Solar Thermochemical Energy Conversion and Transport.

Abstract

The high temperature catalytic dissociation of SO3 and the CO2-CH4 reforming-methanation cycle are important chemical processes being considered in the development and application of solar-thermal energy conversion, transport, and storage systems. Separate facilities for evaluating chemical converter-heat exchangers at temperatures to 1000 C with high flow rates of SO3 and of mixtures of CO2 and CH4 feedstocks have been assembled and operated on the NMSU campus. A number of receiver elements (chemical reactors) have been tested in these laboratory facilities in an effort to optimize catalyst parameters and catalyst reactor configurations. These tests led to the design and fabrication of both low power and high power solar energy receivers which were operated successfully at the White Sands solar Furnace. Energy delivery methanation reactor design and parametric studies led to the fabrication and operation of laboratory closed-loop, energy conversion, transport, and delivery system. These latter experiments met with limited but promising success. Carbon deposition, though a problem, is believed to be controllable with the optimization of catalyst parameters and feedstock composition. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 10, 1982
Accession Number
ADA121318

Entities

People

  • Gloria E. Mccrary
  • J. H. Mccrary

Organizations

  • New Mexico State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Products
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Efficiency
  • Elements
  • Energy
  • Energy Conversion
  • Engineering
  • Heat Exchangers
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Materials
  • New Mexico
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Furnaces
  • Stainless Steel
  • Syngases
  • Test Facilities

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Software Engineering
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.