SOLAR DECARBONIZATION OF PARAFFIN DEHYDROGENATION THROUGH PARTICLE HEAT CARRIERS A. PROJECT OBJECTIVES WE PROPOSE HEATING SOLID CATALYST PARTICLES IN EXISTING DESIGNS OF SOLAR PARTICLE RECEIVERS, THEN USING THEM AS THE HEAT SOURCE IN A CONTINUOUS ADIABATIC MOVING BED REACTOR OPERATING FROM 600-900°C. THIS WOULD MAKE USE OF EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS IN SOLAR PARTICLE RECEIVERS. THE KEY TO INTEGRATING THE SYSTEM IS TO IDENTIFY AND TEST A SUITABLE CATALYST PARTICLE FOR EFFICIENT SOLAR ABSORPTION AND REACTION KINETICS. IN THIS PROJECT, WE WILL DESIGN AND FABRICATE CATALYST PARTICLES SUITABLE FOR THE DEHYDROGENATION OF PARAFFINS INTO LIGHT OLEFINS. WE WILL CHARACTERIZE THE REACTION KINETICS AND SOLAR ABSORPTION OF THE PARTICLES, DEMONSTRATION THEIR OPERATION IN A LAB-SCALE MOVING BED REACTOR, AND PRODUCE A DESIGN FOR ON-SUN PROTOTYPE TESTING. THE LIGHT OLEFIN INDUSTRY ACCOUNTS FOR OVER $300B IN ANNUAL WORLDWIDE SALES AND REQUIRES LARGE AMOUNTS OF PROCESS HEAT, CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION. THIS CONCEPT IS DESIGNED TO NEARLY ELIMINATE THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM THE PROCESS. THE CONCEPT WOULD BE ADAPTABLE TO SEVERAL OTHER HIGH-TEMPERATURE CATALYTIC GAS PHASE REACTIONS.