Experimental investigation of an open thermochemical process operating with a hydrate salt for thermal storage of solar energy: Local reactive bed evolution

A salt bed temperature analysis evidenced a reaction front moving within the reactive layer from the moist air inlet to its outlet. A mass transfer study showed marked changes in the reactive bed permeability during the reaction (by one order of magnitude) and with the reactive bed density (from 10−9 to 10−12 m2 when density range from 300 to 600 kW h m−3). During the reaction an asymmetric time course of the bed permeability was also highlighted: as f(X) in dehydration and f(1/X) in hydration.