scholarly journals Modeling of a Multitube High-Temperature Solar Thermochemical Reactor for Hydrogen Production

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Haussener ◽  
D. Hirsch ◽  
C. Perkins ◽  
A. Weimer ◽  
A. Lewandowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Concentration Ratio ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Thermochemical Cycle ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Particulate Media ◽  
Solar Reactor ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy ◽  
Reaction Extent ◽  
Flux Concentration

A solar reactor consisting of a cavity-receiver containing an array of tubular absorbers is considered for performing the ZnO-dissociation as part of a two-step H2O-splitting thermochemical cycle using concentrated solar energy. The continuity, momentum, and energy governing equations that couple the rate of heat transfer to the Arrhenius-type reaction kinetics are formulated for an absorbing-emitting-scattering particulate media and numerically solved using a computational fluid dynamics code. Parametric simulations were carried out to examine the influence of the solar flux concentration ratio (3000–6000 suns), number of tubes (1–10), ZnO mass flow rate (2–20 g/min per tube), and ZnO particle size (0.06–1 μm) on the reactor’s performance. The reaction extent reaches completion within 1 s residence time at above 2000 K, yielding a solar-to-chemical energy conversion efficiency of up to 29%.

Experimental Investigation of a Packed-Bed Solar Reactor for the Steam-Gasification of Biomass Charcoal

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Piatkowski ◽  
Christian Wieckert ◽  
Aldo Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Calorific Value ◽  
Packed Bed ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Steam Gasification ◽  
Solar Simulator ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Syngas Production ◽  
Solar Reactor ◽  
Graphite Plate ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy

Gasification of coal, biomass, and other carbonaceous materials for high-quality syngas production is considered using concentrated solar energy as the source of high-temperature process heat. The solar reactor consists of two cavities separated by a SiC-coated graphite plate, with the upper one serving as the radiative absorber and the lower one containing the reacting packed bed that shrinks as the reaction progresses. A 5-kW prototype reactor with an 8 cm-depth, 14.3 cm-diameter cylindrical bed was fabricated and tested in the High-Flux Solar Simulator at PSI, subjected to solar flux concentrations up to 2300 suns. Beech charcoal was used as a model feedstock and converted into high-quality syngas (predominantly H2 and CO) with packed-bed temperatures up to 1500 K, an upgrade factor of the calorific value of 1.33, and an energy conversion efficiency of 29%. Pyrolysis was evident through the evolution of higher gaseous hydrocarbons during heating of the packed bed. The engineering design, fabrication, and testing of the solar reactor are described.

CO2 Splitting in a Hot-Wall Aerosol Reactor via the Two-Step Zn/ZnO Solar Thermochemical Cycle

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Loutzenhiser ◽  
M. Elena Ga´lvez ◽  
Illias Hischier ◽  
Anastasia Stamatiou ◽  
Aldo Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Flow Reactor ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Solar Furnace ◽  
Thermochemical Cycle ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy ◽  
High Temperature Process ◽  
Solar Thermochemical ◽  
Reduction Of Co2

Using concentrated solar energy as the source of high-temperature process heat, a two-step CO2 splitting thermochemical cycle based on Zn/ZnO redox reactions is applied to produce renewable carbon-neutral fuels. The solar thermochemical cycle consists of: 1) the solar endothermic dissociation of ZnO to Zn and O2; 2) the non-solar exothermic reduction of CO2 with Zn to CO and ZnO; the latter is the recycled to the 1st solar step. The net reaction is CO2 = CO + 1/2 O2, with products formed in different steps, thereby eliminating the need for their separation. A Second-Law thermodynamic analysis indicates a maximum solar-to-chemical energy conversion efficiency of 39% for a solar concentration ratio of 5000 suns. The technical feasibility of the first step of the cycle has been demonstrated in a high-flux solar furnace with a 10 kW solar reactor prototype. The second step of the cycle is experimentally investigated in a hot-wall quartz aerosol flow reactor, designed for in-situ quenching of Zn(g), formation of Zn nanoparticles, and oxidation with CO2. The effect of varying the molar flow ratios of the reactants was investigated. Chemical conversions were determined by gas chromatography and X-ray diffraction. Chemical conversions of Zn to ZnO of up to 88% were obtained for a residence time of ∼ 3.05 s. For all of the experiments, the reactions primarily occurred outside the aerosol jet flow on the surfaces of the reaction zone.

Coupled Concentrating Optics, Heat Transfer, and Thermochemical Modeling of a 100-kWth High-Temperature Solar Reactor for the Thermal Dissociation of ZnO

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Villasmil ◽  
T. Cooper ◽  
E. Koepf ◽  
A. Meier ◽  
A. Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Solar Flux ◽  
Solar Furnace ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Radiation Boundary Condition ◽  
Solar Reactor ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

This work reports a numerical investigation of the transient operation of a 100-kWth solar reactor for performing the high-temperature step of the Zn/ZnO thermochemical cycle. This two-step redox cycle comprises (1) the endothermal dissociation of ZnO to Zn and O2 above 2000 K using concentrated solar energy, and (2) the subsequent oxidation of Zn with H2O/CO2 to produce H2/CO. The performance of the 100-kWth solar reactor is investigated using a dynamic numerical model consisting of two coupled submodels. The first is a Monte Carlo (MC) ray-tracing model applied to compute the spatial distribution maps of incident solar flux absorbed on the reactor surfaces when subjected to concentrated solar irradiation delivered by the PROMES-CNRS MegaWatt Solar Furnace (MWSF). The second is a heat transfer and thermochemical model that uses the computed maps of absorbed solar flux as radiation boundary condition to simulate the coupled processes of chemical reaction and heat transfer by radiation, convection, and conduction. Experimental validation of the solar reactor model is accomplished by comparing solar radiative power input, temperatures, and ZnO dissociation rates with measured data acquired with the 100-kWth solar reactor at the MWSF. Experimentally obtained solar-to-chemical energy conversion efficiencies are reported and the various energy flows are quantified. The model shows the prominent influence of reaction kinetics on the attainable energy conversion efficiencies, revealing the potential of achieving ηsolar-to-chemical = 16% provided the mass transport limitations on the ZnO reaction interface were overcome.

scholarly journals A Pressurized High-Flux Solar Reactor for the Thermochemical Gasification of Charcoal Slurry—Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Müller ◽  
A. Steinfeld
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Calculated Data ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Carbonaceous Particles ◽  
Solar Reactor ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy

Abstract A pressurized solar reactor for effecting the thermochemical gasification of carbonaceous particles driven by concentrated solar energy is modeled by means of a reacting two-phase flow. The governing mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations are formulated and solved numerically by finite volume computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled to a Monte Carlo radiation solver for a nongray absorbing, emitting, and scattering participating medium. Implemented are Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic rate expressions and size-dependent properties for charcoal particles undergoing shrinkage as gasification progresses. Validation is accomplished by comparing the numerically calculated data with the experimentally measured temperatures in the range 1283–1546 K, chemical conversions in the range 32–94%, and syngas product H2:CO and CO2:CO molar ratios obtained from testing a 3 kW solar reactor prototype with up to 3718 suns concentrated radiation. The simulation model is applied to identify the predominant heat transfer mechanisms and to analyze the effect of the solar rector's geometry and operational parameters (namely: carbon feeding rate, inert gas flowrate, solar concentration ratio, and total pressure) on the solar reactor's performance indicators given by the carbon molar conversion and the solar-to-fuel energy efficiency. Under optimal conditions, these can reach 94% and 40%, respectively.

Monte Carlo Heat Transfer Modeling of a Particle-Cloud Solar Reactor for SnO2 Thermal Reduction

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. I. Villafán-Vidales ◽  
C. A. Arancibia-Bulnes ◽  
S. Abanades ◽  
D. Riveros-Rosas ◽  
H. Romero-Paredes
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Particle Temperature ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Thermal Reduction ◽  
Particle Cloud ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Solar Reactor ◽  
Concentrated Solar Energy ◽  
Reaction Extent

A directly irradiated cavity solar reactor devoted to the thermal reduction of SnO2 particle-cloud is studied numerically by using the Monte Carlo method. The steady-state model solves the radiation and convection heat transfers in the semitransparent particle suspension and the chemical reaction. It was used to predict the temperature distribution and the reaction extent inside the cavity, as well as the theoretical thermochemical efficiency for different operational conditions. The simulations assume that the reactor contains a nonuniform size suspension of radiatively participating reacting SnO2 particles. The model takes into account the radiative characteristics of the particles, as well as the directional characteristics of the power distribution of the incoming concentrated solar energy. The particle concentration, the particle size, and the length of the reactor are varied. Results show that the particle temperature and the yield of the endothermic reaction are higher when the reactor is fed with a cloud of particles with average diameter of 20 μm. The maximal thermochemical efficiency reached is 10%, which corresponds to an optimal optical thickness of around 2.

scholarly journals Latent Heat Phase Change Heat Transfer of a Nanoliquid with Nano–Encapsulated Phase Change Materials in a Wavy-Wall Enclosure with an Active Rotating Cylinder

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2590
Author(s):  
S. A. M. Mehryan ◽  
Kaamran Raahemifar ◽  
Leila Sasani Gargari ◽  
Ahmad Hajjar ◽  
Mohamad El Kadri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Phase Change ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Wavy Wall ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Stefan Number ◽  
Change Material

A Nano-Encapsulated Phase-Change Material (NEPCM) suspension is made of nanoparticles containing a Phase Change Material in their core and dispersed in a fluid. These particles can contribute to thermal energy storage and heat transfer by their latent heat of phase change as moving with the host fluid. Thus, such novel nanoliquids are promising for applications in waste heat recovery and thermal energy storage systems. In the present research, the mixed convection of NEPCM suspensions was addressed in a wavy wall cavity containing a rotating solid cylinder. As the nanoparticles move with the liquid, they undergo a phase change and transfer the latent heat. The phase change of nanoparticles was considered as temperature-dependent heat capacity. The governing equations of mass, momentum, and energy conservation were presented as partial differential equations. Then, the governing equations were converted to a non-dimensional form to generalize the solution, and solved by the finite element method. The influence of control parameters such as volume concentration of nanoparticles, fusion temperature of nanoparticles, Stefan number, wall undulations number, and as well as the cylinder size, angular rotation, and thermal conductivities was addressed on the heat transfer in the enclosure. The wall undulation number induces a remarkable change in the Nusselt number. There are optimum fusion temperatures for nanoparticles, which could maximize the heat transfer rate. The increase of the latent heat of nanoparticles (a decline of Stefan number) boosts the heat transfer advantage of employing the phase change particles.

scholarly journals Heat Transfer Simulation in a High Temperature Solar Reactor

2015 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 1810-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Parthasarathy ◽  
P. Le Clercq
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Solar Reactor ◽  
Heat Transfer Simulation

scholarly journals The Influence of Different Types of Nanofluid on Thermal and Fluid Flow Performance of Liquid Cold Plate

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.35) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Irmawati Om ◽  
Rozli Zulkifli ◽  
P. Gunnasegaran
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Cold Plate ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Volume Method

The influence of utilizing different nanofluids types on the liquid cold plate (LCP) is numerically investigated. The thermal and fluid flow performance of LCP is examined by using pure ethylene glycol (EG), Al2O3-EG and CuO-EG. The volume fraction of the nanoparticle for both nanofluid is 2%. The finite volume method (FVM) has been used to solved 3-D steady state, laminar flow and heat transfer governing equations. The presented results indicate that Al2O3-EG able to provide the lowest surface temperature of the heater block followed by CuO-EG and EG, respectively. It is also found that the pressure drop and friction factor are higher for Al2O3-EG and CuO-EG compared to the pure EG.

Thermal Modeling of Unlooped and Looped Pulsating Heat Pipes

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 1159-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad B. Shafii ◽  
Amir Faghri ◽  
Yuwen Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Finite Difference ◽  
Heat Pipes ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Charge Ratio ◽  
Sensible Heat ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Heating Wall ◽  
Heat Mode ◽  
Explicit Finite Difference

Analytical models for both unlooped and looped Pulsating Heat Pipes (PHPs) with multiple liquid slugs and vapor plugs are presented in this study. The governing equations are solved using an explicit finite difference scheme to predict the behavior of vapor plugs and liquid slugs. The results show that the effect of gravity on the performance of top heat mode unlooped PHP is insignificant. The effects of diameter, charge ratio, and heating wall temperature on the performance of looped and unlooped PHPs are also investigated. The results also show that heat transfer in both looped and unlooped PHPs is due mainly to the exchange of sensible heat.

Analytical Study of the Convection Heat Transfer From an Isothermal Wedge Surface to Fluids

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bachiri ◽  
A. Bouabdallah
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Prandtl Number ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Convection Heat Transfer ◽  
Analytical Approximation ◽  
Numerical Results ◽  
Convection Heat ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Wedge Surface ◽  
Prandtl Numbers

In this work, we attempt to establish a general analytical approximation of the convection heat transfer from an isothermal wedge surface to fluids for all Prandtl numbers. The flow has been assumed to be laminar and steady state. The governing equations have been written in dimensionless form using a similarity method. A simple ad hoc technique is used to solve analytically the governing equations by proposing a general formula of the velocity profile. This formula verifies the boundary conditions and the equilibrium of the governing equations in the whole spatial region and permits us to obtain analytically the temperature profiles for all Prandtl numbers and for various configurations of the wedge surface. A comparison with the numerical results is given for all spatial regions and in wide Prandtl number values. A new Nusselt number expression is obtained for various configurations of the wedge surface and compared with the numerical results in wide Prandtl number values.

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