Computational Fluid Dynamics of Co-Production of Zinc and Syngas in a Solar Reactor

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In this paper, the production of Zn and H₂ in a 4 kW solar reactor has been investigated. Utilization of a renewable energy source increases the importance of this work. The effect of changes in reactor geometry was analyzed, and, with changing different parameters, their effects were investigated. At constant thermal energy rate, with increasing CH₄ inlet gas flow rate there is a decrease in reaction chamber temperature and therefore in reactor efficiency. Increasing rotation of reaction chamber causes its temperature to increase, where an increase of 150% in rotation caused a 1% increase in efficiency. With the increase in thermal energy rate, thermal efficiency was increased. Also, with increasing rate of thermal energy, the rate of chemical reaction that produces Zn and H₂ increased. The geometry used in the light beams concentrator section causes the occurrence of maximum temperature in the desired point (cylindrical chamber) which increases system efficiency significantly.