Process conditions for the direct solar decomposition of sulfur trioxide have been investigated and optimised by using a receiver-reactor in a solar furnace. This decomposition reaction is a key step to couple concentrated solar radiation or solar high temperature heat into promising sulfur based thermochemical cycles for solar production of hydrogen from water. After proof-of-principle a modified design of the reactor was applied. A separated chamber for the evaporation of the sulfuric acid, which is the precursor of sulfur trioxide in the mentioned thermochemical cycles, a higher mass flow of reactants, an independent control and optimisation of the decomposition reactor were possible. Higher mass flows of the reactants improve the reactor efficiency because energy losses are almost independent of the mass flow due to the predominant contribution of re-radiation losses. The influence of absorber temperature, mass flow, reactant initial concentration, acid concentration, and residence time on sulfur trioxide conversion and reactor efficiency have been investigated systematically. The experimental investigations was accompanied by energy balancing of the reactor for typical operational points. The absorber temperature turned out to be most important parameter with respect to both conversion and efficiency. When the reactor was applied for solar sulfur trioxide decomposition only, reactor efficiencies of up to 40% were achieved at average absorber temperature well below 1000 °C. High conversions almost up to the maximum achievable conversion determined by thermodynamic equilibrium were achieved. As the reradiation of the absorber is the main contribution to energy losses of the reactor a cavity design is predicted to be the preferable way to further raise the efficiency.
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ASME 2008 2nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer, Fluids Engineering, and 3rd Energy Nanotechnology Conferences
August 10–14, 2008
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4319-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Experimental Study on Sulfur Trioxide Decomposition in a Volumetric Solar Receiver-Reactor
Adam Noglik,
Adam Noglik
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
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Martin Roeb,
Martin Roeb
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
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Christian Sattler,
Christian Sattler
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
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Robert Pitz-Paal
Robert Pitz-Paal
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
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Adam Noglik
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
Martin Roeb
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
Christian Sattler
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
Robert Pitz-Paal
German Aerospace Center, Ko¨ln, Germany
Paper No:
ES2008-54171, pp. 525-535; 11 pages
Published Online:
June 22, 2009
Citation
Noglik, A, Roeb, M, Sattler, C, & Pitz-Paal, R. "Experimental Study on Sulfur Trioxide Decomposition in a Volumetric Solar Receiver-Reactor." Proceedings of the ASME 2008 2nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer, Fluids Engineering, and 3rd Energy Nanotechnology Conferences. ASME 2008 2nd International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Volume 1. Jacksonville, Florida, USA. August 10–14, 2008. pp. 525-535. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2008-54171
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