A promising approach to harvest and store solar energy is the production of syngas by splitting CO2 and H2O via high-temperature thermochemical processes. This paper deals with a thermodynamic analysis of syngas production via isothermal non-stoichiometric redox cycling of undoped ceria. Ceria is reduced in a low P(O2) inert gas flow, with concentrated solar radiation as the source of high-temperature process heat. Subsequently, the oxygen deficiency in the ceria lattice is used to split H2O and/or CO2. Theoretical limits in the fuel productivity are considered. The first-law analysis is performed to identify the limits in the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency. The parameter space is explored to demonstrate the potential of heat recovery for improving the process efficiency.

Solar syngas production via isothermal nonstoichiometric redox cycling of ceria with heat recovery

245th National Meeting (2013)

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