Eco Factor: Sunshine to petrol project generates fuel from thin air.
Researchers at Sandia National Lab have demonstrated a working prototype of their “Sunshine to Petrol” machine, which converts waste CO2 initially to carbon monoxide and later to syngas, using nothing other than solar energy.
The device, dubbed Counter Rotating Ring Receiver Reactor Recuperator, relies on a thermo-chemical reaction that occurs when iron-rich composite is exposed to concentrated solar heat.
The device is equipped with two chambers – hot and cold. As solar energy heats the hot chamber to 2700 degrees, iron oxide composite loses oxygen atoms. The composite is then thrust into the cool chamber filled with CO2. As the chamber cools, iron oxide captures its lost oxygen atoms producing carbon monoxide.
The same process is used to produce hydrogen, when water is pumped rather than atmospheric CO2 in the cool chamber. Hydrogen generated by the process is mixed with carbon monoxide to produce syngas, which is a replacement for current hydrocarbon-based combustibles.
Via: Popsci
