Jet Solar Reactor Heat Transfer Wall Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar jet reactors face inefficiencies in heat transfer due to indirect irradiation leading to strong temperature gradients and thermal losses, particularly in the heat transfer wall, which affects the thermochemical conversion of carbonaceous feedstocks.
Innovation Solution
A solar reactor design with a structured surface on the heat transfer wall, where the jet of gaseous reagents impacts, enhancing heat exchange coefficients and minimizing radiative losses, combined with a confinement cylinder and optional fins or propeller to improve hydrodynamics and gas residence time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If indirect irradiation is used to heat the reaction chamber, then the reactor avoids the problem of transparent window soiling and overheating, but thermal losses increase due to re-emission of absorbed radiation to the outside
Solution Approach 1:
An opaque heat transfer wall acts as an intermediary between the concentrated solar radiation and the reaction chamber. The wall absorbs solar radiation on its external face and transfers heat via conduction and convection to the reaction chamber, avoiding the need for transparent windows while reducing thermal losses through optimized heat transfer surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer wall is designed with enhanced surface area through fins or extended surfaces, transitioning from a simple planar barrier to a multi-dimensional heat exchange structure. This increases the heat transfer area without increasing the reactor volume, improving thermal efficiency
2Temperature
If a transparent porthole is used to concentrate solar radiation directly onto reactants, then high temperature levels can be reached, but the transparent surface becomes opaque due to soiling and overheats
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque heat transfer wall serves as a mediator that receives concentrated solar radiation and transfers heat to the reaction chamber without requiring transparency. This eliminates the soiling and overheating problems associated with transparent windows while maintaining the ability to reach high temperatures through efficient heat transfer design
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from direct optical heating through transparent materials to thermal heating through opaque materials. By changing the heat transfer mechanism from radiative (requiring transparency) to conductive and convective (allowing opacity), the system achieves high temperatures without the drawbacks of transparent window degradation
3Device complexity
If the bottom of the blind cylinder is designed as a simple flat surface, then the structure is simple, but heat transfer efficiency is reduced due to strong temperature gradients
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer wall incorporates fins or extended surfaces that add dimensional complexity to the otherwise simple flat bottom structure. These extensions increase the heat transfer area and improve thermal coupling between the solar-heated surface and the reaction chamber, reducing temperature gradients and thermal losses
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer wall is segmented into multiple surfaces (flat bottom and extended fins) that create a gradient of heat transfer zones. This segmentation allows different parts of the wall to operate at different temperatures, optimizing heat transfer efficiency while managing thermal stresses
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structured surface and internal cylinder design significantly improve heat transfer efficiency, reducing temperature gradients and thermal losses, thereby enhancing the thermochemical conversion process.
Implementation Method 1
increasing the thermal exchanges between the concentrated solar energy which is supplied and the jet
Implementation Method 2
enhancing heat exchange coefficients
Implementation Method 3
the bottom of the blind cylinder, the external face of which is intended to receive solar radiation
Implementation Method 4
the jet of gaseous reagents impacts, enhancing heat exchange coefficients
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Improved thermal transfer jet solar reactor. Associated operating method, application to biomass gasification or reforming. The invention relates to a solar reactor (1) comprising a casing (2) delimiting a reaction chamber (3), the casing comprising a lower part in the form of a right cone extended at its apex by an injection inlet (6) for gaseous reactants and an upper part in the form of a blind straight cylinder, the cone and/or the lateral surface of the blind cylinder comprising two lateral perforations, one of which is extended by a solid reactant injection tube and the other by a reaction product outlet tube, the bottom (5) of the blind cylinder, the external face of which is intended to receive solar radiation, having an internal face intended to be impacted by the jet of gaseous reactants.It also relates to the operating process, and the application to the gasification of a carbon feedstock into reaction products, gasification reaction of biomass, or for a reforming reaction.