Committee Chair

Bhosale, Rahul R.

Committee Member

Bathi, Jejal R.; Harris, Bradley J.; Kode, Venkateswara

Department

Dept. of Civil and Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The growing levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in our atmosphere are a significant driver of climate change, highlighting the need for innovative strategies to utilize this greenhouse gas. One promising solution is solar-driven thermochemical CO₂ splitting (CDS), which can convert CO₂ into carbon monoxide (CO)—a vital component for producing syngas and fuels. This study examines the thermodynamic performance of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) as a redox material in solar thermochemical CO₂ splitting processes. To evaluate how different factors influence the efficiency of this process, a detailed thermodynamic model was created. This model looks at how variations in inert gas flow rates and gas-to-gas heat recuperation affect key parameters and the overall solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency. The findings reveal that while increasing the inert gas flowrate lowers the required thermal reduction temperature, it also raises the total energy demand. On the other hand, enhancing gas-to-gas heat recuperation significantly decreases the energy demand associated with the process, thereby boosting overall efficiency. Overall, this research underscores the potential of NiFe2O4 as a highly effective catalyst for solar thermochemical fuel production. It also offers valuable insights into optimizing process parameters to improve energy efficiency. This work advances the development of sustainable CO₂ utilization technologies and paves the way for scalable systems focused on solar-driven fuel production.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to my family. Most importantly, my mom, who has always supported me through my academic journey. Her belief in and love for me have been a constant driving force behind my academic journey. I would not be the person I am without her scarifies and leadership. I am also thankful for my sister and her love and support in my academic endeavors. A special thanks to Callie and Saige, who have brought comfort and happiness during this time. I also want to thank my relatives for supporting and providing encouragement every step of the way. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Rahul Bhosale, for their invaluable guidance, encouragement, and patients throughout this journey. Their insightful feedback and constant support have been critical in shaping this work. His mentorship and expertise have pushed me to work hard and grow as a researcher and professional. I extend a heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Bradley Harris, Dr. Venkateswara Kode, and Dr. Jejal Bathi for their support, guidance, and assistance as committee members. A special thanks for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Civil and Chemical Engineering Department for creating an environment that pushed me to learn and grow academically. I am grateful for Dr. Sungwoo Yang and his guidance and assistance in my academic journey. His encouragement and passion have been essential to my master’s pursuit. I would also like to thank Ms. Bonny Clark, the graduate liaison for the department. Her exceptional assistance with the graduation aspect have been critical to my academic journey. I also want to give thanks to my professors at Southern Adventist University (SAU), your passion and dedication for your students were foundational in my pursuit for my master’s degree. I’m grateful for the academic and leadership growth that my professors fostered. I also want to thank Ms. Dennisse Blood. I’m so grateful for your continued support and encouragement. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to my friends Nathan Church, Copeland Corley, Ben Garcia, Joni Lyn Hubbard, Sean Ives, Matthew Jensen, Lynn Mukwada, Ian Tidwell, and Daniela Wright for their support and encouragement during my master’s pursuit. Their friendship, conversations, and encouragement have been a source of motivation and comfort. I’m forever grateful for your support and love. Without your encouragement and push for me and my academic journey, I would not be here. Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to my cat child and assistant, Isaac Alexander Fig Newton. Your constant meowing and demanding for attention have made this thesis more difficult to write. I am thankful for your unwilling emotional support and your distaste for my pursuit of academic knowledge.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

5-2025

Subject

Carbon dioxide--Thermal properties; Energy conversion; Solar thermal energy; Thermochemistry

Keyword

NiFe2O4; CO2 Splitting; Solar fuels; gas-to-gas heat recovery; thermochemical

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xxv, 80 leaves

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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