Solar-hydrogen system has great potential for contributing to sustainable and clean energy supply. The aim of this study is to clarify the impact of heat transfer media in solar collector such as methane, ammonium, hydrogen, air and water on the performance of solar-hydrogen system. After estimating the highest temperature attainable by each heat transfer media, the amount of thermal energy that could be saved in the production of hydrogen or preheat for power generation by fuel cell was calculated. The power generation performance of fuel cell using each heat transfer media was also investigated. As a result, it has been revealed that the temperature changes of methane, ammonium and air follow the horizontal solar radiation intensity irrespective of seasons, and their highest temperatures are almost the same among them. The temperature response of hydrogen is slower than methane, ammonium and air. This study defines the ratio of saving thermal energy which indicates the effect of solar thermal utilization for production of hydrogen or preheat for power generation by fuel cell without using utility gas. It has been found that the biggest thermal energy saving is obtained when hydrogen and air are used as the heat transfer media. The power generated by PEFC system per effective area of evacuated tube collector in the case of using methane or ammonium is 3.309×10-2kWh/m2 and 2.076×10-2 kWh/m2, respectively, while it is 2.466×10-2 kWh in the case of using hydrogen and air.
References
[1]
Bhosale, R., Kumar, A. and Almomani, F. (2016) Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production via Terbium Oxide Based Redox Reactions. International Journal of Photoenergy, 2016, Article ID: 9727895. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9727895
[2]
Bulfin, B., Lange, M., Oliveria, L.D., Roeb, M. and Sattler, C. (2016) Solar Thermochemical Hydrogen Production Using Ceria Zirconia Solid Solutions: Efficiency Analysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 19320-19328.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.05.211
[3]
Bhosale, R., Kumar, A., Almomani, F. and Gupta, R.B. (2017) Solar Thermochemical ZnO/ZnSO4 Water Splitting Cycle for Hydrogen Production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 23474-23483.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.02.190
[4]
Bhosale, R.R., Kumar, A., Almomani, F., Ghosh, U. and Khraisheh, M. (2017) A Comparative Thermodynamic Analysis of Samarium and Erbium Oxide Based Solar Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 23416-23426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.03.172
[5]
Alzahrani, A.A. and Dincer, I. (2016) Design and Analysis of a Solar Tower Based Integrated System Using High Temperature Electrolyzer for Hydrogen Production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 8042-8056.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.12.103
[6]
Monnerie, N., Storch, H.V., Houaijia, A., Roeb, M. and Sattler, C. (2017) Hydrogen Production by Coupling Pressurized High Temperature Electrolyser with Solar Tower Technology. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 13498-13509.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.11.034
[7]
Ozcan, H. and Dincer, I. (2017) Energy and Exergy Analysis of a Solar Based Hydrogen Production and Compression System. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 21414-21428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.001
[8]
Rathod, V.P., Shete, J. and Bhale, P.V. (2016) Experimental Investigation on Biogas Reforming to Hydrogen Rich Syngas Production Using Solar Energy. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 132-138.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.09.158
[9]
Jiang, D., Yang, W. and Tang, A. (2016) A Refractory Selective Solar Absorber for High Performance Thermochemical Steam Reforming. Applied Energy, 170, 286-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.121
[10]
Liu, Q., Wang, Y., Lei, J. and Jin, H. (2016) Numerical Investigation of the Thermophysical Characteristics of the Mid-and-low Temperature Solar Receiver/Reactor for Hydrogen Production. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 97, 379-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2016.02.012
[11]
Real, D., Dumanyan, I. and Hotz, N. (2016) Renewable Hydrogen Production by Solar-Powered Methanol Reforming. Interna-tional Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 11914-11924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.02.086
[12]
Wang, Y., Liu, Q., Lei, J. and Jin, H. (2016) A Three-Dimensional Simulation of a Mid-and-Low Temperature Solar Receiv-er/Reactor for Hydrogen Production. Solar Energy, 134, 273-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.05.003
[13]
Nakajima, H., Lee, D., Lee, M.T. and Grigoropoulos, C.P. (2016) Hydrogen Production with CuO/ZnO Nanowire Catalyst for a Nanocatalytic Solar Thermal Steam-Methanol Reformer. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 16927-16931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.07.039
[14]
Wang, Y., Liu, Q., Sun, J., Lei, J., Ju, Y. and Jin, H. (2017) A New Solar Receiver/Reactor Structure for Hydrogen Production. Energy Conversion and Management, 133, 118-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.11.058
[15]
Wang, J., Wu, J., Xu, Z. and Li, M. (2017) Thermodynamic Performance Analysis of a Fuel Cell Trigeneration System Integrated with Solar-Assisted Methanol Reforming. Energy Conversion and Management, 150, 81-89.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.08.012
[16]
Kalogirou, S.A., Karellas, S., Braimakis, K. and Stanciu, C. (2016) Exergy Analysis of Solar Thermal Collectors and Process. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 56, 106-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2016.05.002
[17]
Yang, J., Jiang, Q., Hou, J. and Luo, C. (2015) A Study on Thermal Performance of a Novel All-Glass Evacuated Tube Solar Collector Manifold Header with an Inserted Tube. International Journal of Photoenergy, 2015, Article ID: 409517.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/409517
[18]
Paradis, P.L., Rousse, D.R., Halle, S., Lamarche, L. and Quesada, G. (2015) Thermal Modeling of Evacuated Tube Solar Air Collectors. Solar Energy, 115, 708-721.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2015.03.040
[19]
Pitatheepan, M. and Anderson, T.N. (2015) Natural Convection Heat Transfer in Façade Integrated Solar Concentrators. Solar Energy, 122, 271-276.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2015.09.008
[20]
Zheng, W., Zhang, H., You, S., Fu, Y. and Zheng, Z. (2017) Thermal Performance Analysis of a Metal Corrugated Packing Solar Air Collector in Cold Regions. Applied Energy, 203, 938-947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.06.016
[21]
Hung, T.C., Huang, T.J., Lee, D.S., Lin, C.H., Pei, B.S. and Li, Z.Y. (2017) Numerical Analysis and Experimental Validation of Heat Transfer Characteristic for Flat-Plate Solar Air Collector. Applied Thermal Engineering, 111, 1025-1038.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.09.126
[22]
Arkar, C. and Medved, S. (2015) Optimization of Heat Storage in Solar Air Heating System with Vacuum Tube Air Solar Collector. Solar Energy, 111, 10-20.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.10.013
[23]
Guldentops, G. and Dessel, S.V. (2017) A Numerical and Experimental Study of a Cellular Passive Solar Façade System for Building Thermal Control. Solar Energy, 149, 102-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.03.078
[24]
Delfani, S., Karami, M. and Akhavan-Behabadi, M.A. (2016) Performance Characteristics of a Residential-Type Absorption Solar Collector using MWCNT Nanofluid. Renewable Energy, 87, 754-764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.11.004
[25]
Colangelo, G., Favale, E., Miglietta, P., Milanese, M. and Laforgia, D. (2015) Experimental Test of an Innovative High Concentration Nanofluid Solar Collector. Applied Energy, 154, 874-881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.05.031
[26]
Karami, M., Akhavan-Bahabadi, M.A., Delfani, S. and Raisee, M. (2015) Experimental Investigation of CuO Nanofluid-Based Direct Absorption Solar Collector for Residential Applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 52, 793-801.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.131
[27]
Coccia, G., Nicola, G.D., Colla, L., Fedele, L. and Scattolini, M. (2016) Adoption of Nanofluids in Low-Enthalpy Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors: Numerical Simulation of the Yearly Yield. Energy Conversion and Management, 118, 306-319.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.04.013
[28]
Edalatpour, M. and Solano, J.P. (2017) Themal-Hydraulic Characteristics and Exergy Performance in Tube-on-Sheet Flat Plate Solar Collectors: Effects of Nanolfuids and Mixed Convection. International Journal of Thermal Science, 118, 397-409.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2017.05.004
[29]
Chubu Electric Power (2014) The Irradiance Data of the Project “PV300” (Electric Data Base).
Hasatani, M., Kimura, J., Arai, N. and Sato, A. (1988) Basis and Application of Combustion. 2nd Edition, Kyoritsu Syuppan, Tokyo, 270.
[34]
Mundhwa, M. and Thurgood, C.P. (2017) Methane Steam Reforming at Low Steam to Carbon Ratios over Alumina and Yt-tria-stabilized-zirconia Supported Nickel-Spinel Catalyst: Experimental Study and Optimization of Microkinetic Model. Fuel Processing Technology, 168, 27-39.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2017.08.031
[35]
Jeon, Y., Kim, H., Lee, C., Lee, S., Song, S. and Shul, Y.G. (2017) Efficient Methane Reforming at Proper Reaction Environment for the Highly Active and Stable Fibrous Perovskite Catalyst. Fuel, 207, 493-502.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.06.113
[36]
Yuan, Q., Gu, R., Ding, J. and Lu, J. (2017) Heat Transfer and Energy Storage Performance of Steam Methane Reforming in a Tubular Reactor. Applied Thermal Engineering, 125, 633-643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.06.044
[37]
Matsuno, K. and Saika, T. (2016) Research of an Ammonia Decomposition Hydrogen Supply System. Proceedings of Conference of Japan Institute of Energy, 286-287.
[38]
Sezgin, B., Caglayan, D.G., Devrim, Y., Steenberg, T. and Eroglu, I. (2016) Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis of High Tem-perature PEM Fuel Cells by using Comsol Multiphysics. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 41, 10001-10009.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.03.142
[39]
Panasonic (2017) Specification of ENEFARM.
https://panasonic.co.jp/ap/FC/about_01.html
[40]
The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (2018).
http://www.fepc.or.jp/enterprise/jigyou/japan/sw_index04/
