Methanol from electricity, water and carbon dioxide: Operational results

Eric R. Morgan, Tom L Acker

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A chemical reactor has been developed that takes only carbon dioxide, water and electricity as inputs and produces a mixture of methanol and water. The system includes an electrolyzer that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen; and data logging capabilities for four temperatures probes, two pressure probes and three flow rates. The methanol synthesis unit was run under a number of flow conditions to help characterize its operation. One day of continuous temperature, pressure and flow rate data from the reactor will be presented to illustrate the system robustness. Finally, synchronized flow, temperature, and pressure data will be presented for the system as it undergoes step changes in the synloop flow rate. The results show that the flow rate through the reactor strongly influences the reactor temperature, which, in turn, influences the rate of methanol production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvances in Solar Buildings and Conservation; Climate Control and the Environment; Alternate Fuels and Infrastructure; ARPA-E; Combined Energy Cycles, CHP, CCHP, and Smart Grids; Concentrating Solar Power; Economic, Environmental, and Policy Aspects of Alternate Energy; Geothermal Energy, Harvesting, Ocean Energy and Other Emerging Technologies; Hydrogen Energy Technologies; Low/Zero Emission Power Plants and Carbon Sequestration; Micro and Nano Technology Applications and Materials
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
ISBN (Electronic)9780791856840
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventASME 2015 9th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2015, collocated with the ASME 2015 Power Conference, the ASME 2015 13th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, and the ASME 2015 Nuclear Forum - San Diego, United States
Duration: Jun 28 2015Jul 2 2015

Publication series

NameASME 2015 9th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2015, collocated with the ASME 2015 Power Conference, the ASME 2015 13th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, and the ASME 2015 Nuclear Forum
Volume1

Other

OtherASME 2015 9th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, ES 2015, collocated with the ASME 2015 Power Conference, the ASME 2015 13th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, and the ASME 2015 Nuclear Forum
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period6/28/157/2/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Mechanical Engineering

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