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Radiative heat transfer and thermal characteristics of Fe-based oxides coated SiC and Alumina RPC structures as integrated solar thermochemical reactor

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Abstract

This paper investigated radiative heat transfer and thermal characteristics of Fe-based oxides coated SiC and Alumina reticulated porous ceramic structures as integrated solar thermochemical reactor. High-flux solar radiation absorption and axial temperature distribution in the ceramic foams reactor were analyzed by adopting surface-to-surface radiation model coupled to the P1 approximation for radiation heat transfer. The radiative heat transfer and thermal characteristics of different foam-type RPC structures, including SiC, CeO2, FeAl2O4, NiFeAlO4, Fe3O4/SiC, and NiFe2O4/SiC were evaluated. The mass flow rate and foam structural parameters, including the permeability, pore mean cell size, and extinction coefficients have significantly affected the axial temperature distribution, pressure drop, heat transfer, and fluid flow. Integrated porous structure to the solar receiver could maximize the incorporation of redox powder in the reacting medium, lower the pressure drop, and enhance the thermal performance of the thermochemical reacting system. SiC structure was the candidate materials in the case where more heat flux and high axial temperature distribution is needed. However, Fe-based oxide coated Al2O3 structure could be considered regarding the heat transfer enhancement along with the catalyst activity of oxygen carriers for solar thermochemical reacting system performance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Aerospace Thermophysics of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China

    Bachirou Guene Lougou, Yong Shuai, RuMing Pan, Hao Zhang & HePing Tan

  2. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, China

    Yong Shuai & HePing Tan

  3. Laboratory of Energetics and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic College of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi University, Cotonou, 01P.O.BOX 2009, Benin

    Gédéon Chaffa & Clément Ahouannou

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  1. Bachirou Guene Lougou
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  2. Yong Shuai
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  3. RuMing Pan
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  4. Gédéon Chaffa
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  5. Clément Ahouannou
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  6. Hao Zhang
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  7. HePing Tan
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Correspondence to Yong Shuai.

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Guene Lougou, B., Shuai, Y., Pan, R. et al. Radiative heat transfer and thermal characteristics of Fe-based oxides coated SiC and Alumina RPC structures as integrated solar thermochemical reactor. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 61, 1788–1801 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9294-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9294-y

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