Solar test of an integrated sodium reflux heat pipe receiver/reactor for thermochemical energy transport
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Weizmann Inst. of Science, Rehovot (Israel)
- Univ. of Houston, TX (United States)
A chemical reactor for carbon dioxide reforming of methane was integrated into a sodium reflux heat pipe receiver and tested in the solar furnace of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. The receiver/reactor was a heat pipe with seven tubes inside an evacuated metal box containing sodium. The catalyst, 0.5 wt% Rh on alumina, filled two of the tubes with the front surface of the box serving as the solar absorber. In operation, concentrated sunlight heated the front plate and vaporized sodium from a wire mesh wick attached to other side. Sodium vapor condensed on the reactor tubes, releasing latent heat and returning to the wick by gravity. The receiver system performed satisfactorily in many tests under varying flow conditions. The maximum power absorbed was 7.5 kW at temperatures above 800C. The feasibility of operating a heat pipe receiver/reactor under solar conditions was proven, and the advantages of reflux devices confirmed.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5781050
- Journal Information:
- Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States), Vol. 48:1; ISSN 0038-092X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HEAT PIPES
PERFORMANCE
CHEMICAL REACTORS
EVACUATED COLLECTORS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
SODIUM
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR FURNACES
THERMOCHEMICAL HEAT STORAGE
ALKALI METALS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FURNACES
HEAT STORAGE
METALS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STORAGE
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)