Numerical modelling of the operational effects on the thermochemical reactor performance

Abstract To increase the share of renewable energy in buildings, thermochemical energy storage stands out in the high energy storage density and long-term storage capability. However, it requires further investigation to improve the performance of the thermochemical reactor. As the research community has seen an increasing number of reactor designs, the reactor operational parameters are critical to the reactor performance. This study presents the effect of the essential parameters on the reactor performance through a validated numerical model. The study has found that the reactor charging performance is determined by the charging temperature, air flow rate, bed porosity, and the charging duration. The discharging performance is affected by the inlet air temperature, inlet air relative humidity, and material particle diameter. Suggestions have been given on the parameters according to the analysis. For instance, the inlet air temperature in discharging is suggested ranging from 7 °C to 15 °C. In discharging, the inlet air relative humidity is suggested at 40%. The reactor bed porosity should be above 0.4 to improve the mass transfer. A holistic control strategy should be given in future reactor studies considering the reactor status and the operating targets.