MODELING OF A NOVEL HIGH-TEMPERATURE SOLAR CHEMICAL REACTOR

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed in the design and optim ization of a novel high-temperature solar chemical reactor. The reacti on considered is the thermal reduction of metal oxides, as part of a t wo-step water-splitting cycle for hydrogen production. The solar react or uses a flow of metal oxides particles under concentrated solar radi ation, that serve simultaneously as energy absorbers and chemical reac tants. CFD simulation offers the possibility to calculate velocity, te mperature and pressure fields, and particle trajectories, which cannot be measured under the severe flux radiation (above 3000 kW/m(2)) and high-temperature (above 1500 K) environment of solar furnace experimen ts. CFD validation is accomplished by comparison with experimental res ults in cold operating conditions.