Assessment of thermodynamic performance of a novelty solar-ORC configuration based hydrogen production: An experimental study

Abstract

In this study, a solar-Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) assisted hydrogen production system was experimentally investigated. An evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector (ETHPSC) was used for thermal energy generation. The tubes used in this study were produced differently from the tubes of the conventional heat pipe. The condenser area of the vacuum tubes used was made of glass instead of copper. Moreover, acetone was used as the fluid in the tube. The thermal energy obtained from the collector was used as a heat source for electrical energy in the ORC system. A uniquely designed ORC system is modeled and manufactured. The electrical energy obtained from the ORC unit was used for hydrogen production by means of the proton exchange membrane electrolyzer (PEMe). As a result of the study, two different efficiency analyses were made. If all of the electricity produced in the S-1 scenario was spend on hydrogen production, the energy and exergy efficiency were calculated as 3.45% and 2.15%, respectively. In the S-2 scenario, if some of the electricity produced was spend on hydrogen production, the energy and exergy efficiency of the whole system were found to be 0.01446% and 0.002146% respectively. In addition, 0.000004433 kg/s hydrogen production was obtained from the presented system.