IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i13p3112-d1421189.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reactor and Plant Designs for the Solar Photosynthesis of Fuels

Author

Listed:
  • Simge Naz Degerli

    (Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM Unit Milano-Università, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Alice Gramegna

    (Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM Unit Milano-Università, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Matteo Tommasi

    (Chemical Plants and Industrial Chemistry Group, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano and CNR-SCITEC, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Gianguido Ramis

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, Civile ed Ambientale, Università degli Studi di Genova and INSTM Unit Genova, Via all’Opera Pia 15A, 16145 Genoa, Italy)

  • Ilenia Rossetti

    (Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, INSTM Unit Milano-Università, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
    Chemical Plants and Industrial Chemistry Group, Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano and CNR-SCITEC, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Solar-boosted photo-technology stands out as a powerful strategy for photosynthesis and photocatalytic processes due to its minimal energy requirements, cost-effectiveness and operation under milder, environmentally friendly conditions compared to conventional thermocatalytic options. The design and development of photocatalysts have received a great deal of attention, whereas photoreactor development must be studied deeper to enable the design of efficient devices for practical exploitation. Furthermore, scale-up issues are important for this application, since light distribution through the photoreactor is a concurrent factor. This review represents a comprehensive study on the development of photoreactors to be used mainly for the photoreduction of CO 2 to fuels, but with concepts easily transferable to other photosynthetic applications such as ammonia synthesis and water splitting, or wastewater treatment, photovoltaics combined to photoreactors, etc. The primary categories of photoreactors are thoroughly examined. It is also explained which parameters influence the design of a photoreactor and next-generation high-pressure photoreactors are also discussed. Last but not least, current technologies for solar concentrators are recalled, considering their possible integration within the photoreactor. While many reviews deal with photocatalytic materials, in the authors’ view, photoreactors with significant scale and their merged devices with solar concentrators are still unexploited solutions. These are the key to boost the efficiency of these processes towards commercial viability; thus, the aim of this review is to summarise the main findings on solar photoreactors for the photoreduction of CO 2 and for related applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Simge Naz Degerli & Alice Gramegna & Matteo Tommasi & Gianguido Ramis & Ilenia Rossetti, 2024. "Reactor and Plant Designs for the Solar Photosynthesis of Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-72, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:13:p:3112-:d:1421189
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/13/3112/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/13/3112/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaodong Li & Yongfu Sun & Jiaqi Xu & Yanjie Shao & Ju Wu & Xiaoliang Xu & Yang Pan & Huanxin Ju & Junfa Zhu & Yi Xie, 2019. "Selective visible-light-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CH4 mediated by atomically thin CuIn5S8 layers," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(8), pages 690-699, August.
    2. Piadehrouhi, Forough & Ghorbani, Bahram & Miansari, Mehdi & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2019. "Development of a new integrated structure for simultaneous generation of power and liquid carbon dioxide using solar dish collectors," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 938-959.
    3. Arabkoohsar, A. & Sadi, M., 2020. "A solar PTC powered absorption chiller design for Co-supply of district heating and cooling systems in Denmark," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    4. Cheng, Ya-Hsin & Nguyen, Van-Huy & Chan, Hsiang-Yu & Wu, Jeffrey C.S. & Wang, Wei-Hon, 2015. "Photo-enhanced hydrogenation of CO2 to mimic photosynthesis by CO co-feed in a novel twin reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 318-324.
    5. Loni, Reyhaneh & Asli-Ardeh, E. Askari & Ghobadian, B. & Kasaeian, A.B. & Bellos, Evangelos, 2018. "Energy and exergy investigation of alumina/oil and silica/oil nanofluids in hemispherical cavity receiver: Experimental Study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 275-287.
    6. Zhang, Nan & Hou, Hongjuan & Yu, Gang & Hu, Eric & Duan, Liqiang & Zhao, Jin, 2019. "Simulated performance analysis of a solar aided power generation plant in fuel saving operation mode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 918-928.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jiang, Yue & Duan, Liqiang & Pang, Liping & Song, Jifeng, 2021. "Thermal performance study of tower solar aided double reheat coal-fired power generation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    2. Peng, Wanxi & Chuong Nguyen, Thi Hong & Nguyen, Dang Le Tri & Wang, Ting & Van Thi Tran, Thi & Le, Trung Hieu & Le, Hai Khoa & Grace, Andrews Nirmala & Singh, Pardeep & Raizadaa, Pankaj & Nguyen Dinh,, 2021. "A roadmap towards the development of superior photocatalysts for solar- driven CO2-to-fuels production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    3. Yuxuan Zhang & Hasan Al-Mahayni & Pedro M. Aguiar & Daniel Chartrand & Morgan McKee & Mehdi Shamekhi & Ali Seifitokaldani & Nikolay Kornienko, 2025. "Oxy-reductive C-N bond formation via pulsed electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Peng, Hao & Guo, Wenhua & Li, Meilin, 2020. "Thermal-hydraulic and thermodynamic performances of liquid metal based nanofluid in parabolic trough solar receiver tube," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    5. Xiaodong Li & Li Li & Xiaohui Liu & Jiaqi Xu & Xingyuan Chu & Guangbo Chen & Dongqi Li & Mingchao Wang & Xia Wang & Chandrasekhar Naisa & Jing Gao & Yongfu Sun & Michael Grätzel & Xinliang Feng, 2025. "Designing multi-metal-site nanosheet catalysts for CO2 photoreduction to ethylene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Ajbar, Wassila & Parrales, A. & Huicochea, A. & Hernández, J.A., 2022. "Different ways to improve parabolic trough solar collectors’ performance over the last four decades and their applications: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    7. Khademi, Mohammad Mahyar & Koohshoori, Mozhdeh Shavali & Kasaeian, Alibakhsh, 2025. "Development of a renewable energy system utilizing solar dish collector, multi effect desalination and supercritical CO2 brayton cycle to produce fresh water and electricity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    8. Han, Yu & Sun, Yingying & Wu, Junjie, 2023. "A novel solar-driven waste heat recovery system in solar-fuel hybrid power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    9. Vinod Kumar & Liqiang Duan, 2021. "Off-Design Dynamic Performance Analysis of a Solar Aided Coal-Fired Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    10. Ayou, Dereje S. & Wardhana, Muhammad Fa'iq Vidi & Coronas, Alberto, 2023. "Performance analysis of a reversible water/LiBr absorption heat pump connected to district heating network in warm and cold climates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    11. Yixuan Wang & Yang Liu & Lingling Wang & Silambarasan Perumal & Hongdan Wang & Hyun Ko & Chung-Li Dong & Panpan Zhang & Shuaijun Wang & Ta Thi Thuy Nga & Young Dok Kim & Yujing Ji & Shufang Zhao & Ji-, 2024. "Coupling photocatalytic CO2 reduction and CH3OH oxidation for selective dimethoxymethane production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Yuan-Sheng Xia & Meizhong Tang & Lei Zhang & Jiang Liu & Cheng Jiang & Guang-Kuo Gao & Long-Zhang Dong & Lan-Gui Xie & Ya-Qian Lan, 2022. "Tandem utilization of CO2 photoreduction products for the carbonylation of aryl iodides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Lu, Xu & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Wang, Huizhi & Xuan, Jin, 2018. "Microfluidics-based pH-differential reactor for CO2 utilization: A mathematical study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 525-532.
    14. Yuqi Ren & Yiwei Fu & Naixu Li & Changjun You & Jie Huang & Kai Huang & Zhenkun Sun & Jiancheng Zhou & Yitao Si & Yuanhao Zhu & Wenshuai Chen & Lunbo Duan & Maochang Liu, 2024. "Concentrated solar CO2 reduction in H2O vapour with >1% energy conversion efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Yilong Zhao & Yunxuan Ding & Wenlong Li & Chang Liu & Yingzheng Li & Ziqi Zhao & Yu Shan & Fei Li & Licheng Sun & Fusheng Li, 2023. "Efficient urea electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide and nitrate via alternating Cu–W bimetallic C–N coupling sites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    16. Xuefei Zhao & Zhihang Xu & Zhaorui Zhang & Jiahao Liu & Xiaohui Yan & Ye Zhu & J. Paul Attfield & Minghui Yang, 2025. "Titanium nitride sensor for selective NO2 detection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    17. Munćan, Vladimir & Mujan, Igor & Macura, Dušan & Anđelković, Aleksandar S., 2024. "The state of district heating and cooling in Europe - A literature-based assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    18. Ravanbakhsh, Mohammad & Gholizadeh, Mohammad & Rezapour, Mojtaba, 2023. "3E thermodynamic modeling and optimization a novel of ARS-CPVT with the effect of inserting a turbulator in the solar collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 591-607.
    19. Xinfeng Chen & Chengdong Peng & Wenyan Dan & Long Yu & Yinan Wu & Honghan Fei, 2022. "Bromo- and iodo-bridged building units in metal-organic frameworks for enhanced carrier transport and CO2 photoreduction by water vapor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    20. Yang Liu & Jianhui Sun & Houhou Huang & Linlu Bai & Xiaomeng Zhao & Binhong Qu & Lunqiao Xiong & Fuquan Bai & Junwang Tang & Liqiang Jing, 2023. "Improving CO2 photoconversion with ionic liquid and Co single atoms," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:13:p:3112-:d:1421189. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.