Design of a solar-driven methanol steam reforming receiver/reactor with a thermal storage medium and its performance analysis

A novel method of triple line focused on solar-powered receiver/reactor with a thermal storage medium for methanol steam reforming (MSR) hydrogen production is proposed in this paper. The photo-thermal-chemical energy conversion and coupling equations of the receiver/reactor are established, and the dynamic regularity between solar radiation and the hydrogen production characteristics is obtained by numerical simulation. The results show that a high solar radiation intensity helps to stabilize the duration of the reaction. For every 100 W m(-2) increase in the solar radiation intensity, the duration of the reaction maintained at the phase change point temperature of the phase change material (PCM) increases by approximately 11%. The daily hydrogen production performance of the system in Kunming (102 degrees 43'E and 25 degrees 02'N) during typical solar days is studied. The average annual total hydrogen production per unit of the lighting area is approximately 1300 m(3). This research can guide similar issues related to solar thermochemical technology . (c) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.