Heat absorption, transportation, and regeneration for process heat delivery using the sorption assisted boudouard reaction

Abstract

The disclosure provides a system and method for absorbing clean heat, storing it at ambient temperature for transport or delayed use, and regenerating with high exergetic efficiency. The system and method can capture high quality heat at high temperatures from a source such as nuclear, concentrated sunlight, or geothermal, store that energy in chemical bonds at ambient temperature, and regenerate the heat at the same or similar temperatures. By storing at ambient temperature, the process allows heat to be transmitted over great distances or held long term with minimal losses. The chemical reaction uses the Boudouard reaction with metal carbonate and catalyst to generate a higher heat than a typical Boudouard reaction. The sensible heat that is lost in conventional steam piping by heat transfer to the environment can be reduced or replaced with the present invention that transports chemical heat at ambient temperatures with little sensible heat loss.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delivering high-quality heat to a site, comprising:
 heating carbon and a metal carbonate powder at a capture temperature to produce carbon monoxide and a metal oxide powder;   separating the carbon monoxide from the metal oxide powder;   transporting the carbon monoxide to the site;   transporting the metal oxide power to the site; and   blowing the carbon monoxide through the metal oxide powder containing a catalyst to yield carbon and metal carbonate powder to release heat at the site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transporting the carbon monoxide to the site comprises transporting the carbon monoxide at a temperature that is optionally different than the capture temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the site includes processing equipment, and further comprising sending the heat to the processing equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further returning the metal carbonate powder to be heated again with the carbon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blowing the carbon monoxide through the metal oxide powder produces a gaseous intermediate product and further comprising:
 circulating the gaseous intermediate product through a heat exchanger, and preheating intake air entering a combustor using the heat.   
     
     
         6 . A method for delivering high-quality heat to a site, comprising:
 heating carbon and carbon dioxide at a capture temperature to produce carbon monoxide;   transporting the carbon monoxide to the site at a temperature that is optionally different than the capture temperature; and   blowing the carbon monoxide through a catalyst to yield carbon and carbon dioxide to release heat at the site.