Reactors for conducting thermochemical processes with solar heat input, and associated systems and methods

• US 9,103,548 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US14/215,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 201/41, 423/648.1, 423/650, 422/186, 422/186.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0006 Controlling or regulating processes controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0013 Controlling the temperature of the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/1812 Tubular reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/20 in the form of helices, e.g. screw reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/245 placed in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00074 by indirect heating or cooling employing heat exchange fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00085 Plates; Jackets; Cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00144 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00164 controlling the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0801 Controlling the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0871 Heating or cooling of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0875 Gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1203 Incoherent waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/187 inclined at an angle to the horizontal or to the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/24 Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0266 containing a decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/04 containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0465 Composition of the impurity
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0485 : the impurity being a sulfur compound
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0811 : by combustion of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0822 : the fuel containing hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0872 : Methods of cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 : by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 : Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/24 : of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/26 : using catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 23/00 : Other methods of heating coke ovens
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 : of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1284 : by renewable energy, e.g. solar energy, photovoltaic cells, wind
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1665 : to alcohols, e.g. methanol or ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1884 : with one stream being synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1892 : with one stream being water/steam
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/20 : Apparatus; Plants
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/72 : Other features
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/723 : Controlling or regulating the gasification process
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/02 : with pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 7/00 : Incinerators or other apparatus for consuming industrial waste, e.g. chemicals incinerator closets A47K11/02; oxidation of sludge C02F11/06; burners in general, burner details F23D; incinerating radioactive waste G21F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 : Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/40 : Solar heat collectors combined with other heat sources, e.g. using electrical heating or heat from ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/61 : Passive solar heat collectors, e.g. operated without external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 : Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/223 : for pipe joints or seals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 : by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 : Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00613 : Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 : Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/12 : Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Reactors for conducting thermochemical processes with solar heat input, and associated systems and methods. A system may include a reactor having a reaction zone, a reactant source coupled in fluid in communication with the reactant zone, and a solar concentrator having at least one concentrator surface positionable to direct solar energy to a focal area. The system can further include an actuator coupled to the solar concentrator to move the solar concentrator relative to the sun, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator. The controller can be programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct the actuator to position the solar concentrator to focus the solar energy on the reaction zone when the solar energy is above a threshold level, and direct the actuator to position the solar concentrator to point to a location in the sky having relatively little radiant energy to cool an object positioned at the focal area when the solar energy is below the threshold level.

Claims

1. A method for processing a hydrogen donor, comprising:

determining a level of radiant energy, the radiant energy detected from a radiant energy sensor;

in response to a determination that the detected radiant energy is equal to or greater than a threshold,

i) positioning a solar concentrator to direct concentrated radiant energy to a reaction zone positioned at a focal area of the solar concentrator, and

ii) dissociating, at the reaction zone, a hydrogen donor into dissociation products via the concentrated radiant energy, wherein the dissociation products include at least one of;

(a) a structural building block based on at least one of carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon, a transition metal, and sulfur; and

(b) a hydrogen-based fuel; and

in response to a determination that the detected radiant energy is less than the threshold,

positioning the solar concentrator to disperse heat from the reaction zone positioned at the focal area of the solar concentrator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen donor includes methane, and wherein providing includes providing hydrogen and at least one of carbon, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen donor includes a hydrocarbon.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen donor includes a nitrogenous compound.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating a radiation control structure positioned between the solar concentrator and the focal area by:

positioning a first surface of the radiation control structure having a first radiant energy absorptivity and a first radiant energy emissivity to face toward the solar concentrator when the radiant energy is equal to or greater than a threshold value; and

positioning a second surface of the radiation control structure having a second radiant energy absorptivity less than the first radiant energy absorptivity and a second radiant energy emissivity greater than the first radiant energy emissivity to face toward the focal area when the radiant energy is less than the threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a determination that the radiant energy is equal to or greater than the threshold level,

pointing the solar concentrator toward the sun; and

in response to a determination that the radiant energy is less than the threshold level,

placing at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel in thermal communication with the focal area, wherein dispersing heat at the focal area includes positioning the solar concentrator away from the sun and to another location having relatively little radiant energy to cool the at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein placing at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel in thermal communication with the focal area includes:

aligning a heat exchanger with the focal area; and

directing a heat exchange fluid from the heat exchanger to the at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel.

8. A system for processing a hydrogen donor, comprising:

a solar concentrator positionable to direct radiant energy to a focal area;

a reactor having a reaction one positioned at the focal area of the solar concentrator;

a reactant source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone of the reactor;

a radiant energy sensor detecting a level of radiant energy;

an actuator coupled to the solar concentrator to move the solar concentrator relative to the sun; and

a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and the radiant energy sensor, the controller configured to;

a) in response to a determination that the detected radiant energy is equal to or greater than a threshold,

i) causing the actuator to position a solar concentrator to direct-concentrated radiant energy to the reaction zone, and

ii) dissociate, at the reaction zone, a hydrogen donor into dissociation products via the concentrated radiant energy, wherein the dissociation products include at least one of;

(a) a structural building block based on at least one of carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon, a transition metal and sulfur; and

(b) a hydrogen-based fuel; and

b) in response to a determination that the detected radiant energy is less than the threshold,

causing the actuator to position the solar concentrator to disperse heat from the reaction zone positioned at the focal area of the solar concentrator.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hydrogen donor includes a hydrocarbon.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the hydrogen donor includes methane.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the hydrogen donor includes a nitrogenous compound.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a radiation control structure positioned between a surface of the solar concentrator and the focal area, wherein the controller is further configured to;

causing the actuator to position a first surface of the radiation control structure having a first radiant energy absorptivity and a first radiant energy emissivity to face toward the solar concentrator when the radiant energy is equal to or greater than a threshold value; and

causing the actuator to position a second surface of the radiation control structure having a second radiant energy absorptivity less than the first radiant energy absorptivity and a second radiant energy emissivity greater than the first radiant energy emissivity to face toward the focal area when the radiant energy is less than the threshold value.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

in response to a determination that the radiant energy is equal to or greater than the threshold level,

causing the actuator to point the solar concentrator toward the sun; and

in response to a determination that the radiant energy is less than the threshold level,

place at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel in thermal communication with the focal area wherein dispersing heat at the focal area includes positioning the solar concentrator away from the sun and to another location having relatively little radiant energy to cool the at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to place at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel in thermal communication with the focal area includes the controller configured to:

align a heat exchanger with the focal area; and

direct a heat exchange fluid from the heat exchanger to the at least one of the structural building block and the hydrogen-based fuel.