Numerical Simulation Study on Solar-Driven CeO2 Reduction Reaction

The advancement of the economy, population, and science and technology has intensified energy and environmental pollution issues. The development of clean and renewable energy has become a major concern for the global community. One of the most promising methods for harnessing solar energy to produce clean energy is the two-step thermochemical decomposition of CO2 or H2O. In the first reduction reaction of this method, the reaction temperature not only indicates the reactivity of CeO2 but also impacts its reduction efficiency and heat exchange. On this basis, this paper establishes a model coupling free flow and porous media flow, a heat transfer model, and a physical model using COMSOL Multiphysics and integrates them to calculate their temperature distribution over time. The temperature changes of the reactor under the radiation intensity of $786.6 \mathrm{~kW} \cdot \mathrm{~m}^{-2}, 1179.9 \mathrm{~kW} \cdot \mathrm{~m}^{-2}$, and $1573.2 \mathrm{~kW} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{-2}$ at the aperture were obtained. It is concluded that a higher quantity of solar heat leads to higher temperatures in the model, with other conditions remaining constant.