Solar enhanced high temperature electrolysis and storage

Abstract

A solid-oxide electrolysis cell using water, carbon dioxide, high temperature, and electricity to more efficiently generate Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide may be powered and energized by a hybrid, solar concentrator (or array of concentrators) which separated solar energy into infrared (IR) for heat energy and ultraviolet (UV) light and visible light for electrical energy. The Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide produced by the solid-oxide electrolysis unit (or an array of such units) can be used for, such beneficial purposes as fuels, alkyl-based products, and/or to store clean water and electricity. The high temperature and electricity can be enhanced through the use of solar power, even in remote areas not connected to an electric power grid. Further, the generated Hydrogen by the aforementioned methods and apparatus can be used as a storage medium that can be converted to water and/or electricity at a later time and/or a different location using such methods as combustion or

2 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising selecting the radiant power source or renewable power generator from the group consisting of renewable solar power generators, lasers, and ambient light from light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The method of claim  1 , wherein introducing the feed stream to a cathode side of at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell in proximity to a collection of renewable energy from the radiant power source. 
     
     
         4 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising configuring the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell to comprise:
 a cathode;   an anode; and   an electrolyte positioned between the cathode and anode.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising selecting a nickel-zirconia cermet material to comprise the cathode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising selecting a strontium doped lanthanum manganite material to comprise the anode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising selecting yttria stabilized zirconia material to comprise the electrolyte. 
     
     
         8 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising increasing the electrical current to increase the concentration of the hydrogen produced by the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         9 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising routing the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a synfuel production process. 
     
     
         10 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising reacting at least a portion of the hydrogen with the carbon dioxide to produce carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising producing the carbon dioxide by combusting materials using the heat generated by the radiant heat and/or electrical power source. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising collecting the carbon monoxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising producing the carbon dioxide as an off-gas or waste gas in a manufacturing process. 
     
     
         14 . The method of claim  1 , wherein directly exposing water and carbon dioxide to heat generated by a radiant power source via a renewable energy concentrator to produce a feed stream comprising directly exposing one or more of water, steam and carbon dioxide to heat generated by a radiant power source to produce a feed stream having a temperature of preferably above 250° C. 
     
     
         15 . The process of claim  1 , further comprising combusting a fuel using the heat from the radiant power source to produce the carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         16 . The process of claim  1 , further comprising providing a carbon, dioxide source to supply the carbon dioxide, wherein the carbon dioxide source is selected from the group consisting of a combustion process, a cement clinker process, a petrochemical refining process and a carbon dioxide storage facility. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising collecting oxygen from the anode. 
     
     
         18 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising increasing the electrical current provided to at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell to increase a concentration of the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide produced by the at least one solid-oxide electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         19 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising exposing at least one of the Hydrogen and the carbon monoxide to heat from the radiant power source. 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  1  further comprising keeping and/or transporting hydrogen to later use to generate clean water and electricity for use.