Project Title: Renewable Energy Production via Carbon Capture and Recycling
DRI Faculty: S. Kent Hoekman (PI), Amber Broch, Rick Purcell, Curt Robbins
Dates: April 2008 – Oct. 2008
Sponsor: Recycle CO2 Inc.
Collaborators: None
Total Cost: $97,884
Objectives: The objective of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of catalytically reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) with renewably-produced hydrogen (H2) to produce methane and water. This methanation of CO2 will be accomplished using the exothermic Sabatier Reaction, conducted over a nickel catalyst. Renewable H2 produced by electrolysis of water (from solar- and wind-generated electricity) will be fed to the catalytic reactor, along with a custom prepared gas mixture consisting of 2% CO2 in N2. Reaction conditions (temperature, flow rates, and gas mixing ratios) will be varied to determine optimum performance. Following successful proof of concept, additional work will be proposed to investigate use of a combustion source to generate CO2, and recycling of the produced methane as a fuel for the combustion process.
Results/Conclusions: A packed bed reaction vessel has been fabricated, having approximate dimensions of 2.5-inch diameter and 6-in length. The catalyst is Haldor Topsoe PK-7R. The entire system includes flow controllers for the inlet gases, heaters, temperature sensors, gas analyzers, and various other devices for controlling and monitoring the entire operation. The system is currently being installed in a portable trailer located outside DRI’s main laboratory building. Once the system is completely installed and checked out, a matrix of experimental conditions will be explored, and the CO2 conversion efficiencies will be determined.
