pressure of , residence time, absorber temperature, the presence of catalyst, and the performance of different catalysts to quantify their influence on chemical conversion and reactor efficiency. The absorber temperature distribution was found to be the most crucial process parameter. Conversions close to the equilibrium—in some cases exceeding 90%—were achieved with a platinum catalyst. Thermal efficiencies of up to 35% for the foam vaporizer and 30% for the overall reactor were achieved. Enclosing the absorber in a cavity and using separate chambers for the evaporation and the -decomposition were identified as potential measures to improve the reactor.
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February 2009
Research Papers
Solar Thermochemical Generation of Hydrogen: Development of a Receiver Reactor for the Decomposition of Sulfuric Acid
Adam Noglik,
Adam Noglik
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
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Martin Roeb,
Martin Roeb
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
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Thomas Rzepczyk,
Thomas Rzepczyk
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
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Jim Hinkley,
Jim Hinkley
CSIRO Energy Centre
, Mayfield West NSW 2304, Australia
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Christian Sattler,
Christian Sattler
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
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Robert Pitz-Paal
Robert Pitz-Paal
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
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Adam Noglik
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
Martin Roeb
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
Thomas Rzepczyk
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
Jim Hinkley
CSIRO Energy Centre
, Mayfield West NSW 2304, Australia
Christian Sattler
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, Germany
Robert Pitz-Paal
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Solar Research
, 51170 Köln, GermanyJ. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2009, 131(1): 011003 (7 pages)
Published Online: January 6, 2009
Article history
Received:
July 5, 2007
Revised:
February 29, 2008
Published:
January 6, 2009
Citation
Noglik, A., Roeb, M., Rzepczyk, T., Hinkley, J., Sattler, C., and Pitz-Paal, R. (January 6, 2009). "Solar Thermochemical Generation of Hydrogen: Development of a Receiver Reactor for the Decomposition of Sulfuric Acid." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2009; 131(1): 011003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3027505
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