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Assessing the Viability of GeO 2 /GeO Redox Thermochemical Cycle for Converting CO 2 into Solar Fuels

Author

Listed:
  • Rahul R. Bhosale

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Shelby Adams

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Zachary Allen

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Gabrielle Bennett

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Edvinas Berezniovas

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Taylor Bishop

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Michael Bonnema

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Sequoia Clutter

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Ryan Fagan

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Jordan Halabrin

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Mason Hobbs

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Daniel Hunt

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Miguel Ivarra

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Mattigan Jordan

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Pooja Karunanithi

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Julianna Mcreynolds

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Valerie Ring

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Samuel Smith

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

  • Jonathan West

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Tennessee, 615 Mccallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA)

Abstract

The solar thermochemical process of splitting CO 2 , known as CDS, is studied here using a redox cycle involving GeO 2 /GeO. The required thermodynamic data for a second-law-efficiency analysis is obtained from the HSC Chemistry software. The goal of this study is to investigate how different parameters, such as the operating temperatures and molar flow rate of the inert sweep gas, as well as the inclusion of separation units, heat exchangers, heaters, and coolers, can affect the solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency of the GeO 2 /GeO cycle. All calculations assume a constant gas-to-gas heat recovery effectiveness of 0.5. The analysis shows that the solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency is lower at a thermal reduction temperature of 1600 K (11.9%) compared to 2000 K. This is because high energy duties are required for heater-2, heater-3, and separator-1 due to the need for a higher inert gas flow rate. After conducting a comparative analysis of the three CDS cycles, it can be inferred that the GeO 2 /GeO cycle exhibits a significantly higher solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency in comparison to the ZnO/Zn and SnO 2 /SnO cycles across all thermal reduction temperatures. According to the comparison, it is confirmed that the GeO 2 /GeO CDS cycle can achieve a reasonably high solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency of 10% at less than 1600 K. On the other hand, ZnO/Zn and SnO 2 /SnO CDS cycles require a thermal reduction temperature of more than 1850 K to achieve a solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency of 10%.

Suggested Citation

  • Rahul R. Bhosale & Shelby Adams & Zachary Allen & Gabrielle Bennett & Edvinas Berezniovas & Taylor Bishop & Michael Bonnema & Sequoia Clutter & Ryan Fagan & Jordan Halabrin & Mason Hobbs & Daniel Hunt, 2024. "Assessing the Viability of GeO 2 /GeO Redox Thermochemical Cycle for Converting CO 2 into Solar Fuels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2553-:d:1360521
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agrafiotis, Christos & Roeb, Martin & Sattler, Christian, 2015. "A review on solar thermal syngas production via redox pair-based water/carbon dioxide splitting thermochemical cycles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 254-285.
    2. Koepf, E. & Villasmil, W. & Meier, A., 2016. "Pilot-scale solar reactor operation and characterization for fuel production via the Zn/ZnO thermochemical cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1004-1023.
    3. Koepf, E. & Alxneit, I. & Wieckert, C. & Meier, A., 2017. "A review of high temperature solar driven reactor technology: 25years of experience in research and development at the Paul Scherrer Institute," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 620-651.
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