ABSTRACT: Converting sunlight into chemical energy via solar thermal reforming of natural gas is an attractive route to increase the energy content of methane, consequently reducing both natural gas consumption and greenhouse gases emission. The upgraded ²solar² fuel can be used for direct power generation in gas turbines or as a feedstock for chemical industry. In this talk, general aspects of system design, methane reforming thermodynamics and kinetic limitations are first outlined, with a particular focus on the solar parabolic trough technology, which is mature and inexpensive but limited to 400-600 °C.
In this temperature range, commercial Nickel-based catalysts have low activity and deactivate rapidly due to oxidation and coking, while some noble metals are very active and stable but expensive. Alternative solutions are discussed and a recently developed at MIT, highly active and stable catalytic system based on the ultra-low loading Ruthenium nanoparticles is presented. The results of the systematic catalytic performance evaluation over a wide range of operation conditions are presented, along with a comprehensive characterization study and a suggested mechanism of the enhanced catalytic activity. Future directions and selected topics related to alternative and renewable energy solutions are briefly outlined.
Bio-sketch: David Simakov received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Technion, Israel in 2010, where he worked on design of catalytic membrane reactors for compact and efficient hydrogen generation from natural gas. He also spent two years as a research & development chemical engineer in a start-up company (CellEra Inc., Israel) working on the development of a new generation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. As a postdoctoral researcher participating in a joint project between the Technion and Princeton University, he worked on mathematical modeling of biological pattern formation. He then moved to Harvard University, where he studied catalytic oscillatory chemical systems. His current research at MIT focuses on catalyst development for solar thermal conversion of natural gas.