This paper addresses the analysis of different configurations of carbonator for thermochemical energy storage for concentrated solar applications. The design of this equipment is different from the previous experience of calcium looping cycle for carbon capture. The use of fluidized beds and large particles are not feasible for this novel application of calcium looping. New reactors and different arrangements for the carbonation process are necessary. The design of a carbonator reactor for a specific Calcium Looping-Concentrated Solar Power application has not been addressed yet in detail in literature. In this work, a comparison of single stage reactor, two parallel reactors and two reactors in series with intercooling are simulated to calculate conversion rates, gas temperatures and flow rates, and heat transfer rates to the external cooling fluid. The modelling encompasses fluid dynamics, lime conversion kinetics and heat transfer, which are solved using a 1-D discrete mesh. The third arrangement results in the most reasonable sizes, and larger conversion rates, avoiding the occurrence of internal reactor zones in which the reaction is inhibited. Energy balance components are also quantified for each configuration.

本文针对聚光太阳能应用中用于热化学能量存储的碳酸化器的不同配置进行分析。该设备的设计与以前的用于碳捕获的钙循环循环的经验不同。对于钙环的这种新应用，使用流化床和大颗粒是不可行的。需要新的反应器和碳酸化过程的不同布置。文献中尚未详细讨论用于特定的钙环化浓缩太阳能应用的碳酸化器反应器的设计。在这项工作中，模拟了单级反应器，两个并联反应器和两个串联中冷的反应器的比较，以计算转化率，气体温度和流速，以及向外部冷却液的传热速率。该模型包含流体动力学，石灰转化动力学和传热，这些问题可以使用一维离散网格求解。第三种布置导致最合理的尺寸和更大的转化率，避免了内部反应区被抑制反应的发生。还为每种配置量化了能量平衡组件。