A solar-driven aerosolized particle reactor under vacuum was tested for carbothermal reduction of zinc oxide using concentrated solar power. The reactor concept is based on the downward flow of zinc oxide and carbon particles, which are indirectly heated by an opaque intermediate solar absorption tube. The particles are rapidly heated to reaction temperature and reduced within residence times of less than 1 s. In the continuous feeding experiments, maximum sustained temperatures close to 2000 K and heating rates as fast as 1400 K min−1 could be achieved for pressures between 1 and 1000 mbar. Reactant conversions of up to 44% were obtained at 1000 mbar. It was found that a reduction in system pressure leads to a decreased particle residence time (as low as 0.09 s), and therefore low conversion (as low as 1%), thus partially diminishing the positive thermodynamic effects of vacuum operation. Experimental results validate the robust and versatile reactor concept, and simultaneously highlight the necessity of balancing the system design in order to optimize the conflicting influence of vacuum operation and reacting particle residence time.
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April 2016
Research-Article
Continuous Solar Carbothermal Reduction of Aerosolized ZnO Particles Under Vacuum in a Directly Irradiated Vertical-Tube Reactor
Majk Brkic,
Majk Brkic
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland;
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland;
Department of Mechanical and
Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
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Erik Koepf,
Erik Koepf
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
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Anton Meier
Anton Meier
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
e-mail: anton.meier@psi.ch
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
e-mail: anton.meier@psi.ch
Search for other works by this author on:
Majk Brkic
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland;
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland;
Department of Mechanical and
Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
Process Engineering,
ETH Zurich,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
Erik Koepf
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
Anton Meier
Solar Technology Laboratory,
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
e-mail: anton.meier@psi.ch
Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
Villigen 5232, Switzerland
e-mail: anton.meier@psi.ch
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING: INCLUDING WIND ENERGY AND BUILDING ENERGY CONSERVATION. Manuscript received December 15, 2015; final manuscript received January 31, 2016; published online February 23, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Wojciech Lipinski.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Apr 2016, 138(2): 021010 (14 pages)
Published Online: February 23, 2016
Article history
Received:
December 15, 2015
Revised:
January 31, 2016
Citation
Brkic, M., Koepf, E., and Meier, A. (February 23, 2016). "Continuous Solar Carbothermal Reduction of Aerosolized ZnO Particles Under Vacuum in a Directly Irradiated Vertical-Tube Reactor." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. April 2016; 138(2): 021010. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032685
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