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Title: The CAESAR project: Experimental and modeling investigations of methane reforming in a CAtalytically Enhanced Solar Absorption Receiver on a parabolic dish

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10181211· OSTI ID:10181211
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (US)
  2. Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt, Stuttgart (DE). Inst. of Technical Thermodynamics

A joint US/Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) project has successfully tested a unique solar-driven chemical reactor in the CAtalytically Enhanced Solar Absorption Receiver (CAESAR) experiment. The CAESAR test was a {open_quotes}proof-of-concept{close_quotes} demonstration of carbon-dioxide reforming of methane in a commercial-scale, solar, volumetric receiver/reactor on a parabolic dish concentrator. The CAESAR design; test facility and instrumentation; thermal and chemical tests; and analysis of test results are presented in detail. Numerical models for the absorber and the receiver are developed and predicted performance is compared with test data. Post test analyses to assess the structural condition of the absorber and the effectiveness of the rhodium catalyst are presented. Unresolved technical issues are identified and future development efforts are recommended.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Stuttgart (Germany). Inst. fuer Technische Thermodynamik
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
10181211
Report Number(s):
SAND-92-2131; ON: DE93040203; TRN: 93:003226
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jul 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English