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Theoretical analysis of a novel, portable, CPC-based solar thermal collector for methanol reforming

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  • Gu, Xiaoguang
  • Taylor, Robert A.
  • Morrison, Graham
  • Rosengarten, Gary

Abstract

In this paper we propose a new solar thermal collector which is suitable for providing heat for endothermic chemical reactions. The particular reaction that is considered is hydrogen production by menthol reforming. The design presented here is based on CPC (compound parabolic concentrator) technology, which can operate without complicated (and costly) tracking systems. It consists of a small, double-sided selective surface receiver in a vacuum envelope comprised of CPC reflectors and a glass aperture cover. Heat absorbed by the receiver is transferred to the working fluid inside micro tubes where the chemical reaction is occurring. This design, to the best of our knowledge, represents the first time that a vacuum package (which creates thermal concentration) has been combined with a CPC-based optical concentrator for thermo-chemical applications. This collector design can convert over 78% of incident solar radiation into heat with a concentration ratio of 1.75, allowing for a high solar-to-fuel efficiency in chemical reactions. This study establishes both the optical and thermal models needed to predict the performance of this type of collector. The results show that the collector stagnates at very high temperatures (up to 600°C), and can provide solar heat in the form of a small collector for a variety of portable applications – e.g. methanol reforming that requires temperatures of around 250°C.

Suggested Citation

  • Gu, Xiaoguang & Taylor, Robert A. & Morrison, Graham & Rosengarten, Gary, 2014. "Theoretical analysis of a novel, portable, CPC-based solar thermal collector for methanol reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 467-475.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:119:y:2014:i:c:p:467-475
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.01.033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hong, Hui & Liu, Qibin & Jin, Hongguang, 2012. "Operational performance of the development of a 15kW parabolic trough mid-temperature solar receiver/reactor for hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 137-141.
    2. Yang, Hongxing & Wei, Zhou & Chengzhi, Lou, 2009. "Optimal design and techno-economic analysis of a hybrid solar-wind power generation system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 163-169, February.
    3. Pöschl, Martina & Ward, Shane & Owende, Philip, 2010. "Evaluation of energy efficiency of various biogas production and utilization pathways," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3305-3321, November.
    4. Liu, Qibin & Hong, Hui & Yuan, Jianli & Jin, Hongguang & Cai, Ruixian, 2009. "Experimental investigation of hydrogen production integrated methanol steam reforming with middle-temperature solar thermal energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 155-162, February.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Li, Qiyuan & Zheng, Cheng & Shirazi, Ali & Bany Mousa, Osama & Moscia, Fabio & Scott, Jason A. & Taylor, Robert A., 2017. "Design and analysis of a medium-temperature, concentrated solar thermal collector for air-conditioning applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1159-1173.
    3. Habib Shoeibi & Azad Jarrahian & Mehdi Mehrpooya & Ehsanolah Assaerh & Mohsen Izadi & Fathollah Pourfayaz, 2022. "Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of a Compound Parabolic Concentrators Collector with an Absorber Tube," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Li, Qiyuan & Shirazi, Ali & Zheng, Cheng & Rosengarten, Gary & Scott, Jason A. & Taylor, Robert A., 2016. "Energy concentration limits in solar thermal heating applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 253-267.
    5. Li, Wenjia & Ling, Yunyi & Liu, Xiangxin & Hao, Yong, 2017. "Performance analysis of a photovoltaic-thermochemical hybrid system prototype," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 939-947.
    6. Balaji, Shanmugapriya & Reddy, K.S. & Sundararajan, T., 2016. "Optical modelling and performance analysis of a solar LFR receiver system with parabolic and involute secondary reflectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1138-1151.
    7. Javed Akhter & Syed I. Gilani & Hussain H. Al-Kayiem & Muzaffar Ali, 2019. "Optical Performance Analysis of Single Flow Through and Concentric Tube Receiver Coupled with a Modified CPC Collector Under Different Configurations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-24, October.
    8. Fahim Ullah & Mansoor K Khattak & Kang Min, 2018. "Experimental investigation of the comparison of compound parabolic concentrator and ordinary heat pipe-type solar concentrator," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(5), pages 770-783, August.
    9. Liu, Xiufeng & Hong, Hui & Jin, Hongguang, 2017. "Mid-temperature solar fuel process combining dual thermochemical reactions for effectively utilizing wider solar irradiance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1031-1039.

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