IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v134y2019icp828-836.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Preliminary study of integrating the vapor compression cycle with concentrated photovoltaic panels for supporting hydrogen production

Author

Listed:
  • Kwan, Trevor Hocksun
  • Yao, Qinghe

Abstract

Although implementations of CPVs to support electrolysis to produce hydrogen have recently been established, they often neglect the heat component which is important to improve electrolysis efficiency. Therefore, this research proposes to integrate the vapor compression cycle to concentrated photovoltaic panels to form a combined heat and power system that efficiently supplies such required energy to a water electrolyzer to produce hydrogen. The vapor compression cycle is modified to selectively choose whether the waste heat should support water heating or be discharged into the ambient environment where the latter method is aimed to save power consumption. A preliminary investigation of the proposed system is conducted by analyzing a commercial concentrated photovoltaic panel and simple formulations such as the theoretical Carnot efficiency for the vapor compression cycle. Results suggest that the required compressor power in the vapor compression cycle is very substantial and caused the effective electrical efficiency to drop from 40% to 10% for condenser temperature of 360 K–410 K. Fortunately, the heat available by the vapor compression cycle is much higher than that demanded by water electrolysis. Thus, the modified vapor compression cycle with the selective heat discharge functionality has demonstrated hydrogen production rate improvements of up to 4%.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Yao, Qinghe, 2019. "Preliminary study of integrating the vapor compression cycle with concentrated photovoltaic panels for supporting hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 828-836.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:134:y:2019:i:c:p:828-836
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.11.087
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014811831406X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2018.11.087?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Facci, Andrea L. & Ubertini, Stefano, 2018. "Analysis of a fuel cell combined heat and power plant under realistic smart management scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 60-72.
    2. Hasan, Ahmed & Sarwar, Jawad & Shah, Ali Hasan, 2018. "Concentrated photovoltaic: A review of thermal aspects, challenges and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 835-852.
    3. Mohammadi, Amin & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2018. "A comprehensive review on coupling different types of electrolyzer to renewable energy sources," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 632-655.
    4. Nikolaidis, Pavlos & Poullikkas, Andreas, 2017. "A comparative overview of hydrogen production processes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 597-611.
    5. Rezania, A. & Rosendahl, L.A., 2017. "Feasibility and parametric evaluation of hybrid concentrated photovoltaic-thermoelectric system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 380-389.
    6. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "A novel optimal design method for concentration spectrum splitting photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 519-532.
    7. Cai, Y. & Ouyang, M.G. & Yang, F., 2017. "Impact of power split configurations on fuel consumption and battery degradation in plug-in hybrid electric city buses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 257-269.
    8. Burhan, Muhammad & Oh, Seung Jin & Chua, Kian Jon Ernest & Ng, Kim Choon, 2017. "Solar to hydrogen: Compact and cost effective CPV field for rooftop operation and hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 255-266.
    9. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 320-329.
    10. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Wu, Xiaofeng, 2016. "Power and mass optimization of the hybrid solar panel and thermoelectric generators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 297-307.
    11. Kane, Aarti & Verma, Vishal & Singh, Bhim, 2017. "Optimization of thermoelectric cooling technology for an active cooling of photovoltaic panel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1295-1305.
    12. Siecker, J. & Kusakana, K. & Numbi, B.P., 2017. "A review of solar photovoltaic systems cooling technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 192-203.
    13. Mohsenzadeh, Milad & Shafii, M.B. & Jafari mosleh, H., 2017. "A novel concentrating photovoltaic/thermal solar system combined with thermoelectric module in an integrated design," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 822-834.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "Feasibility analysis of a concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric-thermal cogeneration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 560-573.
    2. Sripadmanabhan Indira, Sridhar & Aravind Vaithilingam, Chockalingam & Narasingamurthi, Kulasekharan & Sivasubramanian, Ramsundar & Chong, Kok-Keong & Saidur, R., 2022. "Mathematical modelling, performance evaluation and exergy analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal-solar thermoelectric system integrated with compound parabolic concentrator and parabolic trough con," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    3. Shittu, Samson & Li, Guiqiang & Akhlaghi, Yousef Golizadeh & Ma, Xiaoli & Zhao, Xudong & Ayodele, Emmanuel, 2019. "Advancements in thermoelectric generators for enhanced hybrid photovoltaic system performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 24-54.
    4. He, Y. & Tao, Y.B. & Ye, H., 2023. "Periodic energy transmission and regulation of photovoltaic-phase change material-thermoelectric coupled system under space conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    5. Cui, Y.J. & Wang, B.L. & Wang, K.F. & Wang, G.G. & Zhang, A.B., 2022. "An analytical model to evaluate the fatigue crack effects on the hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric device," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 923-933.
    6. Ge, Minghui & Zhao, Yuntong & Li, Yanzhe & He, Wei & Xie, Liyao & Zhao, Yulong, 2022. "Structural optimization of thermoelectric modules in a concentration photovoltaic–thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PB).
    7. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2020. "Feasibility analysis of a tandem photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system under solar concentration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1828-1841.
    8. Rodrigo, P.M. & Valera, A. & Fernández, E.F. & Almonacid, F.M., 2019. "Performance and economic limits of passively cooled hybrid thermoelectric generator-concentrator photovoltaic modules," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1150-1162.
    9. He, Y. & Tao, Y.B. & Zhao, C.Y. & Yu, X.K., 2022. "Structure parameter analysis and optimization of photovoltaic-phase change material-thermoelectric coupling system under space conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 320-333.
    10. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang, 2023. "High-efficiency dynamic lossless coupling of a spectrum splitting photovoltaic-thermoelectric system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    11. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang, 2022. "Achieving extensive lossless coupling of photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices through parallel connection," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 565-575.
    12. Lorenzi, Bruno & Mariani, Paolo & Reale, Andrea & Di Carlo, Aldo & Chen, Gang & Narducci, Dario, 2021. "Practical development of efficient thermoelectric – Photovoltaic hybrid systems based on wide-gap solar cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    13. Yin, Ershuai & Li, Qiang & Xuan, Yimin, 2018. "Optimal design method for concentrating photovoltaic-thermoelectric hybrid system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 320-329.
    14. Liang, Tao & Fu, Tong & Hu, Cong & Chen, Xiaohang & Su, Shanhe & Chen, Jincan, 2021. "Optimum matching of photovoltaic–thermophotovoltaic cells efficiently utilizing full-spectrum solar energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 942-952.
    15. Zhang, Jin & Xuan, Yimin, 2019. "The electric feature synergy in the photovoltaic - Thermoelectric hybrid system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 387-394.
    16. Sajjad Mahmoudinezhad & Petru Adrian Cotfas & Daniel Tudor Cotfas & Enok Johannes Haahr Skjølstrup & Kjeld Pedersen & Lasse Rosendahl & Alireza Rezania, 2021. "An Experimental Study on Transient Response of a Hybrid Thermoelectric–Photovoltaic System with Beam Splitter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-12, December.
    17. Zhang, Heng & Yue, Han & Huang, Jiguang & Liang, Kai & Chen, Haiping, 2021. "Experimental studies on a low concentrating photovoltaic/thermal (LCPV/T) collector with a thermoelectric generator (TEG) module," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1026-1040.
    18. Habchi, A. & Hartiti, B. & Labrim, H. & Fadili, S. & Thevenin, P. & Ntsoenzok, E. & Faddouli, A., 2023. "Perfect stabilisation of the electrical efficiency of a set of semi-transparent photovoltaic panels using a smart cooling system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    19. Cai, Yang & Wang, Wei-Wei & Liu, Cheng-Wei & Ding, Wen-Tao & Liu, Di & Zhao, Fu-Yun, 2020. "Performance evaluation of a thermoelectric ventilation system driven by the concentrated photovoltaic thermoelectric generators for green building operations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1565-1583.
    20. Liu, Junwei & Tang, Huajie & Zhang, Debao & Jiao, Shifei & Zhou, Zhihua & Zhang, Zhuofen & Ling, Jihong & Zuo, Jian, 2020. "Performance evaluation of the hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric system with light and heat management," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:134:y:2019:i:c:p:828-836. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.