Proposed solar-furnace study of zinc sulfate decomposition

A solar furnace study of zinc sulfate is proposed. In this study the advantages of the high temperatures and rapid heating rates provided by solar collectors for the decomposition of zinc sulfate will be investigated. The use of a rotary kiln designed to improve the efficiency in working with solids that have low absorbtivities, such as solid sulfates, is planned. The overall goal in this experiment is to establish the applicability of solar central receivers to thermochemical cycles that can use solid state sulfate decomposition as the high temperature step. The ZnSO/sub 4/ subcycle presents a number of operational advantages over the direct decomposition of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ in the thermochemical process of hydrogen production from water. For instance, the cycle efficiency should increase due to reducing the heat requirements for evaporating water in the sulfuric acid concentration step. Also, a number of severe materials problems will be avoided for heat exchangers required to concentrate, boil, and decompose sulfuric acid. Furthermore, zinc sulfate lends itself well to coupling with solar central receivers, an alternative energy source which may introduce several additional advantages to sulfate-based thermochemical cycles.