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Comprehensive study on novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactors of gradually-varied porosity catalyst beds for hydrogen production

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  • Cheng, Ze-Dong
  • Men, Jing-Jing
  • He, Ya-Ling
  • Tao, Yu-Bing
  • Ma, Zhao

Abstract

In this paper, novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactors (PTSRR) of gradually-varied porosity catalyst beds are proposed for cost-efficient hydrogen production. A three-dimensional comprehensive model was developed for PTSRRs of the methanol-steam reforming reaction (MSRR) in porous Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst packed beds, by combining the finite volume method (FVM) and the Monte Carlo ray-tracing (MCRT) method with a MSRR comprehensive kinetic model. The validated model was applied to investigate different novel PTSRRs proposed, as well as the effects and mechanisms of different non-uniform porosity distributions, taking the methanol flow rate, the catalyst temperature limitation and the solar flux nonuniformity into account. It is revealed that the catalyst particles packed in the top part of the traditional absorber-reactor may not only have not fully played their roles but also influenced the multicomponent gas mixture fluid flow and heat transfer greatly. The non-uniform porosity catalyst bed gradually-increased from the bottom to the top better matches previously non-uniform temperature distributions and thus makes PTSRRs operated more safely, more efficiently yet lower cost of locally less packed catalyst mass. This comprehensive model and method offers a useful option of high potential for comprehensive analyses of the whole photo-thermal-chemical conversion process for different PTSRRs and realistic conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng, Ze-Dong & Men, Jing-Jing & He, Ya-Ling & Tao, Yu-Bing & Ma, Zhao, 2019. "Comprehensive study on novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactors of gradually-varied porosity catalyst beds for hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1766-1781.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:143:y:2019:i:c:p:1766-1781
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.05.137
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    2. Zhang, Peiye & Liu, Ming & Mu, Ruiqi & Yan, Junjie, 2024. "Exergy-based control strategy design and dynamic performance enhancement for parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor of methanol decomposition reaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Khanmohammadi, Shoaib & Kizilkan, Onder & Ahmed, Faraedoon Waly, 2020. "Tri-objective optimization of a hybrid solar-assisted power-refrigeration system working with supercritical carbon dioxide," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1348-1360.
    4. Rezapour, Mojtaba & Gholizadeh, Mohammad, 2021. "Analysis of methanol thermochemical reactor with volumetric solar heat flux based on Parabolic Trough Concentrator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 1088-1100.
    5. Liang, Huaxu & Wang, Fuqiang & Yang, Luwei & Cheng, Ziming & Shuai, Yong & Tan, Heping, 2021. "Progress in full spectrum solar energy utilization by spectral beam splitting hybrid PV/T system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    6. Cheng, Ze-Dong & Leng, Ya-Kun & Men, Jing-Jing & He, Ya-Ling, 2020. "Numerical study on a novel parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor and a new control strategy for continuous and efficient hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    7. Zhao, Ning & Wang, Jiangjiang & Tian, Yuyang & Yao, Zibo & Yan, Suying, 2024. "Numerical study on a novel solar-thermal-reaction system for clean hydrogen production of methanol-steam reforming," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    8. Tang, X.Y. & Yang, W.W. & Yang, Y. & Jiao, Y.H. & Zhang, T., 2021. "A design method for optimizing the secondary reflector of a parabolic trough solar concentrator to achieve uniform heat flux distribution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    9. Zhang, Peiye & Liu, Ming & Zhao, Yongliang & Yan, Junjie, 2023. "Performance analysis on the parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor of methanol decomposition reaction under off-design conditions and during dynamic processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 583-597.

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