On the Design of a Reactor for High Temperature Heat Storage by Means of Reversible Chemical Reactions

Abstract: This work aims on the investigation of factors influencing the discharge characteristicsof a heat storage system, which is based on the reversible reaction system of Ca(OH)2and CaO. As storage, a packed bed reactor with embedded plate heat exchanger forindirect heat transfer is considered. The storage system was studied theoretically bymeans of finite element analysis of a corresponding mathematical model. Parametricstudies were carried out to determine the influence of reactor design and operationalmode on storage discharge. Analysis showed that heat and gas transport throughthe reaction bed as well as the heat capacity rate of the heat transfer fluid affect thedischarge characteristics to a great extent. To obtain favourable characteristics interms of the fraction of energy which can be extracted at rated power, a reaction frontperpendicular to the flow direction of the heat transfer fluid has to develop. Such afront arises for small bed dimensions in the main direction of heat transport withinthe bed and for low heat capacity rates of the heat transfer fluid. Depending on thedesign parameters, volumetric energy densities of up to 309 kWh/m3 were calculatedfor a storage system with 10 kW rated power output and a temperature increase ofthe heat transfer fluid of 100 K. Given these findings, this study is the basis for thedimensioning and design of a pilot scale heat exchanger reactor and will help toevaluate the technical feasibility of thermo-chemical heat storage systems.