Modelling of a hybrid system for on-site power generation from solar fuels

Haoran Xu; Bin Chen; Peng Tan; Qiong Sun; M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer; Meng Ni

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.02.091

Modelling of a hybrid system for on-site power generation from solar fuels

Haoran Xu, Bin Chen, Peng Tan, Qiong Sun, M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Meng Ni

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Solar fuels, as clean and sustainable fuels, are promising energy sources for future low carbon economy. In this work, a hybrid system consisting of a photoreactor and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is proposed for on-site power generation from solar fuels. 2D numerical models are developed for the hybrid system for the first time by coupling the mass/momentum transport with the charge (electrons/ions) transport and the electrochemical/chemical reactions. A peak power density of 2162 W m ⁻² is achieved from the SOFC at 1073 K operating temperature. However, a rapid drop of the power density is observed at large current density due to the fuel starvation in the anode. The inlet CO ₂ mole fraction is found to significantly affect the output power density of the SOFC and CO ₂ utilization rate of the photo reactor, where a CO ₂ mole fraction of 40% is the optimum value for the studied cases. The results offer insightful information on energy conversion from solar to fuel to power and provide new options for sustainable energy conversion devices.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	709-718
Number of pages	10
Journal	Applied Energy
Volume	240
Early online date	23 Feb 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.02.091
Publication status	Published - 15 Apr 2019

Keywords

Hybrid system
Numerical simulation
Photoreactor
Solar energy
Solid oxide fuel cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Building and Construction
General Energy
Mechanical Engineering
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Modelling of a hybrid system for on-site power generation from solar fuels",

abstract = "Solar fuels, as clean and sustainable fuels, are promising energy sources for future low carbon economy. In this work, a hybrid system consisting of a photoreactor and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is proposed for on-site power generation from solar fuels. 2D numerical models are developed for the hybrid system for the first time by coupling the mass/momentum transport with the charge (electrons/ions) transport and the electrochemical/chemical reactions. A peak power density of 2162 W m −2 is achieved from the SOFC at 1073 K operating temperature. However, a rapid drop of the power density is observed at large current density due to the fuel starvation in the anode. The inlet CO 2 mole fraction is found to significantly affect the output power density of the SOFC and CO 2 utilization rate of the photo reactor, where a CO 2 mole fraction of 40% is the optimum value for the studied cases. The results offer insightful information on energy conversion from solar to fuel to power and provide new options for sustainable energy conversion devices. ",

keywords = "Hybrid system, Numerical simulation, Photoreactor, Solar energy, Solid oxide fuel cell",

author = "Haoran Xu and Bin Chen and Peng Tan and Qiong Sun and Maroto-Valer, {M. Mercedes} and Meng Ni",

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AU - Xu, Haoran

AU - Chen, Bin

AU - Tan, Peng

AU - Sun, Qiong

AU - Maroto-Valer, M. Mercedes

AU - Ni, Meng

PY - 2019/4/15

Y1 - 2019/4/15

N2 - Solar fuels, as clean and sustainable fuels, are promising energy sources for future low carbon economy. In this work, a hybrid system consisting of a photoreactor and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is proposed for on-site power generation from solar fuels. 2D numerical models are developed for the hybrid system for the first time by coupling the mass/momentum transport with the charge (electrons/ions) transport and the electrochemical/chemical reactions. A peak power density of 2162 W m −2 is achieved from the SOFC at 1073 K operating temperature. However, a rapid drop of the power density is observed at large current density due to the fuel starvation in the anode. The inlet CO 2 mole fraction is found to significantly affect the output power density of the SOFC and CO 2 utilization rate of the photo reactor, where a CO 2 mole fraction of 40% is the optimum value for the studied cases. The results offer insightful information on energy conversion from solar to fuel to power and provide new options for sustainable energy conversion devices.

AB - Solar fuels, as clean and sustainable fuels, are promising energy sources for future low carbon economy. In this work, a hybrid system consisting of a photoreactor and a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is proposed for on-site power generation from solar fuels. 2D numerical models are developed for the hybrid system for the first time by coupling the mass/momentum transport with the charge (electrons/ions) transport and the electrochemical/chemical reactions. A peak power density of 2162 W m −2 is achieved from the SOFC at 1073 K operating temperature. However, a rapid drop of the power density is observed at large current density due to the fuel starvation in the anode. The inlet CO 2 mole fraction is found to significantly affect the output power density of the SOFC and CO 2 utilization rate of the photo reactor, where a CO 2 mole fraction of 40% is the optimum value for the studied cases. The results offer insightful information on energy conversion from solar to fuel to power and provide new options for sustainable energy conversion devices.

KW - Hybrid system

KW - Numerical simulation

KW - Photoreactor

KW - Solar energy

KW - Solid oxide fuel cell

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DO - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.02.091

M3 - Article

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EP - 718

JO - Applied Energy

JF - Applied Energy

ER -

Modelling of a hybrid system for on-site power generation from solar fuels

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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