DLR interdisciplinary project
The Future Fuels project (sub-project 2) investigates amongst others how synthetic fuels can be produced with concentrated solar energy coupled to a high-temperature electrolyser. Building on the results of the DLR strategic project Future Fuels, in which solar hydrogen was produced, the components HT electrolyser, thermal or thermochemical storage and solar receiver have to be further developed, tested and evaluated as an integrated process in the large-scale facilities of DLR. In continuation of the work in the DLR strategy project Future Fuels, in which the possibility of integrating solar heat for steam generation into an HT electrolyser was investigated in order to produce hydrogen with high efficiency, this follow-up project will provide the basis for the coupling of solar heat the co-electrolysis process of water vapor and CO2 worked out to produce syngas, which can be further processed into synthetic fuels in a subsequent process, e.g. by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
With regard to solar-thermochemical fuel production, the further development of redox materials has a decisive influence on the efficiency of solar-thermochemical fuel production. In order to be able to do this faster and more purposefully, models have to be developed making possible to identify potential candidates by means of simulations. These models will be validated by synthesis and evaluation of the most promising materials. Based on the basic model, its possible use will be broadened and it will be linked to available substance databases.
10 DLR institutes and departments