Abstract: Disclosed is a thermochemical reactor system and method for a temperature swing cyclic process with integrated heat recovery having at least two modules, wherein each module includes at least one chemical reaction zone and at least one thermal energy storage unit. The at least two modules are operationally connected for at least one heat transfer fluid for transporting heat between the two modules. Each chemical reaction zone includes at least one reacting material that undergoes in a reversible manner an endothermic reaction at temperature Tendo and an exothermic reaction at temperature Texo, wherein Tendo and Texo differ from each other. The at least one reacting material is provided in at least one encapsulation within each of the chemical reaction zones such that a contact of the reacting material and the at least one heat transfer fluid is avoided.

Abstract: A process for the production of syngas, comprising the steps of generating hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon gas by contacting said hydrocarbon gas with a metal oxide in a first non-stoichiometric state MxOy-? such as to reduce said metal oxide in a first non-stoichiometric state MxOy-? towards a second non-stoichiometric state MxOy-?; generating hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide from a regenerating gas by contacting the metal oxide in the second non-stoichiometric state MxOy-? with said regenerating gas such as to oxidize the metal oxide in the second non-stoichiometric state MxOy-? towards the first non-stoichiometric state MxOy-?; characterized in that the ?>? and ?>0 and ?<y.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermochemical reactor system for a temperature swing cyclic process with integrated heat recovery comprising at least two modules, wherein each module comprises at least one chemical reaction zone (CRZ) and at least one thermal energy storage unit (TES), wherein the at least two modules are operationally connected for at least one heat transfer fluid (HTF) for transporting heat between the two modules, wherein each chemical reaction zone (CRZ) comprises at least one reacting material that undergoes in a reversible manner an endothermic reaction at temperature Tendo and an exothermic reaction at temperature Texo, wherein Tendo and Texo differ from each other, wherein the at least one reacting material is provided in at least one encapsulation within each of the chemical reaction zones (CRZ) such that a contact of the reacting material and the at least one heat transfer fluid is avoided. The present invention relates further to a method for operating such a reactor system.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a structure for use in a thermo chemical fuel production process, said structure having a void phase and a solid phase, wherein the structure has an effective total optical thickness for solar radiation or effective total optical thickness for infrared radiation of from 0.1 to 10, wherein the solid phase has a geometrical specific surface area of more than 2*103 m?1 and wherein the solid phase comprises and preferably consists of a reactive material.

Abstract: Solar deflection device (1) comprising at least the following components: •a hollow funnel (2), comprising a funnel wall (2a) that comprises a reflective surface (2b) on an inside of the funnel (2) for reflecting electromagnetic radiation, •an inlet aperture (3) of said funnel (2), wherein the inlet aperture (3) extends within an inlet plane (3a), •an exit aperture (4) of said funnel (2), wherein the exit aperture (4) extends within an exit plane (4a) and wherein the area (4b) enclosed by the exit aperture (4) has a different size than the area (3b) enclosed by the inlet aperture (3), •a curved line that (5) extends from the center (3c) of the inlet aperture (3) to the center (4c) of the exit aperture (4), wherein for each plane (6a) that intersects said curved line (5) perpendicularly, the reflective surface (2b) of the funnel wall (2a) has a cross-section (6) within said plane (6a), wherein said cross-section (6) encloses an area (6b) and is centered around the curved line (5), •a deflection angle (7) that

Abstract: Solar radiation guidance device (1), particularly for a solar reactor system (100), comprising the following components: • a solar concentrator (13), for collecting and concentrating electromagnetic radiation, • a solar deflection device (10) comprising a funnel (2) with a funnel wall (2a) that comprises a specular reflective surface (2b) on an inside of the funnel (2) for reflecting solar and/or thermal radiation, wherein said funnel (2) further comprises an inlet aperture (3) and an exit aperture (4), wherein the inlet aperture (3) is comprised in an inlet plane (3a) and the exit aperture (4) is comprised in an exit plane (4a), and wherein said funnel (2) is arranged such that it collects the concentrated electromagnetic radiation from the solar concentrator (13), wherein the solar deflection device (10) is mounted to allow rotation around a rotation axis (A) perpendicular to the inlet plane (3a) of the inlet aperture (3) between at least two positions, such that for each position of the at least two positi

Abstract: A solar receiver (100) having a radiation capturing element (3) about which is formed a channel (8) through which a working fluid flows such that thermal energy of the radiation capturing element (8) is absorbed by the working fluid, the channel (8) being shaped to provide a uniform cross sectional area along a length thereof between an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom.

Abstract: A solar receiver (100), for capturing solar radiation, comprising a radiation capturing element (3) and a channel (8) around that element, through which channel (8) a pressurized working fluid is passed to absorb thermal energy from the radiation capturing element.

Abstract: A hybrid receiver-combustor (100) for capturing heat energy from a solar source and a fuel source. The hybrid receiver-combustor (100) includes a vessel (110) for acting both as a combustion furnace and as a solar receiver, and a plurality of burners (180) for combusting an oxidant stream, such as an air stream, and a fuel stream. The vessel (110) includes a casing (120) defining a cavity (125) having an aperture (130) for receiving the concentrated solar radiation from the solar source. The cavity (125) provides a chamber defining a zone (126) which can function as a combustion zone for production of heat energy through a combustion process using the fuel and into which concentrated solar radiation can be received from the solar source through the aperture (130). A heat energy absorber (190) configured as a heat exchanger is provided to receive heat energy from concentrated solar radiation entering the cavity (125) through the aperture (130) and from combustion within the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gas-phase reduction/oxidation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reactor including at least one reactor tube or containment vessel with active redox material within the reactor tube or containment vessel, a first reactant gas or vacuum for reducing the active redox material, and a second reactant gas for oxidizing the active redox material. The method may be run under substantially isothermal conditions and/or energy supplied to the apparatus may include solar energy, which may be concentrated.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a structure for use in a thermo chemical fuel production process, said structure having a void phase and a solid phase, wherein the structure has an effective total optical thickness for solar radiation or effective total optical thickness for infrared radiation of from 0.1 to 10, wherein the solid phase has a geometrical specific surface area of more than 2*103 m?1 and wherein the solid phase comprises and preferably consists of a reactive material.

Abstract: A hybrid receiver-combustor (100) for capturing heat energy from a solar source and a fuel source. The hybrid receiver-combustor (100) includes a vessel (110) for acting both as a combustion furnace and as a solar receiver, and a plurality of burners (180) for combusting an oxidant stream, such as an air stream, and a fuel stream. The vessel (110) includes a casing (120) defining a cavity (125) having an aperture (130) for receiving the concentrated solar radiation from the solar source. The cavity (125) provides a chamber defining a zone (126) which can function as a combustion zone for production of heat energy through a combustion process using the fuel and into which concentrated solar radiation can be received from the solar source through the aperture (130). A heat energy absorber (190) configured as a heat exchanger is provided to receive heat energy from concentrated solar radiation entering the cavity (125) through the aperture (130) and from combustion within the cavity.

Abstract: A solar receiver having a radiation capturing element for capturing solar radiation passing through a radiation receiving aperture into a cavity formed by the radiation capturing element, the aperture having a first diameter and the cavity having cylindrical walls of a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, preferably about twice as large. Furthermore, the length of the cavity is greater than the first diameter, preferably about twice as great.

Abstract: A solar receiver (100), for capturing solar radiation, comprising a radiation capturing element (3) and a channel (8) around that element, through which channel (8) a pressurised working fluid is passed to absorb thermal energy from the radiation capturing element.

Abstract: A solar receiver (100) having a radiation capturing element (3) about which is formed a channel (8) through which a working fluid flows such that thermal energy of the radiation capturing element (8) is absorbed by the working fluid, the channel (8) being shaped to provide a uniform cross sectional area along a length thereof between an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermochemical conversion of solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using a fluid source of oxygen and an external source of concentrated radiation includes a reactor having a wall defining a cavity; a radiation inlet positioned in the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity; and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel. A process and system are also provided. The fluid source of oxygen is preferably steam and the carbonaceous material is preferably particles of petcoke.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermochemical conversion of solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using a fluid source of oxygen and an external source of concentrated radiation includes a reactor having a wall defining a cavity; a radiation inlet positioned in the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity; and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel. A process and system are also provided. The fluid source of oxygen is preferably steam and the carbonaceous material is preferably particles of petcoke.

Abstract: A structure is disclosed containing a sorbent with amine groups that is capable of a reversible adsorption and desorption cycle for capturing CO2 from a gas mixture wherein said structure is composed of fiber filaments wherein the fiber material is carbon and/or polyacrylonitrile.

Abstract: A concentrated solar radiation assembly comprising a housing divided into segments by housing trusses; window blocks positioned within the segments supported by the housing trusses; and, internal trusses positioned on top of the window blocks and within the segments. The assembly may be hermetically sealed, large-scale and refrigerated by water flow within the trusses.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermochemical conversion of solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using a fluid source of oxygen and an external source of concentrated radiation includes a reactor having a wall defining a cavity; a radiation inlet positioned in the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity; and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel. A process and system are also provided. The fluid source of oxygen is preferably steam and the carbonaceous material is preferably particles of petcoke.