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Experimental Investigation on CO 2 Methanation Process for Solar Energy Storage Compared to CO 2 -Based Methanol Synthesis

Author

Listed:
  • Beatrice Castellani

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Alberto Maria Gambelli

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Elena Morini

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Benedetto Nastasi

    (Department of Architectural Engineering & Technology, Environmental & Computational Design Section, TU Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 134, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Andrea Presciutti

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Mirko Filipponi

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Andrea Nicolini

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Federico Rossi

    (Engineering Department, University of Perugia, CIRIAF, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

Abstract

The utilization of the captured CO 2 as a carbon source for the production of energy storage media offers a technological solution for overcoming crucial issues in current energy systems. Solar energy production generally does not match with energy demand because of its intermittent and non-programmable nature, entailing the adoption of storage technologies. Hydrogen constitutes a chemical storage for renewable electricity if it is produced by water electrolysis and is also the key reactant for CO 2 methanation (Sabatier reaction). The utilization of CO 2 as a feedstock for producing methane contributes to alleviate global climate changes and sequestration related problems. The produced methane is a carbon neutral gas that fits into existing infrastructure and allows issues related to the aforementioned intermittency and non-programmability of solar energy to be overcome. In this paper, an experimental apparatus, composed of an electrolyzer and a tubular fixed bed reactor, is built and used to produce methane via Sabatier reaction. The objective of the experimental campaign is the evaluation of the process performance and a comparison with other CO 2 valorization paths such as methanol production. The investigated pressure range was 2–20 bar, obtaining a methane volume fraction in outlet gaseous mixture of 64.75% at 8 bar and 97.24% at 20 bar, with conversion efficiencies of, respectively, 84.64% and 99.06%. The methanol and methane processes were compared on the basis of an energy parameter defined as the spent energy/stored energy. It is higher for the methanol process (0.45), with respect to the methane production process (0.41–0.43), which has a higher energy storage capability.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatrice Castellani & Alberto Maria Gambelli & Elena Morini & Benedetto Nastasi & Andrea Presciutti & Mirko Filipponi & Andrea Nicolini & Federico Rossi, 2017. "Experimental Investigation on CO 2 Methanation Process for Solar Energy Storage Compared to CO 2 -Based Methanol Synthesis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:10:y:2017:i:7:p:855-:d:102822
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Chen, Huiyao & Chu, Fengming & Yang, Lijun & Ola, Oluwafunmilola & Du, Xiaoze & Yang, Yongping, 2018. "Enhanced photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in optical fiber monolith reactor with transparent glass balls," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 1403-1413.
    3. Gambelli, Alberto Maria & Rossi, Federico, 2019. "Natural gas hydrates: Comparison between two different applications of thermal stimulation for performing CO2 replacement," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 423-434.
    4. Majidi Nezhad, M. & Groppi, D. & Marzialetti, P. & Fusilli, L. & Laneve, G. & Cumo, F. & Garcia, D. Astiaso, 2019. "Wind energy potential analysis using Sentinel-1 satellite: A review and a case study on Mediterranean islands," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 499-513.
    5. Uebbing, Jennifer & Rihko-Struckmann, Liisa K. & Sundmacher, Kai, 2019. "Exergetic assessment of CO2 methanation processes for the chemical storage of renewable energies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 271-282.
    6. Moioli, Emanuele & Mutschler, Robin & Züttel, Andreas, 2019. "Renewable energy storage via CO2 and H2 conversion to methane and methanol: Assessment for small scale applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 497-506.
    7. Jixuan Wang & Wensheng Liu & Xin Meng & Xiaozhen Liu & Yanfeng Gao & Zuodong Yu & Yakai Bai & Xin Yang, 2020. "Study on the Coupling Effect of a Solar-Coal Unit Thermodynamic System with Carbon Capture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-14, September.
    8. McDonagh, Shane & O'Shea, Richard & Wall, David M. & Deane, J.P. & Murphy, Jerry D., 2018. "Modelling of a power-to-gas system to predict the levelised cost of energy of an advanced renewable gaseous transport fuel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 444-456.

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