3D-Printed 1000°C Silicon-Carbide Thermocatalytic CO2 Reactor with High Carbon Conversion and Energy Efficiencies

Default ARPA-E Project Image

Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$3,100,104
Location:
Ithaca, New York
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
05/16/2022 - 06/01/2025
Website:

Critical Need:

The aviation industry was responsible for the emission of ~1 gigaton of CO2 in 2019—roughly 3% of global emissions. Aviation emission levels are forecast to increase at ~2% per year. The industry is difficult to decarbonize due to the critical need for high specific energy storage media for long-range flight. While batteries are a potential solution for short range, they are not expected to have the specific energy required for flights over 1000 km. Consequently, high specific energy yet cost-effective carbon neutral aviation fuels will be essential to mitigate the aviation industry’s climate impact without compromising its economic performance.

Project Innovation + Advantages:

Dimensional Energy will apply additive manufacturing (AM) of large-scale ceramics to 3D print a reactor that will efficiently convert greater than 70% of CO2 and green H2 into synthetic gas (syngas), which may be used to produce synthetic aviation fuel. The high carbon utilization and energy efficiencies of the reactor will be coupled with inexpensive renewable electricity and green electrolysis-produced H2 to enable syngas production. Further processing will yield sustainable aviation fuel and other sustainable fuels and chemicals. The ultra-high temperature reactor will include structural features and architectures to achieve higher energy efficiency, compactness, temperature uniformity, and ease of system integration.

Potential Impact:

Dimensional Energy’s innovative reactors will convert CO2 into a feedstock chemical that can be processed into jet fuel, thereby providing a low-carbon and sustainable aviation fuel to an air flight sector that accounts for nearly 3% of global annual emissions.

Security:

The team’s processes will enable scalable production and assembly of 3D printed components into leak-free reactors with high thermal stability.

Environment:

This prototype reactor will be coupled to inexpensive renewable electricity and green H2 to enable production of syngas for sustainable aviation fuel from captured CO2.

Economy:

This project will utilize CO2 to create sustainable aviation fuel below $2/gal.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. James Seaba
Project Contact:
Dr. Bradley Brennan
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
brad@dimensionalenergy.com

Partners

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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Release Date:
02/11/2021