Thermochemical storage performance of steam methane reforming in tubular reactor with simulated solar source

Abstract

The thermochemical storage performance of steam methane reforming in a tubular reactor heated by simulated solar source was investigated under different conditions. As inlet flow rate increases, the methane conversion obviously decreases, while the thermochemical energy storage efficiency first increase for more reactants, and then it decreases because the methane conversion decreases. 3D numerical model considering unilateral solar irradiation with Gaussian distribution was established to predict heat transfer and chemical reaction inside the reactor. The simulation results very well fit with experiment, and the heat transfer of the reactor was further investigated with the impact of energy flux density. As energy flux density increases, the methane conversion sharply grows, while peak thermochemical energy storage efficiency exists.