Overture to CLEA: The Closed Loop Efficiency Analysis Project

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Abstract
Efficient transport of energy from the distributed collectors of a dish-concentrator solar plant to a central site represents a major technical challenge. Thermochemical energy transport systems based on reversible chemical reactions are a potential alternative to systems based on energy transported as sensible or latent heat of heat transfer fluids. The primary advantage of thermochemical energy transport is that the energy-rich chemicals can be moved through the miles of piping at ambient temperature without energy loss. Although thermochemical energy transport systems have received only limited testing, they can, in theory, deliver energy more efficiently than thermal transport systems with the margin increasing with system size and application temperature. This report explores the advantages and the limitations of thermochemical energy transport and introduces the Closed Loop Efficiency Analysis (CLEA) project. The goals of the CLEA project are to demonstrate the technical feasibility of thermochemical energy transport and to identify those areas of development required to make thermochemical energy transport competitive with thermal transport for application to distributed-collector solar plants. The specific objectives are 1) to construct and test a closed-loop thermochemical energy transport system under steady state and simulated solar conditions, and 2) to develop a generic cost/performance code for thermochemicalmore » energy transport. Based on a number of technical issues and on years of industrial experience with both the forward and the reverse reaction, we have chosen the co 2 -cH 4/co-H 2 system for the CLEA experiment. The previous work in the area of thermochemical energy conversion leading to this decision is reviewed. Also provided is an overview of the vast literature on methanation and reforming. Finally, a thermodynamic data base for the co 2-cH 4 /co-H 2 and three other candidate reaction systems is compiled in the appendix. « less

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