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Reactor and Plant Designs for the Solar Photosynthesis of Fuels

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  • Simge Naz Degerli

    (Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM Unit Milano-Università, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Alice Gramegna

    (Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM Unit Milano-Università, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Matteo Tommasi

    (Chemical Plants and Industrial Chemistry Group, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano and CNR-SCITEC, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Gianguido Ramis

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Civile ed Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Genova and INSTM Unit Genova, Via all’Opera Pia 15A, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Ilenia Rossetti

    (Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM Unit Milano-Università, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
    Chemical Plants and Industrial Chemistry Group, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano and CNR-SCITEC, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Solar-boosted photo-technology stands out as a powerful strategy for photosynthesis and photocatalytic processes due to its minimal energy requirements, cost-effectiveness and operation under milder, environmentally friendly conditions compared to conventional thermocatalytic options. The design and development of photocatalysts have received a great deal of attention, whereas photoreactor development must be studied deeper to enable the design of efficient devices for practical exploitation. Furthermore, scale-up issues are important for this application, since light distribution through the photoreactor is a concurrent factor. This review represents a comprehensive study on the development of photoreactors to be used mainly for the photoreduction of CO 2 to fuels, but with concepts easily transferable to other photosynthetic applications such as ammonia synthesis and water splitting, or wastewater treatment, photovoltaics combined to photoreactors, etc. The primary categories of photoreactors are thoroughly examined. It is also explained which parameters influence the design of a photoreactor and next-generation high-pressure photoreactors are also discussed. Last but not least, current technologies for solar concentrators are recalled, considering their possible integration within the photoreactor. While many reviews deal with photocatalytic materials, in the authors’ view, photoreactors with significant scale and their merged devices with solar concentrators are still unexploited solutions. These are the key to boost the efficiency of these processes towards commercial viability; thus, the aim of this review is to summarise the main findings on solar photoreactors for the photoreduction of CO 2 and for related applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Simge Naz Degerli & Alice Gramegna & Matteo Tommasi & Gianguido Ramis & Ilenia Rossetti, 2024. "Reactor and Plant Designs for the Solar Photosynthesis of Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-77, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:13:p:3112-:d:1421189
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cheng, Ya-Hsin & Nguyen, Van-Huy & Chan, Hsiang-Yu & Wu, Jeffrey C.S. & Wang, Wei-Hon, 2015. "Photo-enhanced hydrogenation of CO2 to mimic photosynthesis by CO co-feed in a novel twin reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 318-324.
    2. Loni, Reyhaneh & Asli-Ardeh, E. Askari & Ghobadian, B. & Kasaeian, A.B. & Bellos, Evangelos, 2018. "Energy and exergy investigation of alumina/oil and silica/oil nanofluids in hemispherical cavity receiver: Experimental Study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 275-287.
    3. Piadehrouhi, Forough & Ghorbani, Bahram & Miansari, Mehdi & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2019. "Development of a new integrated structure for simultaneous generation of power and liquid carbon dioxide using solar dish collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 938-959.
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