Radiative Intensity Regulation to Match Energy Conversion on Demand in Solar Methane Dry Reforming to Improve Solar to Fuel Conversion Efficiency

Abstract

The mismatch between radiative intensity field and energy required for solar thermochemical reaction can cause serious heat waste and reduce energy conversion efficiency. To improve the energy conversion efficiency of solar to fuel, the radiative intensity regulation method to match energy conversion on demand in solar methane dry reforming is proposed by this study. The design of solar spots and biomimetic leaf hierarchical porous structures is investigated and optimized, which can realize a better radiative intensity field matching and ideal temperature synergy. The experimental and numerical studies show that, by regulating radiative intensity field to match energy conversion on-demand in solar thermochemical reactor, the methane conversion rate and solar thermochemical energy storage efficiency can be increased by 4.6% and 6.1%, respectively.

Keywords: Solar to fuel, Methane dry reforming, Radiative transfer, Solar energy, Biomimetic, Energy conversion matching