System and method for operating a electrified reactor
The method can include receiving a baseline signal curve, operating an electrified reactor, measuring a signal, optionally determining a state (e.g., state of health) of the electrified reactor, and controlling the electrified reactor based on the signal. The method can include receiving (e.g., determining, measuring, etc.) a resistance-temperature and/or resistance-time curve; operating an electrified reactor comprising resistively heating a porous catalytic element; measuring an electrical signal (e.g., resistance, current, voltage, etc.) of the electrified reactor; optionally inferring a temperature of the electrified reactor based on the electrical signal and the resistance-temperature, and controlling the electrified reactor based on the electrical signal. The system can include one or more of a reaction module (e.g., an electrical coupler or electrode and catalytic element, etc.), inlet and outlet valves, power source, electrical feedthroughs (e.g., leads, supports, etc.), sensors, and computing system (e.g. controller).
1 . A method for controlling an electrified reactor comprising:
receiving a baseline resistance relationship associated with a catalytic element of the electrified reactor, wherein the catalytic element comprises porous silicon carbide;
operating the electrified reactor, comprising controlling a power source of the electrified reactor to resistively heat the catalytic element using a predetermined current density and introducing gaseous CO 2 and water to the catalytic element, wherein the CO 2 and water are converted to CO and H 2 ;
while operating the electrified reactor, measuring at least one of voltage or power of the electrified reactor;
computing an instantaneous resistance of the catalytic element from the current density and the at least one of voltage or power; and
controlling the power source based on a difference between a target resistance and the instantaneous resistance, wherein the target resistance is determined based on a baseline resistance relationship, wherein the baseline resistance relationship comprises a resistance-time relationship, wherein the target resistance comprises a steady-state resistance value based on the resistance-time relationship, wherein the resistance-time relationship comprises a resistance versus time curve measured for a test catalytic element under a set of conditions that correspond with a set of reactor operation conditions;
wherein, while operating the electrified reactor, a temperature of the catalytic element is not directly measured using a temperature sensor.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting degradation of the catalytic element, wherein the degradation is detected when the resistance is different from the target resistance by a percent error of at least 10%.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline resistance relationship further comprises a resistance-temperature relationship; wherein controlling the power source is further based on a resistance value associated with an expected reaction temperature based on the baseline resistance-temperature relationship.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring the baseline resistance relationship, wherein measuring the baseline resistance comprises:
heating a set of catalytic elements, each analogous to the catalytic element in a furnace;
introducing steam, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen to the furnace to mimic reaction conditions of the electrified reactor; and
measuring a resistance at different temperatures for each catalytic element of the set of catalytic elements.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an operation setpoint based on the resistance and the target resistance; wherein the operation setpoint is determined using a set of predetermined heuristics.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an operation setpoint based on the resistance and the target resistance; wherein the operation setpoint is determined using a machine learning model.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline resistance relationship is received from a set of baseline resistance relationships, wherein the baseline resistance relationship is received based on a reaction environment of the electrified reactor or an age of the electrified reactor.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrified reactor comprises a second catalytic element arranged fluidically in series with the catalytic element, wherein the second catalytic element is resistively heated with a second power source, wherein the method further comprises computing an instantaneous resistance of the second catalytic element and controlling the second power source, independently from the power source, based on the instantaneous resistance of the second catalytic element and a second target resistance.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the at least one of voltage or power comprises measuring a voltage drop across the catalytic element during the conversion of the CO 2 and water to CO and H 2 .
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the power source is further based on a flow rate of at least one of the CO 2 or the water, wherein the power source is controlled such that a local temperature of the catalytic element is maintained.