Dual power generation modes for thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle integrated with concentrated thermal photovoltaic and phase change material storage

Abstract

A dual power stroke system that generates electricity during the day and night is proposed. The model consists of concentrated thermal photovoltaic (CPV/T), thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle (TREC), and phase change material (PCM) storage. During the daytime, the concentrated thermal photovoltaic generates electricity directly and supplies hot water to raise the charging temperature of the thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle. To reduce the discharging temperature of the thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle and to avoid losing heat to the environment, a phase change material storage is used to store the heat. During the nighttime, the stored heat in the storage is used back to raise the charging temperature of the regenerative cycle. The discharging temperature is reduced using a finned heat sink. Raising the charging temperature of the regenerative cycle and reducing the discharging temperature will generate electricity during the day and night. An analytical model is developed and validated to investigate the effect of different parameters like solar radiation intensity, water mass flow rate, and temperature in the concentrated thermal photovoltaic and ambient temperature on efficiency and the power produced. The solar radiation, water inlet temperature, and mass flow rate impact the system's performance during the daytime. The ambient temperature is a primary influencer during the nighttime. The efficiency of the regenerative cycle and photovoltaic cells can reach 7.11 % and 15.74 % during the daytime. During the nighttime, the regenerative cycle is the only source of electricity and has an efficiency of up to 6.13 %. Using the proposed model presents a powerful solution for the energy problem in remote areas during the day and night times.