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High performance solar receiver–reactor for hydrogen generation

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  • Lidor, A.
  • Fend, T.
  • Roeb, M.
  • Sattler, C.

Abstract

This paper reports on the numerical analysis of a volumetric solar receiver-reactor for hydrogen production, using the 2-step reduction–oxidation cycle. A detailed parametric sweep covering hundreds of various parameter combinations is performed for a large solar reactor, using a transient physical model. We generate performance maps which are currently cost prohibitive via experimental or high–fidelity simulation studies. The following performance metrics are evaluated: solar to fuel efficiency, hydrogen yield, conversion extent and specific hydrogen yield. We show that the relations between the different performance metrics are complex, leading to different optimal points depending on the metric pursued. The daily hydrogen yield for a single reactor varied between 0.89 kg for an absorber thickness of 30 mm, and up to 1.04 kg for a 60 mm thick receiver, with solar to fuel efficiency values of 3.84% and 3.81% respectively. For a case with 45 mm thick receiver, an intermediate hydrogen yield of 0.94 kg is calculated, while exhibiting the highest efficiency (4.05%). The efficiency can be further increased to 5.86% by using a simple heat recovery system, and reach an upper limit of 21.16% with a more sophisticated heat recovery method.

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  • Lidor, A. & Fend, T. & Roeb, M. & Sattler, C., 2021. "High performance solar receiver–reactor for hydrogen generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1217-1232.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:179:y:2021:i:c:p:1217-1232
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.07.089
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agrafiotis, Christos & Roeb, Martin & Sattler, Christian, 2015. "A review on solar thermal syngas production via redox pair-based water/carbon dioxide splitting thermochemical cycles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 254-285.
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    3. Vidal, Alfonso & Gonzalez, Aurelio & Denk, Thorsten, 2020. "A 100 kW cavity-receiver reactor with an integrated two-step thermochemical cycle: Thermal performance under solar transients," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 270-279.
    4. Koepf, E. & Villasmil, W. & Meier, A., 2016. "Pilot-scale solar reactor operation and characterization for fuel production via the Zn/ZnO thermochemical cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1004-1023.
    5. Fend, Thomas & Hoffschmidt, Bernhard & Pitz-Paal, Robert & Reutter, Oliver & Rietbrock, Peter, 2004. "Porous materials as open volumetric solar receivers: Experimental determination of thermophysical and heat transfer properties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 823-833.
    6. Christopher L. Muhich & Brian D. Ehrhart & Ibraheam Al-Shankiti & Barbara J. Ward & Charles B. Musgrave & Alan W. Weimer, 2016. "A review and perspective of efficient hydrogen generation via solar thermal water splitting," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(3), pages 261-287, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thanda, V.K. & Fend, Th. & Laaber, D. & Lidor, A. & von Storch, H. & Säck, J.P. & Hertel, J. & Lampe, J. & Menz, S. & Piesche, G. & Berger, S. & Lorentzou, S. & Syrigou, M. & Denk, Th. & Gonzales-Pard, 2022. "Experimental investigation of the applicability of a 250 kW ceria receiver/reactor for solar thermochemical hydrogen generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 389-398.
    2. Lidor, Alon & Aschwanden, Yves & Häseli, Jamina & Reckinger, Pit & Haueter, Philipp & Steinfeld, Aldo, 2023. "High-temperature heat recovery from a solar reactor for the thermochemical redox splitting of H2O and CO2," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    3. Menz, Steffen & Lampe, Jörg & Krause, Johann & Seeger, Thomas & Fend, Thomas, 2022. "Holistic energy flow analysis of a solar driven thermo-chemical reactor set-up for sustainable hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 1358-1374.
    4. Zhang, Peiye & Liu, Ming & Zhao, Yongliang & Yan, Junjie, 2023. "Performance analysis on the parabolic trough solar receiver-reactor of methanol decomposition reaction under off-design conditions and during dynamic processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 583-597.

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