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Mid-temperature solar fuel process combining dual thermochemical reactions for effectively utilizing wider solar irradiance

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  • Liu, Xiufeng
  • Hong, Hui
  • Jin, Hongguang

Abstract

The conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels is becoming more attractive and can be used for flexibly generating power; however, the poor annual solar-to-fuel efficiency severely hinders the application of the solar fuel process in the power system. Here, we study a mid-temperature solar fuel process having synergetic dual thermochemical reactions, in which solar heat at around 300°C provides heat to drive methanol steam reforming and decomposition successively with a variation in the solar irradiance. At solar irradiance below 400W/m2, the low-grade solar heat is used to drive methanol steam reforming, at solar irradiance above 400W/m2, the solar heat is combined with methanol decomposition. The solar thermochemical performances of the proposed solar fuel process were analyzed for typical days and a full year. In contrast to the individual solar-driven methanol decomposition process which mainly utilize solar irradiance above 400W/m2, the annual average solar-to-fuel efficiency in the synergetic process, which can utilize wider solar irradiance from 100 to 1000W/m2, is improved to 60%, and the annual average solar-to-electricity efficiency is improved to 21%. The promising results can offer a possibility of greatly improving the annual average performance of the solar fuel process, especially for enlarging the effective utilization of lower solar irradiance.

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  • Liu, Xiufeng & Hong, Hui & Jin, Hongguang, 2017. "Mid-temperature solar fuel process combining dual thermochemical reactions for effectively utilizing wider solar irradiance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P2), pages 1031-1039.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:185:y:2017:i:p2:p:1031-1039
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.04.022
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Taixiu & Liu, Qibin & Lei, Jing & Sui, Jun & Jin, Hongguang, 2018. "Solar-clean fuel distributed energy system with solar thermochemistry and chemical recuperation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 380-391.
    2. Ma, Zhao & Yang, Wei-Wei & Li, Ming-Jia & He, Ya-Ling, 2018. "High efficient solar parabolic trough receiver reactors combined with phase change material for thermochemical reactions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 769-783.
    3. Ma, Zhao & Li, Ming-Jia & He, Ya-Ling & Max Zhang, K., 2020. "Performance analysis and optimization of solar thermochemical reactor by diluting catalyst with encapsulated phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    4. Qu, Wanjun & Hong, Hui & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Co-producing electricity and solar syngas by transmitting photovoltaics and solar thermochemical process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 303-313.
    5. Fang, Juan & Liu, Qibin & Guo, Shaopeng & Lei, Jing & Jin, Hongguang, 2019. "Spanning solar spectrum: A combined photochemical and thermochemical process for solar energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 116-126.
    6. Li, Wenjia & Hao, Yong, 2017. "Efficient solar power generation combining photovoltaics and mid-/low-temperature methanol thermochemistry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 377-385.
    7. 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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