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Efficient heat upgrading in concentrated solar thermal conversion using chemical heat pump

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Yujie
  • Gao, Zizeng
  • Yu, Jin
  • Jia, Teng
  • Zhou, Decai
  • Zhao, Yao
  • Dai, Yanjun

Abstract

This study proposes a novel chemical heat pump (CHP) based on the reversible Ca(OH)2/CaO reaction for efficient heat upgrading in concentrated solar thermal conversion. Solar thermal collection systems face efficiency degradation at high temperatures. This requires a heat pump to operate efficiently within the medium-to-high temperature range to achieve temperature lift and heat upgrading. However, conventional thermally driven heat pumps are typically confined to temperatures below 300 °C. This study addresses this limitation by repurposing the reversible Ca(OH)2/CaO reaction from thermal energy storage to efficient heat upgrading. Additionally, it offers a compact structure, environmental friendliness, and quiet operation. Compared to a conventional system, the proposed system with recuperated CHP achieves final temperature of 640 °C, with an absolute system efficiency increase of 8.3 %. The recuperated CHP subsystem achieves a peak temperature of 849 °C under a dehydration temperature of 480 °C. The subsystem achieves a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.696 at a hydration temperature of 530 °C and a temperature lift of 30 °C. Under the same conditions, the exergy efficiency (ηex) is 0.850. These results exemplify the potential of the recuperated CHP system in enhancing solar-thermal utilization efficiency and maintaining high-temperature output.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yujie & Gao, Zizeng & Yu, Jin & Jia, Teng & Zhou, Decai & Zhao, Yao & Dai, Yanjun, 2026. "Efficient heat upgrading in concentrated solar thermal conversion using chemical heat pump," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:342:y:2026:i:c:s0360544225052624
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139620
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