SIMULATION OF HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY USING CONCENTRATED SOLAR ENERGY THROUGH THERMO-CHEMICAL WATER SPLITTING PROCESS. PART II: SIMULATION OF ZINC HYDROLYSIS REACTION TO GENERATE HYDROGEN.

摘要

This study is focused on the second step of ZnO/Zn thermo-chemical cycle, where zinc (produced in the first step of the cycle) reacts with steam to produce hydrogen and zinc oxide. The simulation of this hydrogen production step was carried out inside a cylindrical reactor using commercial CFD software, FLUENT. A parametric study was conducted based on the zinc particle diameter, reactor wall temperature, and steam/zinc molar ratio. The yield of hydrogen was found to increase with an increase in the reactor wall temperature, and with a decrease in the zinc particle diameter. However, steam/zinc molar ratio was found to have no effect on the hydrogen yield.