Numerical Modelling of a Solar Thermochemical Heat Transformer for Industrial Heating Applications

Abstract

Replacing fossil fuel-based industrial heating systems with sustainable alternatives such as solar thermal systems is necessary for achieving sustainable development goals. Often low-concentrated solar collectors are cheaper yet their low-temperature output limits their applications in the industry. The thermochemical heat transformers can be integrated with these collectors to achieve an upgraded output temperature without electricity consumption. Furthermore, these thermochemical systems have an inherent capability of heat storage in chemical bonds thereby mitigating the intermittency issue of solar energy sources. In this research, an innovative packed-bed thermochemical reactor in a closed system configuration is introduced and simulated numerically. The main objective of this analysis is to scrutinize how well the proposed design operates in terms of heat and mass transfer. In this reactor, SrBr₂ hydrate is used as the thermochemical material. The study indicates that the proposed design can potentially upgrade the temperature by 100 °C and maintain it at 300 °C for about 40 minutes. This modular design, which can be scaled up easily for large applications, predicts the full conversion of reactions and shows a flexible temperature boost of low-concentrated collectors output.