Photosynthetic solar energy collector and process for its use
First Claim
1. A device for the utilization of light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water of formic acid, methanol and formaldehyde, comprising a solar energy collector having a solar energy facing surface of a ground powder photoactive material inclined at an angle from the horizontal to define a lower end and an upper end, means for maintaining in said collector a layer of water adjacent said photoactive surface to a predetermined level, means for introducing carbon dioxide into said device adjacent said lower end, and means for removing the products of the reaction adjacent said upper end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for the photosynthetic reduction of carbon dioxide and water by sunlight to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol in the presence of semiconducting photoactive materials. Using preferred compositions of photoactive materials, selected from oxides and sulfides of copper, iron, molybdenum, ruthenium, lead, titanium, and from mixtures of any of these, and from barium titanate, calcium titanate, and strontium titanate, this photochemical solar collector also achieves photothermal energy conversion, thus providing the energy required for continuous distillation and recovery of the above organic materials produced.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A device for the utilization of light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water of formic acid, methanol and formaldehyde, comprising a solar energy collector having a solar energy facing surface of a ground powder photoactive material inclined at an angle from the horizontal to define a lower end and an upper end, means for maintaining in said collector a layer of water adjacent said photoactive surface to a predetermined level, means for introducing carbon dioxide into said device adjacent said lower end, and means for removing the products of the reaction adjacent said upper end.
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7. A process for the utilization of solar energy for the conversion of water and carbon dioxide to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol, which comprises
providing a solar energy collector having a surface of a photoactive material inclined at an angle from the horizontal to define a lower end and an upper end, and having a means for maintaining in the collector a layer of water adjacent the photactive surface to a predetermined level; passing a stream of carbon dioxide as bubbles through water adjacent said photactive layer while said photoactive layer is irradiated with solar radiation to effect conversion of said water and said carbon dioxide to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A device for utilization of solar energy for conversion of water and carbon dioxide to formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol, comprising
a plate having a photoactive surface of large surface area and inclined at an angle from the horizontal; -
means to form a thin water layer adjacent at least a portion of said photoactive surface; means to form a stream of carbon dioxide; means to bubble said stream of carbon dioxide through said water layer adjacent said photoactive surface; and means to pass sunlight through said water to said photoactive surface and thereby effect solar irradiation of said photoactive surface.
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11. A combination photochemical solar collector and photo thermal energy converter, comprising
means for the utilization of light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water to formic acid, methanol and formaldehyde, including a solar energy collector having a surface of a photoactive material inclined at an angle from the horizontal to define a lower end and an upper end and no electrical circuitry, means for maintaining in said collector a layer of water adjacent said photoactive surface to a predetermined level, means for introducing carbon dioxide into said device adjacent said lower end, means for removing vapors of formic acid, formaldehyde and methanol adjacent said upper end, and means for condensing said vapors including a cold trap.
Specification