Model construction and electro-thermal-hydrogen co-generation performance for multi-section compound parabolic concentrator

Abstract

Non-imaging solar concentrator has many applications in solar thermal conversion and photovoltaic power generation because of its performance characteristics such as no tracking, stable light concentration, compact structure and easy integration. For this purpose, this paper conducts a study on the non-imaging concentrator based on the optimized design of the concentrating surface structure for photovoltaic electric generation, thermal energy recovery and direct-drive hydrogen production. Firstly, a theoretical construction of a mathematical model of the solar Concentrating Photovoltaic and Photo-thermal (CPV/T) system with electricity-thermal-hydrogen co-generation and a numerical solution path for the Current and Voltage (I-V) characteristic curve is presented. Moreover, an integrated CPV/T system experimental setup is constructed outdoors and its power generation, heat collection and hydrogen production processes are measured. Finally, it is found that the average electrical efficiencies of the CPV/T system are 13.03 % and 13.29 % for theory and experiment, respectively. The theoretical and experimental average thermal efficiencies are 27.47 % and 27.24 %, respectively. The theoretical and experimental average hydrogen production rates based on Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control are 19.47 ml/min and 16.11 ml/min, respectively. The research results also show that the integrally constructed CPV/T system not only achieves effective conversion of solar energy into electrical and thermal energy, but also can directly convert electrical energy into clean, stable and easily stored hydrogen energy, which has potential application prospects.