Design and performance analysis of a lamellar cavity solar reactor for methane dry reforming

Dry reforming of methane is a promising way to convert greenhouse gases and solar energy to valuable syngas when the heat required for the reaction is provided by solar energy. The coupling of multi-fields in the reactor and carbon deposition characteristics involved in the dry reforming of methane process have a significant impact on the reaction performance. To elucidate the multi-fields coupling law and the carbon deposition characteristics of methane dry reforming reaction, a lamellar cavity reactor is designed and the three-dimensional mathematical model is established. The distribution characteristics of flow, mass diffusion, heat transfer, and chemical reaction are investigated, and their coupling law is clarified. The performances of dry reforming of methane in the reactor including conversion rates, reaction rates, and carbon formation are studied. The results show that the gas flow has a fundamental impact on multi-fields coupling. The CO2/CH4 molar ratio and temperature influence the amount of carbon formation. The formation significantly affects the activity of the catalyst, and the nature of carbon formation varies among different catalysts. These findings serve as valuable references for the design of solar reactors with appropriate reaction conditions in DRM reactions.