Dehydrogenation of isopropanol for utilization of waste heat: a chemical heat pump for heat and/or hydrogen storage and transport

The endothermic catalytic dehydrogenation of isopropanol has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. By optimizing the dehydrogenation reaction, a chemical heat pump/temperature amplifier may be developed for upgrading low temperature (approximately 80/spl deg/C) waste heat to a more useable form (150-200/spl deg/C) via the exothermic hydrogenation reaction. Methods to reduce the reaction temperature have been proposed and tested. Reaction rates for the evolution of hydrogen were measured and a kinetic model of a falling film reactor has been developed. It has been shown that simulated boiling aids in scrubbing the catalyst surface of acetone. Overall system efficiencies have been presented along with the advantages and disadvantages of the isopropanol/acetone chemical heat pump.