High efficiency solar chemical-looping methane reforming with ceria in a fixed-bed reactor

High efficiency solar chemical-looping methane reforming is demonstrated in a prototype reactor operated in a high-flux solar simulator. The reactor includes six tube assemblies, which each comprise a fixed-bed of ceria particles and a gas-phase heat recuperator. The cycle was accomplished by alternating the flow to one tube assembly between CH4 and CO2. In the initial series of experiments, temperature, CH4 concentration, reduction flow rate,...