Naslov
The application of solar energy in production of hydrogen as a fuel: A model for a more efficient solar-driven electrolysis of water

Autori
Grašovec, Marko ; Jović, Franjo ; Firak, Mihajlo ; Metikoš-Huković, Mirjana

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
4th International Symposium on Electrocatalysis (ESC`02) : From Theory to Industrial Applications : Abstracts / - Como, 2002, 129-129

Skup
International Symposium on Electrocatalysis (4 ; 2002)

Mjesto i datum
Como, Italija, 23.09.2002. - 25.09.2002

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
solar energy; hydrogen

Sažetak
Hydrogen is a simple, clean and inexhaustible energy source - the potential fuel of the future. It may be obtained from water using solar energy. A model system (solar-hydrogen energy) has been designed for production of hydrogen by water electrolysis, composed of the following units: the PV module, an electrolyzer and an hydrogen storage container. Electrolysis of water yields hydrogen and oxygen (which may be used as fuel in fuel cells) on nickel electrodes in an alkaline electrolyzer with separated cathodic and anodic compartments. The necessary power is obtained from a photovoltaic (PV) module with the following characteristics: at radiation intensity of 1000 W/m^2, the open circuit potential, U_oc = 21, 6 V, the short circuit current, I_sc = 3, 27 A, the maximum power P_max = 52, 7 W. Obtained hydrogen is stored in a pressurized container. Measured and analyzed parameters of the system include: the current and potential, the amount of developed hydrogen (Fig.1), the pressure and temperature inside the storage container, I-U characteristic of the PV module and I-U characteristic of the electrolyzer. A model was designed for each subunit during development of the system simulation. For the alkaline electrolyzer model, electrochemical measurements were performed on nickel in 1 mol dm-3 NaOH solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and linear quasi-potentiostatic polarization, which yielded the kinetic parameters for the cathodic and anodic processes. Based on the simulation, suggestions were made regarding the system subunits, such as: the required power of the PV panel, the capacity of the electrolyzer and/or the hydrogen storage container, the entry value being any of the mentioned solar-hydrogen system values. Simulation validation was performed on a model system, and system's efficiency was analyzed based on the change of individual process variables. The simulation pointed to a need for calibrating the PV module and the electrolyzer, in order to optimize the functioning of the solar-hydrogen energy system.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kemija, Kemijsko inženjerstvo

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