Numerical Study of Methane Dry Reforming Reaction in a Disk Reactor with Focused Solar Simulator

Heat transfer and thermochemical energy storage process of methane dry reforming in a disk reactor with focused solar simulator was modeled and analyzed. The results showed that thermochemical energy storage efficiency of disk reactor can reach 28.4%, and that is higher than that of tubular reactor. The maximum reaction rate occurs at catalyst bed corner near the baffle, because the corner has high temperature and high reactant molar fraction. As reactant flow increases, methane conversion and thermochemical energy storage efficiency decrease as catalyst bed temperature and heat loss decrease. The thermochemical energy storage efficiency increased first and then decreased with methane molar ratio increasing, while methane conversion and the thermochemical energy storage efficiency increased with reactant temperature increasing. As catalyst bed porosity rises, methane conversion and thermochemical energy storage efficiency increased first and then decreased, and optimum porosity is 0.31.