Solar-thermal fluid-wall reaction processing

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for carrying out high temperature thermal dissociation reactions requiring rapid-heating and short residence times using solar energy. In particular, the present invention provides a method for carrying out high temperature thermal reactions such as dissociation of hydrocarbon containing gases and hydrogen sulfide to produce hydrogen and dry reforming of hydrocarbon containing gases with carbon dioxide. In the methods of the invention where hydrocarbon containing gases are dissociated, fine carbon black particles are also produced. The present invention also provides solar-thermal reactors and solar-thermal reactor systems.

1 . Carbon black produced by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a reactor comprising at least two reactor shells, including an innermost and an outer shell, wherein the innermost shell is substantially enclosed by each of the other reactor shells, has an inlet and an outlet and is at least partially porous and the outer shell is nonporous and at least partially transparent;    b) flowing a first gas stream comprising at least one hydrocarbon reactant gas from the inlet to the outlet of the innermost shell;    c) flowing a second gas stream comprising a non-dissociating gas inwardly through the pores of the innermost shell;    d) providing heat absorbing particles in the first gas stream;    e) heating the heat absorbing particles at least in part with a source of concentrated sunlight through indirect solar thermal heating; and    f) transferring heat from the particles to the first gas stream, thereby heating the reactant gas to a sufficiently high temperature so that a desired amount of conversion of the reactant gas occurs, thereby producing hydrogen and carbon black,    wherein the carbon black is substantially free of ash and is substantially amorphous.    
     
     
         2 . A high temperature solar-thermal reactor comprising: 
 a) a first inner shell which is at least partially porous, the first inner shell having an inlet and an outlet;    b) a second inner shell which is nonporous and which substantially encloses the first inner shell;    c) a first gas plenum located substantially between the first and second inner shell, the first plenum having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first plenum outlet is formed by the pores of the first inner shell;    d) an outer shell which is nonporous, at least partially transparent, and which substantially encloses the second inner shell; and    e) a second gas plenum located substantially between the second inner shell and the outer shell, the second plenum having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the reactor is heated at least in part by a source of concentrated sunlight and the first inner shell is prevented from fluid communication with the first and second gas plenums inside the reactor, except for fluid communication between the first inner shell and the first gas plenum through the pores of the first inner shell.    
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 2 , wherein the first inner shell is made in part of porous graphite.  
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 2 , wherein the second inner shell is made of nonporous graphite.  
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 2 , wherein the at least partially transparent outer shell is made of quartz.  
     
     
         6 . The reactor of  claim 5 , wherein the inside wall of the outer quartz shell is partially coated with silver.  
     
     
         7 . The reactor of  claim 2 , wherein the at least partially transparent outer shell is made of metal with a transparent section made of quartz.  
     
     
         8 . A high temperature solar thermal reactor system comprising the reactor of  claim 2  and a cooling zone downstream of the reactor, wherein the downstream cooling zone has an inside dimension larger than that of the first inner shell.  
     
     
         9 . A high temperature solar thermal reactor system comprising the reactor of  claim 2  and a filtering device.  
     
     
         10 . A high temperature solar thermal reactor system comprising the reactor of  claim 2  and a pressure swing adsorber or a membrane gas separator.  
     
     
         11 . A high temperature solar thermal reactor system comprising the reactor of  claim 2  and a device for feeding heat absorbing particles into the inlet end of the first inner shell.