(511d) Achieving High Temperature and Robustness in Thermochemical Reactor Prototypes

Solar thermochemical reactor prototypes rely on simulators to achieve high temperatures and rapid temperature swings. Simulators as heaters are both costly and bulky, and often play a significant role in limiting reactor designs. To enable faster reactor prototyping and materials testing, we have developed a novel heater that can reach both the temperatures necessary in thermochemistry, and has outstanding temperature cycling capabilities. The heater is also compact and inexpensive. Here, we report on the testing campaign on a prototype heater, demonstrating sustained temperature in excess of 1550 °C, and thousands of heating/cooling cycles at 400 °C/min. The robust performance confirms the feasibility of the heater concept and its potential in thermochemical reactor prototypes, as well as much more broadly in a range of high-temperature applications.