The design and experimental investigation of an alumina reticulate porous ceramic heat exchanger for high temperatures

Abstract

The present study focuses on the design, modeling and testing of an alumina heat exchanger filled with reticulate porous ceramic (RPC). The heat exchanger has been designed to operate reliably at temperatures up to 1773 K, integrate seamlessly with the reactor designed for isothermal CO2 and H2O splitting using ceria and obtain an effectiveness of >0.85 for the range of flow rates anticipated during operation of the isothermal reactor. The RPC morphology, namely porosity and pore density and the geometry of the heat exchanger are selected based on the results of a fluid flow and heat transfer model of the heat exchanger. A prototype was also tested at temperatures up to 1240 K. The permeability, inertial coefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient, effectiveness and pressure drop were measured.