Concentrated solar energy offers a source for renewable high-temperature process heat that can be used to efficiently drive endothermic chemical processes, converting the entire spectrum of solar radiation into chemical energy. In particular, solar-driven thermochemical processes for the production of fuels include reforming of methane and other hydrocarbons, gasification of biomass, coal, and other carbonaceous feedstock, and metal oxide redox cycles. A notable issue in the development of these processes and their associated solar reactors is the lack of consistent reporting methods for experimental demonstrations and modelling studies, which complicates the benchmarking of the technologies. In this work we formulate dimensionless performance indicators based on mass and energy balances of such reacting systems, namely: energy efficiency, conversion extent, selectivity, and yield. Examples are outlined for the processes mention above. We then provide guidelines for reporting on such reactors and processes and suggest performance benchmarking on four key criteria: efficiency, conversion extent, selectivity, and performance stability.

中文翻译：

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用于对太阳能热化学燃料过程和反应堆进行基准测试的性能指标

聚光太阳能提供了可再生高温过程热的来源，可用于有效驱动吸热化学过程，将整个太阳辐射光谱转化为化学能。特别是，用于生产燃料的太阳能驱动的热化学过程包括甲烷和其他碳氢化合物的重整、生物质、煤和其他含碳原料的气化，以及金属氧化物氧化还原循环。在这些过程及其相关太阳能反应堆的开发过程中，一个值得注意的问题是缺乏用于实验演示和建模研究的一致报告方法，这使得技术的基准测试变得复杂。在这项工作中，我们根据此类反应系统的质量和能量平衡制定了无量纲的性能指标，即：能源效率、转化程度、选择性和收率。概述了上述过程的示例。然后，我们提供报告此类反应器和工艺的指南，并建议根据四个关键标准进行性能基准测试：效率、转化程度、选择性和性能稳定性。