Volume 11: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Changing the World: Part III

Thermodynamic and kinetic investigations in a solar thermochemical energy storage system with the combined steam and dry methane reforming Fan Jiao, Buchu Lu, Chen Chen, Qibin Liu

Abstract

To make efficient use of natural gas resource and realize carbon-free emission, a solar thermochemical energy storage system with the combined steam and dry methane reforming is proposed in this study. In the system, the methane reforming reaction is driven by concentrated solar energy, which upgrades solar thermal energy into chemical energy in the form of the syngas products. A reactor model that considers multiple reactions system and kinetic rate equations is used for the performance simulation of the thermochemical energy storage system. The results show that the distributions of temperature, mole fraction of components and conversion along reactor axis direction are uneven. The steam methane reforming reaction mainly consumes CH4 at the front part of the reactor, and the dry methane reforming reaction dominates the reaction system at the latter part of the reactor. The highest thermochemical energy storage efficiency can reach 61% under the condition of the stoichiometric feed ratio and 1 bar. The research findings provides an efficient and stable method for the reduction of natural gas consumption and the utilization of solar energy

Keywords Combined steam and dry reforming, Solar energy, Thermochemical energy storage, Kinetic model, Thermodynamics