Solar Gasification of Biomass: A Molten Salt Pyrolysis Study

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 850-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Adinberg ◽  
Michael Epstein ◽  
Jacob Karni
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thermochemical Conversion ◽  
Salt Medium ◽  
Feasible Option ◽  
Temperature Liquid ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Biomass Particles ◽  
Pyrolysis Of Biomass

A novel solar process and reactor for thermochemical conversion of biomass to synthesis gas is described. The concept is based on dispersion of biomass particles in a molten inorganic salt medium and, simultaneously, absorbing, storing and transferring solar energy needed to perform pyrolysis reactions in the high-temperature liquid phase. A lab-scale reactor filled with carbonates of potassium and sodium was set up to study the kinetics of fast pyrolysis and the characteristics of transient heat transfer for cellulose particles (few millimeters size) introduced into the molten salt medium. The operating conditions were reaction temperatures of 1073–1188 K and a particle peak-heating rate of 100 K/sec. The assessments performed for a commercial-scale solar reactor demonstrate that pyrolysis of biomass particles dispersed in a molten salt phase could be a feasible option for the continuous, round-the-clock production of syngas, using solar energy only.

Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass Using Solar Energy: Use of Nanoparticle-Laden Molten Salt as the Working Fluid

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himanshu Tyagi ◽  
Patrick E. Phelan ◽  
Ravi S. Prasher
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Concentration Factor ◽  
Solar Collector ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thermochemical Conversion ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Fluid Mixture

Solar energy can potentially be used to convert biomass into more readily usable fuel. The use of solar energy in such a process improves the overall conversion efficiency of the system significantly by eliminating combustion of a portion of biomass needed to heat the rest of it to a temperature where pyrolysis occurs. The present study models the thermochemical conversion process during pyrolysis of biomass matter into product gases. Concentrated solar radiation is used as the source of heating of the biomass. The biomass is indirectly heated by a mixture of molten salts (Na2CO3 and K2CO3) and nanoparticles (copper), which acts as the absorbing medium and in turn heats the biomass matter (cellulose). A two-stage heat transfer and chemical reaction analysis is carried out in order to simulate the simplified operating conditions of a solar-powered gasifier. The temperature of the molten salt at the exit of the reactor is held fixed at 1000 K (727°C). The calculations are carried out at different values of solar concentration factor ranging from 10 to 60. The results show that the temperature of the molten salt mixture at the exit of the solar collector increases with an increase in the solar concentration factor. Moreover the temperature inside the biomass reactor is a function of the concentration factor as well and largely the determining factor of the rate of biomass conversion into product gases. At the highest concentration factor (Cf = 60), the model predicts that the reactor is able to convert 1.1 tons of biomass into product gases each hour using 900 kW of solar radiation at an overall efficiency of 8%. The main finding of this study is that under similar operating conditions a solar collector using a direct absorption fluid (mixture of nanoparticles and molten salt) would require significantly less concentration factor (an order of magnitude reduction) than a conventional solar collector. A conventional solar collector is defined as one where the solar radiation heats up a solid surface (such as tube walls) which in turn heats up the working fluid (molten salt). Such a reduction in concentration factor would translate into lower concentrator area, and consequently lower initial capital cost.

scholarly journals A 2-D model for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Preliminarily Validated on Local Values

Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Conti ◽  
Barbara Bosio ◽  
Stephen John McPhail ◽  
Francesca Santoni ◽  
Davide Pumiglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Intermediate Temperature ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Local Concentration ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Molten Carbonate ◽  
Experimental Apparatus ◽  
Set Up

Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (IT-SOFC) technology offers interesting opportunities in the panorama of a larger penetration of renewable and distributed power generation, namely high electrical efficiency at manageable scales for both remote and industrial applications. In order to optimize the performance and the operating conditions of such a pre-commercial technology, an effective synergy between experimentation and simulation is fundamental. For this purpose, starting from the SIMFC (SIMulation of Fuel Cells) code set-up and successfully validated for Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells, a new version of the code has been developed for IT-SOFCs. The new release of the code allows the calculation of the maps of the main electrical, chemical, and physical parameters on the cell plane of planar IT-SOFCs fed in co-flow. A semi-empirical kinetic formulation has been set-up, identifying the related parameters thanks to a devoted series of experiments, and integrated in SIMFC. Thanks to a multi-sampling innovative experimental apparatus the simultaneous measurement of temperature and gas composition on the cell plane was possible, so that a preliminary validation of the model on local values was carried out. A good agreement between experimental and simulated data was achieved in terms of cell voltages and local temperatures, but also, for the first time, in terms of local concentration on the cell plane, encouraging further developments. This numerical tool is proposed for a better interpretation of the phenomena occurring in IT-SOFCs and a consequential optimization of their performance.

Preparing high surface area porous carbon from biomass by carbonization in a molten salt medium

RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (92) ◽  
pp. 75728-75734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huishan Shang ◽  
Yanjie Lu ◽  
Feng Zhao ◽  
Cong Chao ◽  
Bing Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molten Salt ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Porous Carbon ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Molten Salt Synthesis ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Salt Medium ◽  
Peanut Shells

Peanut shells were transformed into porous carbon with a high surface area through a simple ZnCl2-molten salt synthesis process.

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING SOLAR ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY, AS WELL AS FOR ACCUMULATING AND STORING ENERGY BY MEANS OF MOLTEN SALT (PROJECT)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
A. T. Abdukadirov ◽  
◽  
A. A. Shodiev
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Special Significance

This article describes the project of a device proposed by the authors for converting solar energy into electrical energy, as well as for accumulating and storing energy through molten salt. It describes the main details and principle of operation of this device and its special significance in the field of energy as a renewable energy source, which has the highest efficiency

Artificial Neural Networks Used As a Rule Selector for Fuzzy Logic Controllers

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shou-Heng Huang ◽  
Ron M. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Fuzzy Logic Controller ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Delta Rule ◽  
Rule Sets ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann ◽  
Set Up ◽  
And Control

Abstract A feedforward, three-layer, partially-connected artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed to be used as a rule selector for a rule-based fuzzy logic controller. This will allow the controller to adapt to various control modes and operating conditions for different plants. A principal advantage of an ANN over a look up table is that the ANN can make good estimates to fill in for missing data. The control modes, operating conditions, and control rule sets are encoded into binary numbers as the inputs and outputs for the ANN. The General Delta Rule is used in the backpropagation learning process to update the ANN weights. The proposed ANN has a simple topological structure and results in a simple analysis and relatively easy implementation. The average square error and the maximal absolute error are used to judge if the correct connections between neurons are set up. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of this ANN as a rule selector.

Preparation of CaF2 microspheres by thermal decomposition of trifluoroacetate precursor in molten salt medium

2017 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 357-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Wook Ha ◽  
Eun-Ho Sohn ◽  
In Jun Park ◽  
Soo-Bok Lee
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Decomposition ◽  
Molten Salt ◽  
Salt Medium

scholarly journals Non-Stoichiometric Redox Active Perovskite Materials for Solar Thermochemical Fuel Production: A Review

Catalysts ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Haeussler ◽  
Stéphane Abanades ◽  
Julien Jouannaux ◽  
Anne Julbe
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Solar Fuel ◽  
Fuel Production ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy ◽  
Redox Active ◽  
Conversion Rates ◽  
Wide Range

Due to the requirement to develop carbon-free energy, solar energy conversion into chemical energy carriers is a promising solution. Thermochemical fuel production cycles are particularly interesting because they can convert carbon dioxide or water into CO or H2 with concentrated solar energy as a high-temperature process heat source. This process further valorizes and upgrades carbon dioxide into valuable and storable fuels. Development of redox active catalysts is the key challenge for the success of thermochemical cycles for solar-driven H2O and CO2 splitting. Ultimately, the achievement of economically viable solar fuel production relies on increasing the attainable solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency. This necessitates the discovery of novel redox-active and thermally-stable materials able to split H2O and CO2 with both high-fuel productivities and chemical conversion rates. Perovskites have recently emerged as promising reactive materials for this application as they feature high non-stoichiometric oxygen exchange capacities and diffusion rates while maintaining their crystallographic structure during cycling over a wide range of operating conditions and reduction extents. This paper provides an overview of the best performing perovskite formulations considered in recent studies, with special focus on their non-stoichiometry extent, their ability to produce solar fuel with high yield and performance stability, and the different methods developed to study the reaction kinetics.

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