Catalytic solar thermochemical processing for enhanced heat transfer and emission-free production of hydrogen

The overall impact of carbon on the conversion of methane to hydrogen and carbon was studied from a multi-parametric point of view. The findings on catalytic and noncatalytic solar thermal cracking of methane based on kinetic mechanisms are presented. Kinetic parameters affecting the decomposition of methane were related to other parameters, e.g., heat transfer and flow dynamics. Increase in carbon particle flow rate reduced the wall temperature of the solar reactor. The formation of thicker particle cloud with the increase in particle loading absorbed more radiation leading to the reduction of wall temperature. Te average outlet temperature increased with the increase in particle diameter. Increase in the solar reactor internal temperature and the enhancement of homogeneity in temperature distribution due to carbon particle addition yielded with higher methane to hydrogen conversion. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the CHISA 2012 - 20th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering and PRES 2012 - 15th Conference PRES (Prague, Czech Republic 8/25-29/2012).