Development and Demonstration of a Prototype Solar Methane Reforming System for Thermochemical Energy Storage - Including Preliminary Shakedown Testing Results

摘要

This paper reports on the design, fabrication and preliminary testing of a solar steam-methane reforming system including a parabolic dish solar concentrator, the endothermic chemical reactor and associated heat exchangers. During shakedown testing, methane conversions exceeded 90% and solar-to-chemical energy conversions of about 63 ± 4% were obtained, based on the change in the higher heating value of the stream. Potential applications include thermochemical energy storage for concentrating solar power generation facilities and solar augments of fossil and biomass fuels for power generation and/or synthetic fuel production.