Annual Report 2006 - Plataforma Solar de Almería

PLATAFORMA SOLAR DE ALMERÍA
Purpose: The main purpose of the SolterH project is to demonstrate the usefulness
of binomial renewable energies – the hydrogen vector, specifically of
solar thermal energy, and its use in clean renewable hydrogen production by
appropriate use of an unlimited, abundant resource such as the sun. The final
purpose of this project is the design, development and evaluation of a hightemperature
solar thermal hydrogen generation system, with an important
milestone at the end of the project in the testing of a 5 kW reactor in the PSA
solar furnace. During the first stage of the project in 2004-2005, different
possibilities of meeting technical and economic criteria were studied, evaluating
the advantages and disadvangates of each. We could summarize by saying
that the SOLTER-H Stage I clearly demonstrated the use of simple cycles
at high operating temperatures that allow variations in the energy supply
without undergoing any significant decrease in efficiency as good candidates
for our needs. The mixed oxides (ferrite) cycle has all of the qualities for being
an ideal cycle, that is, simplicity and relatively high temperatures, although
it had the disadvantage of a lack of reliable operating data.
Results achieved in 2006: In the second stage of the project, commissioning
of the experimental device was begun and the first tests with synthesized
materials were done by the CSIC Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica
through a supply contract. These activities consisted of preparing and synthesizing
ferrites, the design of a particle injection system and reactor characterization.
Batch mode testing has demonstrated H 2 production using these materials
for the first time in our laboratories. The batch tests did not allow us to
come to a clear conclusion concerning the technical feasibility of this process,
since tests could not be performed under the best conditions. At the present
time, work is underway to incorporate a particle reactor for the next tests that
will calibrate process feasibility better.
Clean Hydrogen Production: CO 2 -free Alternatives
(PHISICO2 Project)
Participants: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, CSIC, INTA, REPSOL, HYNER-
GREEN y CIEMAT.
Contact:
David Serrano; david.serrano@urjc.es
PSA Contact: Manuel Romero, manuel.romero@ciemat.es
Funding:
Cooperative Project fianced by the 4th PRICIT-Regional Science
and Technology Plan of the Community of Madrid. Total budget:
1,000k€. CIEMAT budget not including personnel: 240k€
Duration: January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2009
Motivación: Coordinate and make available to all involved, the research efforts
and capabilities of groups from different institutions (URJC, CSIC, CIE-
MAT, and INTA) in the study and development of different clean hydrogen
production processes, that is, CO 2 -emission-free, using renewable energies as
the primary energy source for its generation. Two companies in the energy
sector (REPSOL YPF and HYNERGREEN) have shown their intereste in monitoring
the results and participate actively in the project. It is worth mentioning
that CIEMAT participation in this project is not only through the group at
the PSA, but also by the Chemistry Division and the Fusion Materials Laboratory
Unit. Hydrogen production processes included in this project are photoelectrolysis
of water, thermochemical cycles and decarbonization of natural
gas. In addition to contributing to the scientific-technical development of
these alternatives, this project is intended to evaluate their mid-to-long-term
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