Reactor vessels with transmissive surfaces for producing hydrogen-based fuels and structural elements, and associated systems and methods

摘要

Reactor vessels with transmissive surfaces for producing hydrogen-based fuels and structural elements, and associated systems and methods. A chemical reactor in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, a hydrogen donor source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone, and a steam source coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone. The reactor further includes a transmissive surface at the reaction zone, with the transmissive surface being transmissive to a reactant entering the reaction zone and/or radiant energy entering the reaction zone.

主权项

1. A chemical reactor, comprising:
a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, the reaction zone coupled in fluid communication with a hydrogen donor source; a heater positioned annularly outward from the reaction zone of the reactor vessel, the heater producing a first radiant energy; a transmissive layer positioned between the heater and the reaction zone, the transmissive layer capable of allowing the first radiant energy to pass from the heater to the reaction zone; a combustion products passage positioned annularly inward from the reaction zone to allow the passage of i) a plurality of reactants and (ii) a second radiant energy from a combustion chamber, one end of the combustion products passage being in fluid communication with the combustion chamber; and another transmissive layer positioned between the combustion products passage and the reaction zone, the another transmissive layer capable of both (a) allowing at least one of the plurality of reactants to pass from the combustion products passage into the reaction zone and (b) restricting at least another one of the plurality of reactants from passing from the combustion products passage into the reaction zone.