Design and Modeling of a Solar Reactor for Thermochemical Carbon Dioxide Capture

Abstract

The development and design of a 1 kW research-scale solar-driven reactor to study the calcium oxide-based carbonation-calcination cycle for carbon dioxide capture is presented. Thermodynamic analyses are used to identify appropriate reaction conditions and evaluate the usefulness of gas and solid heat recovery. A numerical heat and mass transfer model is developed, first to support the design of the reactor and then to predict the solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency. The model solves the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations and includes the effects of radiative heat transfer and chemistry. The final reactor design consists of a beam-up oriented inner cavity surrounded by a packed bed of reacting particles. It is intended to be easy to assemble and modify, allowing for future design improvements.