Production of hydrogen and carbon by solar thermal methane splitting. I. The unseeded reactor

Solar thermal methane splitting was performed in a series of tests with an unseeded low capacity reactor. Effective screening of the reactor window from contact with carbon particles was achieved by application of the tornado flow configuration (J Solar Energy Eng 124 (2002) 206). The tests were performed at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures up to 1320 K. An extent of reaction of 28% was attained. Most of the carbon generated in the process clang to the irradiated reactor wall and it formed a very hard deposit. In most cases, the tests were terminates when the reactor exit port became choked by the accrued carbon deposit. The results of the tests are discussed and ways to correct the problems encountered with the unseeded reactor are proposed.