Storing concentrated sunlight in the chemical bond: Unique stability and internal regulation-A simulative theoretical investigation

The recently conceived concept of storing concentrated sunlight in the chemical bond by activating an endothermic catalytic chemical reaction is investigated theoretically. Integrated radiative-chemical systems in the form of cavities capturing the solar beams and housing tubular chemical reactors was examined in a previous paper (Solar Energy 45, 139 (1990)) where we outlined a theoretical formulation of solar receiver/tubular tubular reactor systems. In this study we investigate in depth the physical grounds in which these intriguing phenomena are rooted. We present a detailed comparative investigation of interacting chemical-radiative systems and analogous chemical systems decoupled from the radiation field. Aspects such as set-up geometry, nature of the heat sink (sensible heating vs. chemical conversion), the overall power level, etc., are examined.