 Numerical study on a novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor and a new control strategy for continuous and efficient hydrogen productionZe-Dong Cheng, Ya-Kun Leng, Jing-Jing Men and Ya-Ling He Applied Energy, 2020, vol. 261, issue C, No S0306261919321324 Abstract: In this paper, a novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor is proposed for continuous and efficient hydrogen production via the methanol-steam reforming reaction. With a concentric through-type tube introduced for thermal energy storage, this novel system canbe effectively applied for better solar thermochemical energy conversion and management. The proposed novel system and the corresponding original system, as well as direct/indirect control strategies and parameter optimizations, were then fully investigated. This was numerically carried out by a proposed three-dimensional comprehensive model based on the finite volume method, combined with the Monte Carlo ray-tracing method and the comprehensive kinetic model of the methanol-steam reforming reaction. It is revealed that the proposed novel system has much better comprehensive characteristics and performance than that of the corresponding original system. These previously incompatible requirements, both an affordable temperature rise per unitreceiver-reactor length and a nearly complete methanol conversion rate, can be achieved simultaneously in this novel system. It is also found that the previously sensitive process of the methanol-steam reforming reaction can be controlled separately or jointly, by adjusting more control variables introduced in the novel system. Moreover, this novel system could also have great potential to be improved, by tuning corresponding key operating parameters such as the inlet temperature, the flowmodel and the concentric tube geometry. The energy distribution of the collected solar radiation and working temperature characteristics could also be further controlled or optimized. It could provide significant guidance for similar solar-driven thermochemical applications for continuous and efficient hydrogen production. Keywords: Novel solar receiver-reactor; Thermal energy storage; New control strategy; Twenty-four hour operation; Monte Carlo ray-tracing method; Efficient hydrogen production (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:261:y:2020:i:c:s0306261919321324 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114444 Access Statistics for this article Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier |
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