A micro-reactor for a reforming process has a cold side and a hot side opposite the cold side. Inlets are defined in the cold side, the inlets configured for receiving reagents. An outlet is defined in the cold side, the outlet configured for exiting reforming products. A reforming chamber is in the hot side, the reforming chamber having a catalyst, the reforming chamber configured for reforming the reagents into the reforming products, the reforming chamber including channels extending toward an end surface on the hot side of the reforming chamber, and a return plenum. A reagent path is from the inlets to the reforming chamber, the reagent path configured to feed the plurality of channels with reagents. A reforming product path is from the reforming chamber to the outlet, the reforming product path configured to receive products from the return plenum.

A microreactor for photoreactions includes a housing upper part, a lid plate made of a material that allows transmission of light, a flow path plate made of a material that suppresses light reflection and has a high thermal conductivity, and a housing lower part. Light is applied through a window of the housing upper part and the lid plate to a flow path of the flow path plate. The lid plate made of the material that allows transmission of light and the flow path plate made of the material that suppresses light reflection and has a high thermal conductivity are welded each other to form an integrated body.

Techniques for photocatalytic hydrogen generation are provided. In one aspect, a hydrogen producing cell is provided. The hydrogen producing cell includes an anode electrode; a photocatalytic material adjacent to the anode electrode; a solid electrolyte adjacent to a side of the photocatalytic material opposite the anode electrode; and a cathode electrode adjacent to a side of the solid electrolyte opposite the photocatalytic material. A solar hydrogen producing system including at least one solar concentrating assembly having the hydrogen producing cell, and a method for producing hydrogen using the hydrogen producing cell are also provided.

A method of photooxygenating furfural in a photooxygenating system, whereby a liquid mixture comprising furfural, a photosensitizer, and a reaction solvent is passed through a reaction section of the photooxygenating system, wherein the liquid mixture is exposed to solar radiation, while a portion of the furfural is oxidized in presence of the photosensitizer and a furanone compound is produced. Various embodiments of the photocatalytic water splitting reactor, and the water splitting system are also provided.

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.

A reactor for steam-methane reforming is adapted to be received in a tube on a focal axis of a parabolic trough. The reactor may comprise an array of micro-reactors interconnected by a water manifold, a gas manifold, a syngas manifold, and at least one steam-methane reforming chamber configured for reforming steam and methane into syngases, the micro-reactors having a vaporization portion for producing steam. Radiation plates may extend on sides of the array of micro-reactors Glazing may face and be spaced apart from a portion of the array of micro-reactors including at least one steam-methane reforming chamber, the glazing being conductively connected to the radiation plates for heat transfer therebetween, the at least one glazing allowing light from the parabolic trough to pass therethrough to reach the array of micro-reactors.

A flow reactor has a fluidic module with a first major outer surface. The module contains a fluid passage and has a transmittance through the first major outer surface to the fluid passage of at least 20% over a range of wavelengths. The reactor has an illumination module comprising one or more radiation sources, which can emit within the range, positioned within an enclosure. The enclosure has a back wall and a side wall and an opening opposite the back wall. An edge of the side wall surrounds the opening. The illumination module is positioned such that the opening of the illumination module faces the first major outer surface of the fluidic module. The side wall comprises a telescoping portion such that a distance from the back wall of the enclosure to the edge of the side wall is adjustable.

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels.

The present invention relates to a device for the photocatalytic reduction of a substance with a structured reaction plate and/or a structured housing, wherein the reaction plate has, at least in some regions, a surface which contains a material with negative electron affinity and which can be electronically excited with radiation having a wavelength of ≥180 nm.

A solar reactor useful in reaction processes, more particularly, useful in endothermic reaction processes, such as a catalyzed process or an adsorption-desorption process. The reactor comprises a reaction pathway defined by an exterior wall and an interior wall, the exterior wall comprising a solar radiation receiver capable of converting solar radiation into heat and transmitting the heat to the reaction pathway. The reaction pathway has disposed therein, in alternating fashion, a plurality of reactive elements comprised of a catalyst or a sorbent and a plurality of heat transfer elements.