Thermal analysis of a magnesium oxide/water chemical heat pump for cogeneration

A chemical heat pump is examined experimentally as a chemical heat storage system in order to evaluate the contribution of the chemical heat pump to decentralised cogeneration. A new system that combines cogeneration with a chemical heat pump that uses a magnesium oxide/water reaction is proposed, and the feasibility of the combined system is discussed. A packed bed reactor of a magnesium oxide/water chemical heat pump was examined experimentally under various operation conditions. Thermal performance of the heat pump was analysed using the experimental results. The heat pump containing the reactor is expected to enhance the energy utilisation efficiency of the cogeneration system by storing and utilising surplus exhaust heat generated by the cogeneration system.