(107b) Solar Fuel Production Via Mn-Ferrite Based Water/CO2 Splitting Cycle

Utilization of the solar energy is possible either by storage or by conversion. Solar hydrogen or syngas production via water/CO₂ splitting reaction provides a promising path for solar energy conversion. Hydrogen can be used directly as a transportation fuel and to produce electricity via fuel cell operation. Besides hydrogen can be combined with the carbon monoxide to produce syngas that can be further converted into liquid transportation fuels. Ferrite based thermochemical splitting of water/CO₂ is considered as one of the promising options for the production of solar hydrogen/syngas. Effects of synthesis methods, water/CO₂ splitting and thermal reduction temperatures, different reactor arrangements, addition of grain growth inhibitors (mixing and coating approach) and others on ferrite based water/CO₂ splitting cycle are investigated by many researchers. However, in addition to the experimental investigations, to compare with other metal oxide based thermochemical cycles, it is highly essential to estimate the solar to fuel conversion efficiency of the ferrite based thermochemical water/CO₂ splitting cycle. Hence, a thorough thermodynamic scrutiny of solar hydrogen/syngas production via ferrite based water/CO₂ splitting cycle is performed. The solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency is calculated is calculated by considering the energy penalties associated with the heating of inert sweep gas and separation of inert/O₂ and reactive gas mixtures.