The heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor is proposed as a promising reaction path for the exothermic step in the two-step Zn/ZnO solar thermochemical water and carbon dioxide splitting cycles. This approach circumvents mass transfer limitations encountered in the oxidation of solid or liquid zinc, promising rapid hydrogen and carbon monoxide production rates concurrent with a complete conversion of zinc to zinc oxide. In this paper, a parametric thermodynamic analysis is presented to quantify the benefit of achieving a rapid and complete conversion of zinc via the heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor. The conversion of zinc in polydisperse aerosol reactors has been limited to 20% for reaction times on the order of a minute, resulting in a cycle efficiency of . The benefit of completely converting zinc via the heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor is an increase in efficiency to 27% and 31% for water and carbon dioxide splitting, respectively. The cycle efficiency could be higher if heat recuperation is implemented.
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e-mail: lvenstro@me.umn.edu
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February 2011
Research Papers
Splitting Water and Carbon Dioxide via the Heterogeneous Oxidation of Zinc Vapor: Thermodynamic Considerations
Luke J. Venstrom,
Luke J. Venstrom
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: lvenstro@me.umn.edu
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Jane H. Davidson
Jane H. Davidson
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: jhd@me.umn.edu
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Search for other works by this author on:
Luke J. Venstrom
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455e-mail: lvenstro@me.umn.edu
Jane H. Davidson
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
, 111 Church Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455e-mail: jhd@me.umn.edu
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2011, 133(1): 011017 (8 pages)
Published Online: February 14, 2011
Article history
Received:
April 6, 2010
Revised:
December 21, 2010
Online:
February 14, 2011
Published:
February 14, 2011
Citation
Venstrom, L. J., and Davidson, J. H. (February 14, 2011). "Splitting Water and Carbon Dioxide via the Heterogeneous Oxidation of Zinc Vapor: Thermodynamic Considerations." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2011; 133(1): 011017. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4003417
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