Two-Dimensional Axi-Symmetric Model of a Solar-Thermal Fluid-Wall Aerosol Flow Reactor

Abstract

A solar-thermal fluid-wall reactor consisting of three concentric vertical tubes is constructed to dissociate methane to hydrogen and carbon black using concentrated solar power. Several aspects of the design are modeled for scaling the system up: the heat transfer and its effect on the integrity of the materials, and the fluid flow of all gas streams within the reactor. It is determined that the inlet gas temperatures, mass flow rates, and permeability of the porous wall affect the gas flow profile through the porous tube wall. By increasing the inlet gas temperature and/or the tube permeability in the hot zone section of the reactor, a more uniform flow profile can be obtained along the length of the tube.