Large Scale Photo-reactors for Environmentally Benign Solar Hydrogen Production

Abstract

In this entry, photo-reactors for catalytic solar hydrogen production are introduced and explained. To be an economical environmentally benign and sustainable pathway, hydrogen should be produced from a renewable energy source, i.e., solar energy. Solar driven water splitting combines several attractive features for sustainable energy utilization. The conversion of solar energy to a type of storable energy has crucial importance. In the first part of the entry, background information is presented regarding different photo-reactor configurations for water dissociation with light energy to generate hydrogen. The photo-electrochemistry of water splitting is discussed, as well as photo-catalytic reaction mechanisms. The design and scale-up of photo-reactors for photo-catalytic water splitting are explained by classification of light-based hydrogen production systems. At the end, a new photo-catalytic energy conversion system is analyzed for continuous production of hydrogen at a pilot-plant scale. Two methods of photo-catalytic water splitting and solar methanol steam reforming are investigated as two potential solar-based methods of catalytic hydrogen production. The exergy efficiency, exergy destruction, environmental impact, and sustainability index are investigated for these systems. The light intensity is found to be one of the key parameters in design and optimization of the photo-reactors, in conjunction with light absorptivity of the catalyst.