"Second Step of metal oxide cycle
for solar thermal water splitting"
Renewable hydrogen can be produced through metal oxide water splitting cycles like the iron oxide cycle. This cycle requires extremely high temperatures, typically from concentrated solar energy. However, biomass synthesis gas can also be used with moderate temperatures as another renewable way to reduce iron oxide. If biomass and Fe3O4 are co-fed into a solar reactor, both syngas and reduced iron are produced. The reduced iron can then be oxidized with water at low temperatures to produce hydrogen and regenerate Fe3O4. The feasibility of this process depends on the kinetics of both the reduction and oxidation reactions. Effects of temperature, water concentration, and particle size on the oxidation step are being investigated. |
