A parabolic solar collector heat-pipe heat exchanger reactor assembly for cyclohexane's dehydrogenation: A simulation study

Hydrogen is an optimum large scale fuel for the future, although there remain some problems ill transport and long-term storage. One has to develop the use of alternative fuels that are easily transformed into hydrogen and that call be stored in liquid form, and, thus, more safely and economically. A simulation study on the possibility of the utilisation of cyclohexane asa, vector for hydrogen storage, itself used as a vector of solar energy storage, has been carried out. The results of this study indicate that a dehydrogenation muti-tube reactor for cyclohexane is feasible. Neverthless, a good heat transfer, which is a limiting: process, has to be assured. To heat this reactor a system of a Parabolic Solar Collector heat pipe heat exchanger reactor assembly (PSCHPHERA) is studied. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.