Carbon-neutral fuel made from sunlight and air

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How the new solar mini-refinery works​

The process chain of the new system combines three thermochemical conversion processes: Firstly, the extraction of CO2 and water from the air. Secondly, the solar-thermochemical splitting of CO2 and water. Thirdly, their subsequent liquefaction into hydrocarbons. CO2 and water are extracted directly from ambient air via an adsorption/desorption process. Both are then fed into the solar reactor at the focus of a parabolic reflector. Solar radiation is concentrated by a factor of 3,000, generating process heat at a temperature of 1,500 degrees Celsius inside the solar reactor. At the heart of the solar reactor is a ceramic structure made of cerium oxide, which enables a two-step reaction – the redox cycle – to split water and CO2 into syngas. This mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide can then be processed into liquid hydrocarbon fuels through conventional methanol or Fischer–Tropsch synthesis.

Carbon-neutral fuel made from sunlight and air

ethz.ch

Interview with the scientists

BBC World Service - Science In Action, Jet fuel from thin air

A solar powered solution to emissions creates aviation fuel from atmospheric gases

www.bbc.co.uk

 

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This Tower in Spain Creates Carbon-Neutral Jet Fuel From Just Water, Sun and Air

The proof of concept is designed to create kerosene and diesel without the use of fossil fuels.

www.cnet.com

The paper out this week says that the solar reactor's efficiency level -- the portion of solar energy input into the system that was converted into the energy content in the syngas produced -- was about 4%. Steinfeld hopes to increase this to 15%, which could eventually reduce the number of reflective panels required, increase the system's fuel output, or both.