Thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger

{
  "publication_number": "US9586190B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger",
  "abstract": "A thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. The reactor includes a multi-flight auger having different helix portions having different pitch. Embodiments of reactors include at least two distinct reactor portions between which there is at least a pressure differential. In embodiments, reactive particles are exchanged between portions during a reaction cycle to thermally reduce the particles at first conditions and oxidize the particles at second conditions to produce chemical work from heat.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An apparatus, comprising: a first reaction zone operating at a first temperature; a second reaction zone operating at a second temperature; a particle transport component capable of moving particles from the first reaction zone to the second reaction zone; wherein the first reaction zone comprises a window capable of receiving sunlight from a sunlight source and a high temperature zone heated by the received sunlight; and wherein the first reaction zone further comprises a first auger within a casing, and wherein the first auger comprises a flight that transports particles from a particle collection zone to the high temperature zone when the casing is rotated.",
    "2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auger further comprises an inner cylinder that transports particles from the high temperature zone to a lower portion of the inner cylinder.",
    "3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particle transport component comprises a second auger capable of transporting particles from the second reaction zone to the particle collection zone when rotated.",
    "4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a conduit for transporting particles from a lower portion of an inner cylinder surrounded by the flight to the second reaction zone.",
    "5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particles are formed of a redox reactive material.",
    "6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is greater than 1000° C.",
    "7. A solar reactor system, comprising: a solar collection system comprising at least one mirror; and a swing reactor having an opening for receiving sunlight directed by the at least one mirror; wherein the swing reactor comprises: a first reaction zone operating at a first temperature; a second reaction zone operating at a second temperature; a particle transport component capable of moving particles from the first reaction zone to the second reaction zone; wherein the first reaction zone comprises a window capable of receiving sunlight from a sunlight source and a high temperature zone heated by the received sunlight; and wherein the first reaction zone further comprises a first auger in a casing, and wherein the first auger comprising a flight that transports particles from a particle collection zone to the high temperature zone when the casing is rotated.",
    "8. The system of claim 7, wherein the auger further comprises an inner cylinder that transports particles from the high temperature zone to a lower portion of the inner cylinder.",
    "9. The system of claim 7, wherein the particle transport component comprises a second auger capable of transporting particles from the second reaction zone to the particle collection zone when rotated.",
    "10. The system of claim 7, further comprising: a conduit for transporting particles from a lower portion of an inner cylinder surrounded by the flight to the second reaction zone.",
    "11. The system of claim 7, wherein the particles are formed of a redox reactive material.",
    "12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first temperature is greater than 1000° C."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments of the present invention relate to a material conveyor and more particularly relates to a multi-flight auger reactor for thermal swing processing.\n\nSolar concentration systems typically entail optics (mirrors or lenses) to focus a large area of sunlight, or solar thermal energy, onto a small area. The solar thermal energy may drive a heat engine, such as a steam turbine, which may be further coupled to an electrical power generator to convert a portion of the solar thermal energy into electricity. Solar concentration systems may also drive a thermochemical reaction to generate a fuel that chemically stores a portion of the solar thermal energy. Water splitting, gasification of coal, and reforming of methane are all under investigation as potential solar thermochemical fuel production techniques. Solar concentration systems may drive other important reactions on an industrial scale as well, such as CO 2 reduction into CO, for example.\n\nMany solar thermochemical reactions entail a redox cycle. In a water splitting reaction to produce hydrogen from water, a metal-oxide redox pair is thermally reduced and the reduced reactive media then drives decomposition of water. The metal oxide is then reduced again to repeat the cycle. While identifying advantageous metal-oxides is currently a subject of research, thermodynamic considerations dictate the thermal reduction portion of the cycle generally requires a high temperature, typically between 1000-2000° C., depending on the reactive oxide chosen and other conditions in the system.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01J 8/087",
    "B01J 19/127",
    "B01J 19/20",
    "B01J 2208/00451",
    "B01J 2219/00144",
    "B01J 2219/0875",
    "B01J 2219/0892",
    "B01J 2219/1203",
    "B01J 8/002",
    "B65G 33/14",
    "B65G 33/20",
    "C01B 3/042",
    "C01B 3/063",
    "C01B 31/18",
    "C01B 32/40",
    "Y02E 10/41",
    "Y02E 10/44",
    "Y02E 60/36",
    "Y02P 20/133",
    "Y02P 30/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01J 19/12",
    "B01J 19/20",
    "B01J 8/00",
    "B01J 8/08",
    "B65G 33/14",
    "C01B 3/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Sandia Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Ivan Ermanoski"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-05-15",
  "publication_date": "2017-03-07",
  "grant_date": "2017-03-07",
  "priority_date": "2013-05-15",
  "application_number": "US-201414278350-A",
  "family_id": "58162171",
  "cited_by_count": 8,
  "citations": [
    "US7314131B2",
    "US8420032B1"
  ]
}