Multi-objective performance optimization of ammonia decomposition thermal storage reactor

Abstract

Heat storage technology plays an essential role in the stable operation of solar thermal power generation. In this paper, a one-dimensional model of a tubular filled bed heat absorption reactor for ammonia decomposition is established by applying finite time thermodynamics. Taking the inlet temperature, the outside diameter and the length of the reactor as optimization variables, the multi-objective particle swarm optimization is used to perform multi-objective optimization considering the maximum heat absorption rate and the minimum total entropy generation rate, and the Pareto Fronts are determined under different reactor outer wall temperatures. Finally, three optimized reactors’ design parameters and performance indicators are obtained by LINMAP, TOPSIS and Shannon Entropy decision methods, and the cross-sectional comparisonof the optimal reactors at different outer wall temperatures. Compared to the reference reactor, the three optimized reactors improve heat absorption rate by 58%-143%, while the total entropy generate rate is reduced by 26.4%-38.8%. The obtained results have some guidance for optimal designs of ammonia decomposition reactor in real engineering.