University of Colorado

Dragan Mejic

Alan W Weimer

Christopher Michael Perkins

Paul R Lichty

Stephanie Bryant

Dana S Hauschulz

Garret Nicodemus

Idalis Villanueva

Methods for carrying out high temperature reactions such as biomass pyrolysis or gasification using solar energy. The biomass particles are rapidly heated in a solar thermal entrainment reactor. The residence time of the particles in the reactor can be 5 seconds or less. The biomass particles may be directly or indirectly heated depending on the reactor design. Metal oxide particles can be fed into the reactor concurrently with the biomass particles, allowing carbothermic reduction of the metal oxide particles by biomass pyrolysis products. The reduced metal oxide particles can be reacted with steam to produce hydrogen in a subsequent process step.

Rapid solar-thermal conversion of biomass to syngas

The present invention provides an apparatus for loading soft materials and methods for using the same. In some embodiments, the apparatus is a gearless mechanical loading apparatus which converts a rotational movement of one end of a first element into an arc of a circle movement of the other end of the first element; and converts the arc of a circle movement of the other end of the first element into a precision two-dimensional lateral movement of a second element.

Apparatus and methods for loading soft materials

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Brighton, CO, United States of America

Dragan Mejic