Carbon dioxide conversion to hydrocarbon fuel via syngas production cell harnessed from solar radiation

Abstract

A process for converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy harnessed with a solar thermal power system to create thermal energy and electricity, using the thermal energy to heat a fuel feed stream, the heated fuel feed stream comprising carbon dioxide and water, the carbon dioxide captured from a flue gas stream, converting the carbon dioxide and water in a syngas production cell, the syngas production cell comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, to create carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and converting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen to hydrocarbon fuels in a catalytic reactor. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to convert carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy, the system comprising:
 a solar thermal power system configured to convert solar energy to thermal energy and electricity, the solar thermal power system being in thermal communication with a syngas production cell, wherein the syngas production cell is configured to receive thermal energy from the solar thermal power system;   the syngas production cell comprises a fuel side comprising a fuel inlet configured to receive a fuel feed stream and a fuel outlet configured to receive a syngas stream, and an oxygen side comprising an oxygen outlet configured to receive an oxygen stream,
 wherein the syngas production cell comprises a solid oxide electrolyzer cell, 
 wherein the fuel feed stream comprises carbon dioxide and water, 
 wherein the syngas production cell is configured to convert the carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, the carbon monoxide and hydrogen operable to form the syngas stream; and 
   a catalytic reactor fluidly connected to the fuel side of the syngas production cell, the catalytic reactor being configured to convert the syngas stream from the fuel side of the syngas production cell to a hydrocarbon fuel stream, the catalytic reactor comprising a reactor bed, the reactor bed comprising a catalyst and a distributor, wherein the catalytic reactor is configured to operate from 250° C. to 650° C.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the solid oxide electrolyzer cell comprises:
 a porous cathode in fluid communication with the fuel side of the syngas production cell, the porous cathode having a fuel side of the porous cathode configured to transfer electrons to the fuel feed stream, such that carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and oxygen ions are produced, and an electrolyte side configured to release the oxygen ions into a solid oxide electrolyte,
 wherein the porous cathode is configured to allow passage of oxygen ions; 
   a porous anode in fluid communication with the oxygen side of the syngas production cell, the porous anode comprising an electrolyte side configured to receive oxygen ions from the solid oxide electrolyte, and an outlet side configured to convert oxygen ions to oxygen molecules to form an oxygen stream,
 wherein the porous anode is configured to allow passage of oxygen ions; 
   the solid oxide electrolyte, the solid oxide electrolyte lies between the porous cathode and the porous anode, wherein the solid oxide electrolyte is configured to allow passage of oxygen ions; and   an electron supply, wherein the electricity from the solar thermal power system provides the electron supply to the porous cathode and accepts electrons from the porous anode.   
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the porous cathode and the porous anode are selected from the group consisting of nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ), Lanthanum Strontium Manganese Oxide-YSZ (LSM-YSZ), and a ceramic oxide of perovskite. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the solid oxide electrolyte consists of yttria stabilized zirconia. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the solar thermal power system comprises a tower concentrating solar power system, the tower concentrating solar power system comprising:
 a tower receiver configured to heat a heat transfer fluid;   a plurality of heliostats in proximity to the tower receiver, wherein the heliostats are configured to receive direct sunlight and reflect the direct sunlight from the heliostats as reflected sunlight onto the tower receiver;   a hot storage tank fluidly connected to the tower receiver, the hot storage tank configured to store the heat transfer fluid;   a steam generator fluidly connected to the hot storage tank, the steam generator configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to a water stream to create a generated steam stream;   a steam turbine fluidly connected to the steam generator, wherein the generated steam stream is configured to drive the steam turbine; and   an electric generator mechanically connected to the steam turbine, wherein the steam generator is configured to drive the electric generator to create electricity.   
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the syngas production cell is configured to operate from 650° C. to 800° C. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a carbon capture system configured to capture carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream to create a carbon dioxide stream, the carbon capture system in fluid communication with a power plant, wherein the power plant is configured to produce the flue gas stream. 
     
     
         8 . A system to convert carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy, the system comprising:
 a solar thermal power system configured to convert solar energy to thermal energy and electricity, the solar thermal power system being in thermal communication with a syngas production cell, wherein the syngas production cell is configured to receive thermal energy from the solar thermal power system;   the syngas production cell comprises a fuel side comprising a fuel inlet configured to receive a fuel feed stream and a fuel outlet configured to receive a syngas stream, and an oxygen side comprising an oxygen outlet configured to receive an oxygen stream,
 wherein the syngas production cell comprises a solid oxide fuel cell, and wherein the fuel feed stream further comprises a gaseous hydrocarbon, 
 wherein the fuel feed stream comprises carbon dioxide and water, 
 wherein the syngas production cell is configured to convert the carbon dioxide and water into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, the carbon monoxide and hydrogen operable to form the syngas stream; and 
   a catalytic reactor fluidly connected to the fuel side of the syngas production cell, the catalytic reactor being configured to convert the syngas stream from the fuel side of the syngas production cell to a hydrocarbon fuel stream, the catalytic reactor comprising a reactor bed, the reactor bed comprising a catalyst and a distributor, wherein the catalytic reactor is configured to operate from 250° C. to 650° C.   
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon comprises methane. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the solid oxide fuel cell comprises:
 a porous anode in fluid communication with the fuel side of the syngas production cell, the porous anode comprising a fuel side of the porous anode configured to accept electrons, such that the methane undergoes an oxidation reaction to form carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and electrons, and an electrolyte side configured to accept oxygen ions from a solid oxide electrolyte,
 wherein the porous anode is configured to allow passage of oxygen ions, 
 wherein the methane and water react in the presence of the fuel side of the porous anode to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and 
 wherein the methane and carbon dioxide react in the presence of the fuel side of the porous anode to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen; 
   a porous cathode in fluid communication with the oxygen side of the syngas production cell, the porous cathode comprising an outlet side configured to convert oxygen into oxygen ions and an electrolyte side configured to release oxygen ions into the solid oxide electrolyte,
 wherein the porous cathode is configured to allow passage of oxygen ions; and 
   the solid oxide electrolyte, the solid oxide electrolyte lies between the porous cathode and the porous anode, wherein the solid oxide electrolyte is configured to allow passage of oxygen ions.   
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the hydrogen in the fuel side of the syngas production cell undergoes an oxidation reaction to form water and electrons. 
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the porous cathode and the porous anode are selected from the group consisting of nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ), Lanthanum Strontium Manganese Oxide-YSZ (LSM-YSZ), and a ceramic oxide of perovskite. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the solid oxide electrolyte consists of yttria stabilized zirconia. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the solar thermal power system comprises a tower concentrating solar power system, the tower concentrating solar power system comprising:
 a tower receiver configured to heat a heat transfer fluid;   a plurality of heliostats in proximity to the tower receiver, wherein the heliostats are configured to receive direct sunlight and reflect the direct sunlight from the heliostats as reflected sunlight onto the tower receiver;   a hot storage tank fluidly connected to the tower receiver, the hot storage tank configured to store the heat transfer fluid;   a steam generator fluidly connected to the hot storage tank, the steam generator configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to a water stream to create a generated steam stream;   a steam turbine fluidly connected to the steam generator, wherein the generated steam stream is configured to drive the steam turbine; and   an electric generator mechanically connected to the steam turbine, wherein the steam generator is configured to drive the electric generator to create electricity.   
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the syngas production cell is configured to operate from 650° C. to 800° C. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a carbon capture system configured to capture carbon dioxide from a flue gas stream to create a carbon dioxide stream, the carbon capture system in fluid communication with a power plant, wherein the power plant is configured to produce the flue gas stream.