Numerical Modeling of a High-Temperature Thermochemical Heat Storage Reactor

A high-temperature thermochemical heat storage system provides a pathway to integrate intermittent renewable energy sources such as Solar PV and wind, into industrial heating processes. In this study, a numerical model that couples the fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, and chemical kinetics is developed to analyze the performance of the storage reactor. The preliminary results show that the reactor can reach the expected high temperatures within a reasonable time. However, the reactive material near the inlet shows partial thermal reduction because it cannot reach the reaction temperature due to poor heat transfer capacity and the cooling effect of the inlet air. This model can aid in designing an optimal reactor for high-performance storage operations.