Solar reactors are promising energy storage technologies that convert solar energy into the heating value of passing fluids. This study is focused on a foam-based solar reactor, one of the most common types of solar reactors, supposed to produce syngas from the dry reforming of methane (DRM). The novelty of the present study is that it proposes a new Gaussian-pattern reactor geometry inspired by the Gaussian distribution of the incident solar flux. Local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) model and the finite volume method (FVM) numerical approach are employed to assess the performance of the proposed solar reactor design. A comparison between the present design and the benchmark design (the design with cylindrical geometry) shows that the new design leads to better temperature distribution and improves energy storage efficiency by about 3.3%.
MuradovNVezirogluT.“Green” path from fossil-based to hydrogen economy: an overview of carbon-neutral technologies. Int J Hydrogen Energy2008; 33(23): 6804–6839.
2.
MomirlanMVezirogluT.The properties of hydrogen as fuel tomorrow in sustainable energy system for a cleaner planet. Int J Hydrogen Energy2005; 30(7): 795–802.
3.
SolmazRDönerAŞahinİ, et al. The stability of NiCoZn electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution activity in alkaline solution during long-term electrolysis. Int J Hydrogen Energy2009; 34(19): 7910–7918.
4.
LundH.Renewable energy strategies for sustainable development. Energy2007; 32(6): 912–919.
5.
WangFShuaiYTanH, et al. Thermal performance analysis of porous media receiver with concentrated solar irradiation. Int J Heat Mass Transf2013; 62: 247–254.
6.
ChubbTA.Characteristics of CO2 CH4 reforming-methanation cycle relevant to the solchem thermochemical power system. Sol Energy1980; 24(4): 341–345.
7.
FuqiangWJianyuTHuijianJ, et al. Thermochemical performance analysis of solar driven CO2 methane reforming. Energy2015; 91: 645–654.
8.
BellosETzivanidisCBelessiotisV.Daily performance of parabolic trough solar collectors. Sol Energy2017; 158: 663–678.
9.
LiWHaoYWangH, et al. Efficient and low-carbon heat and power cogeneration with photovoltaics and thermochemical storage. Appl Energy2017; 206: 1523–1531.
10.
LiuQHongHYuanJ, et al. Experimental investigation of hydrogen production integrated methanol steam reforming with middle-temperature solar thermal energy. Appl Energy2009; 86(2): 155–162.
11.
ZhangHShuaiYPangS, et al. Numerical investigation of carbon deposition behavior in Ni/Al2O3-based catalyst porous-filled solar thermochemical reactor for the dry reforming of methane process. Ind Eng Chem Res2019; 58(34): 15701–15711.
12.
AgrafiotisCVon StorchHRoebM, et al. Solar thermal reforming of methane feedstocks for hydrogen and syngas production - A review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev2014; 29: 656–682.
13.
KodamaTKiyamaAMoriyamaT, et al. Solar methane reforming using a new type of catalytically-activated metallic foam absorber. J Sol Energy Eng2004; 126(2): 808–811.
14.
SheuEJMokheimerEMAGhoniemAF.A review of solar methane reforming systems. Int J Hydrogen Energy2015; 40(38): 12929–12955.
15.
SteinfeldA.Solar thermochemical production of hydrogen–a review. Sol Energy2005; 78(5): 603–615.
16.
WangFTanJWangZ.Heat transfer analysis of porous media receiver with different transport and thermophysical models using mixture as feeding gas. Energy Convers Manag2014; 83: 159–166.
17.
KodamaT.High-temperature solar chemistry for converting solar heat to chemical fuels. Prog Energy Combust Sci2003; 29(6): 567–597.
18.
WörnerATammeR.CO2 reforming of methane in a solar driven volumetric receiver–reactor. Catal Today1998; 46(2–3): 165–174.
19.
ChalliwalaMSGhouriMMLinkeP, et al. A combined thermo-kinetic analysis of various methane reforming technologies: comparison with dry reforming. J CO2 Util2017; 17: 99–111.
20.
YuTYuanQLuJ, et al. Thermochemical storage performances of methane reforming with carbon dioxide in tubular and semi-cavity reactors heated by a solar dish system. Appl Energy2017; 185: 1994–2004.
21.
LuJChenYDingJ, et al. High temperature energy storage performances of methane reforming with carbon dioxide in a tubular packed reactor. Appl Energy2016; 162: 1473–1482.
22.
Villafán-VidalesHIArancibia-BulnesCARiveros-RosasD, et al. An overview of the solar thermochemical processes for hydrogen and syngas production: reactors, and facilities. Renew Sustain Energy Rev2017; 75: 894–908.
23.
UsmanMWan DaudWMAAbbasHF.Dry reforming of methane: influence of process parameters - a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev2015; 45: 710–744.
24.
MuraleedharanNair MKaliaguineS. Structured catalysts for dry reforming of methane. New J Chem2016; 40(5): 4049–4060.
25.
ParkJHYeoSChangTS.Effect of supports on the performance of Co-based catalysts in methane dry reforming. J CO2 Util2018; 26(March): 465–475.
26.
PakhareDSpiveyJ.A review of dry (CO2) reforming of methane over noble metal catalysts. Chem Soc Rev2014; 43(22): 7813–7837.
27.
XieTZhengHYXuKD, et al. High performance Ni-based porous catalytically activated absorbers and establishment of kinetic model for complex solar methane dry reforming reaction system. Chem Eng Sci2021; 239: 116625.
28.
GokonNOsawaYNakazawaD, et al. Kinetics of CO2 reforming of methane by catalytically activated metallic foam absorber for solar receiver-reactors. Int J Hydrogen Energy2009; 34(4): 1787–1800.
29.
WuZCaliotCBaiF, et al. Experimental and numerical studies of the pressure drop in ceramic foams for volumetric solar receiver applications. Appl Energy2010; 87(2): 504–513.
30.
WuZCaliotCFlamantG, et al. Coupled radiation and flow modeling in ceramic foam volumetric solar air receivers. Sol Energy2011; 85(9): 2374–2385.
31.
BenguerbaYDehimiLVirginieM, et al. Numerical investigation of the optimal operative conditions for the dry reforming reaction in a fixed-bed reactor: role of the carbon deposition and gasification reactions. React Kinet Mech Catal2015; 115(2): 483–497.
32.
ZhangHGuene LougouBPanR, et al. Analysis of thermal transport and fluid flow in high-temperature porous media solar thermochemical reactor. Sol Energy2018; 173(August): 814–824.
33.
FuqiangWZimingCJianyuT, et al. Energy storage efficiency analyses of CO2 reforming of methane in metal foam solar thermochemical reactor. Appl Therm Eng2017; 111: 1091–1100.
34.
ChenXWangFYanX, et al. Thermal and chemical analysis of methane dry reforming in a volumetric reactor under highly concentrated solar radiation. Sol Energy2018; 162: 187–195.
35.
ChenXWangFHanY, et al. Thermochemical storage analysis of the dry reforming of methane in foam solar reactor. Energy Convers Manag2018; 158: 489–498.
36.
ChenXXiaX-LMengX-L, et al. Thermal performance analysis on a volumetric solar receiver with double-layer ceramic foam. Energy Convers Manag2015; 97: 282–289.
37.
WangFShiXZhangC, et al. Effects of non-uniform porosity on thermochemical performance of solar driven methane reforming. Energy2020; 191: 116575.
38.
ChenXWangFYanX, et al. Thermochemical performance of solar driven CO2 reforming of methane in volumetric reactor with gradual foam structure. Energy2018; 151: 545–555.
39.
ShiXShuaiYWangF, et al. Effects of ordered hierarchically porous structure on methane reforming performance in solar foam reactor. J CO2 Util2020; 37: 147–157.
40.
ShiXZhangXWangF, et al. Thermochemical analysis of dry methane reforming hydrogen production in biomimetic venous hierarchical porous structure solar reactor for improving energy storage. Int J Hydrogen Energy2021; 46(11): 7733–7744.
41.
ShiXWangFLougouBG, et al. Experimental and numerical study regarding the biomimetic bone porous structure to match energy and mass flow in a solar thermochemical reactor. J Energy Storage2022; 55: 105645.
42.
ShiXSongJChengZ, et al. Radiative intensity regulation to match energy conversion on demand in solar methane dry reforming to improve solar to fuel conversion efficiency. Renew Energy2023; 207: 436–446.
43.
ShiXWangFChengZ, et al. Numerical analysis of the biomimetic leaf-type hierarchical porous structure to improve the energy storage efficiency of solar driven steam methane reforming. Int J Hydrogen Energy2021; 46(34): 17653–17665.
44.
ShiXXunYDongY, et al. Analysis of biomimetic hierarchical porous structure regulating radiation field to improve solar thermochemical performance based on minimum Gibbs free energy. Int J Hydrogen Energy2022; 47(5): 2832–2845.
45.
ZhangHShuaiYLougouBG, et al. Effects of multilayer porous ceramics on thermochemical energy conversion and storage efficiency in solar dry reforming of methane reactor. Appl Energy2020; 265: 114799.
46.
ZhangHShuaiYYuanY, et al. Thermal-chemical reaction characteristics of Ni/Al2O3 catalytic porous material filled solar reactor for dry reforming of methane process. Appl Therm Eng2020; 180(June): 115901.
47.
Guene LougouBShuaiYXingH, et al. Thermal performance analysis of solar thermochemical reactor for syngas production. Int J Heat Mass Transf2017; 111: 410–418.
48.
ShiXWangFFanY, et al. Oriented radiation regulation via forward and backward scattering of foam structural catalyst in thermochemical reactor for enhanced solar to fuel conversion. Energy Convers Manag2023; 297: 117735.
49.
LiuXChengBZhuQ, et al. Highly efficient solar-driven CO2 reforming of methane via concave foam reactors. Energy2022; 261: 125141.
50.
SongJChengZFanY, et al. Human ear inspired solar thermochemical reactor for steam methane reforming with the consideration of minimum Gibbs free energy principle. J Energy Storage2023; 72: 108172.
51.
YangY-JYangW-WMaX, et al. Performance improvement of a solar volumetric reactor with passive thermal management under different solar radiation conditions. Int J Hydrogen Energy2023; 48(53): 20193–20207.
52.
ZhengH-YZhangZ-YXuK-D, et al. Analysis of structure-induced performance in photothermal methane dry reforming reactor with coupled optics-CFD modeling. Chem Eng J2022; 428: 131441.
53.
DehghanMJamal-AbadMTRashidiS.Analytical interpretation of the local thermal non-equilibrium condition of porous media imbedded in tube heat exchangers. Energy Convers Manag2014; 85: 264–271.
54.
WuZCaliotCFlamantG, et al. Numerical simulation of convective heat transfer between air flow and ceramic foams to optimise volumetric solar air receiver performances. Int J Heat Mass Transf2011; 54(7–8): 1527–1537.
55.
WangFShuaiYWangZ, et al. Thermal and chemical reaction performance analyses of steam methane reforming in porous media solar thermochemical reactor. Int J Hydrogen Energy2014; 39(2): 718–730.
56.
WangFTanJYongS, et al. Thermal performance analyses of porous media solar receiver with different irradiative transfer models. Int J Heat Mass Transf2014; 78: 7–16.
57.
Ansys® Flunet, 2022R2. Help system, modeling radiation guide. Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA.
58.
HabermanBAYoungJB.Three-dimensional simulation of chemically reacting gas flows in the porous support structure of an integrated-planar solid oxide fuel cell. Int J Heat Mass Transf2004; 47(17–18): 3617–3629.
59.
TwiggMV.Catalyst handbook. Wolfe Pub, 2018.
60.
Villafán-VidalesHIAbanadesSCaliotC, et al. Heat transfer simulation in a thermochemical solar reactor based on a volumetric porous receiver. Appl Therm Eng2011; 31(16): 3377–3386.
