Numerical study and structural optimization on thermochemical heat storage performance of packed bed reactor

Thermochemical heat storage has the advantages of high storage density and low heat loss, which has been an important component in energy system. A cylindrical reaction bed with heat transfer fluid as the heat source is established to study the dehydration process of Ca(OH)₂. Some methods are proposed to improve heat storage performance. The effects of strengthening heat transfer, enhancing vapor flow, and simultaneously enhancing heat transfer and vapor flow on heat storage rate and density for the process are analyzed by adding metal foam and fluid channels. The results show that improving heat transfer and fluid flow at the same time is the most effective way to improve thermochemical heat storage performance. During the heat storage process, it shortens the reaction time by 45.8%, while heat storage capacity is only reduced by 6.2%. In short, the effects of both heat transfer and vapor flow should be considered for the design of reaction beds of the thermochemical heat storage system.