Parabolic Solar Collector Research Articles

Innovative new solar parabolic trough collector enhanced by corrugated receiver surface with PCM and turbulator inside

A solar trough parabolic collector (STPC) has a reflecting surface that is curved into the shape of a parabola. An implementation study on solar trough parabolic collector thermal performance with four different volumetric flow rate values showing the effect of the Reynolds number with multiple passive enhancement approaches was applied tothe solar collector. The first approach is to use a corrugated copper receiver tube, which increases the collector solar heat absorbed by increasing the receiver tube surface area and turbulence. The second enhancement method was done using paraffin wax PCM (phase change material). Phase change material is used as an athermal storage material for heat absorbed by the collector, increasing the outlet water temperature through the night while slightly affecting the day water outlet temperature. By applying this approach, the solar trough parabolic collector enhances the heat transfer rate by around 40 % for all the volumetric flow rates adopted in this work. The third solar trough parabolic collector enhancing method was done by adding a turbulator twisted tape inside the corrugated receiver copper tube. This approach method increases the solar trough parabolic collector performance by around 35 % for all selected volumetric flow rate values. Adopting the three enhancing techniques on solar trough parabolic collector increased the overall thermal efficiency to approximately 85 %. The solar trough parabolic collector heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and friction factor were also investigated. A comparison study with previous works was also adopted in this work, which proves a superior thermal performance of the Innovative solar trough parabolic collector of this work over the earlier studies work.

Sustainable approach to integrate a conventional power plant and renewable energies, coupled with the Goswami cycle and Maisotsenko heat exchanger

AbstractThis paper presents a pioneering investigation into an integrated power generation cycle that combines gas turbines, steam turbines, Goswami cycles, biomass fuel, solar energy sources, and advanced Maisotsenko heat exchangers. Biomass gasification has been applied to partially fuel the gas turbine, while the M‐Cycle serves as the gas turbine inlet air cooling system. Solar parabolic collectors are utilized to elevate the compressed air temperature for combustion, and the Goswami cycle generates both power and cooling through waste heat recovery. This research addresses a critical gap by undertaking a holistic examination of the integrated power generation cycle, modelling the overall system performance by considering interactions and synergies between various components. The base model has been implemented, and the impacts of influential parameters on system efficiency, such as ambient temperature, seasonal variation, and steam‐to‐biomass ratio, have been taken into consideration. Remarkably, the incorporation of the M‐Cycle, solar parabolic systems, steam cycles, and the Goswami cycle into the base gas cycle results in substantial energy efficiency enhancements of 1.59%, 1.96%, 16.87%, and 6.06%, respectively, highlighting the transformative potential of this integrated approach for sustainable and efficient power generation.

The Effect of Uneven Metal Foam Distribution on Solar Compound Parabolic Trough Collector Receiver Thermal Performance

Solar energy is a key player among other renewable energies that reduce greenhouse gases and replace conventional fuel, i.e., to solve global warming and fossil fuel descending issues. However, the thermal solar systems’ performance should be enhanced to cope with intermittent solar radiation. Metal foam can be used as an enhancer in solar collectors’ receivers. However, metal foams are associated with pressure drop. To benefit from the metal foam as a thermal enhancer and overcome the pressure drop issue, the present study numerically and experimentally investigates a novel Compound Parabolic Solar Collector (CPC) receiver with innovative uneven metal foam inserts of varying thickness. Two pores per inch (PPI) Cu-foam inserts, PPI10 and PPI20, were tested. These inserts were strategically placed at three different positions along the receiver, with thicknesses of 3 cm, 2 cm, and 1 cm starting from the inlet side. In the experimental part, three tubular receivers were tested, empty, i.e., without metal foam, inserted with Cu-foam of PPI10, and inserted with Cu-foam of PPI20. The experiments were conducted from 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM. The investigation involved water volume flow rates from 0.2 to 0.6 l/min. The numerical part included solving the governing equations, i.e., mass, momentum, and energy conservation, simulating conditions similar to the experiments. The Brinckman model described the fluid flow through the metal foam. The thermal performance of the CPC system was evaluated using the Nusselt number (Nu), thermal efficiency, water bulk temperature, and water outlet-inlet temperature difference. Inserting Cu-foam of PPI20 resulted in the hourly maximum Nu and thermal efficiency compared to the empty and PPI10 cases. Experimentally, the hourly maximum Nu was 8.9, 8.4, and 7.9 for PPI20, PPI10, and empty receivers, respectively, at 0.6 l/min. The average thermal efficiency was 88.3, 85, and 81.9 for PPI20, PPI10, and empty receivers, respectively, at 0.6 l/min. As for the outlet-inlet water temperature difference, the highest values were at 0.2 l/min. Again, PPI20 recorded the best results, i.e., 23.3 K, 21.5 K, and 20.2 K for PPI20, PPI10, and empty cases, respectively.

Thermal transport energy performance on tangent hyperbolic hybrid nanofluids and their implementation in concentrated solar aircraft wings

Abstract The primary heat source from the sunlight is solar energy (SE), which is used in photovoltaic (PV) panels, solar power plates, PV, streetlights, and solar-based hybrid nanocomposites. Currently, research is focused on analyzing and improving the efficiency of SE, particularly for powering aircraft, by combining solar power with nanotechnology advancements. As such, this study focuses on examining concentrated solar power and proposes a method to improve the performance of solar airplanes by employing nanotechnology. Furthermore, the work is based on the investigation of the flow rate, thermal distribution, and entropy generation of the magnetized tangent hyperbolic hybrid nanofluid (HNF) along the interior parabolic solar trough collector of an aircraft wing. This work utilizes similarity variables to simplify the partial derivative model into ordinary differential equations. These equations are then solved using the Galerkin weighted residual approach with the help of MATHEMATICA 11.3 software. From the obtained outcomes, it is reflected that the HNFs have high thermal conductivity than the NF. Intensification of Weissenberg number improves the performance of airplane wings subjected to heat transmission. Therefore, this research contributes to improved thermal management in advanced nanotechnology and solar aircraft.

H2 production based on a ternary mixture of commercial CuO-NiO-TiO2 in a solar pilot plant

Glycerol is a by-product in biodiesel production (in the range of g·L−1), so its photoreforming by photocatalysis is a way of valorising it. TiO2 in photocatalysis has been widely studied, although its efficiency is limited by the high energy band gap, and the electron-hole recombination. Its combination with different semiconductors should improve charge separation, extending also the absorption from UV to visible light. Cu and Ni oxides are two of the most efficient low-cost transition metal oxide catalysts. Experiments were carried out in a 25 L pilot plant connected to a compound parabolic solar collector. Different combinations of the three semiconductors, based on the concentration of each metal on TiO2 (Me, 5%, 7.2% and 10%) were evaluated. Evonik P25-TiO2, CuO and NiO were combined by mechanical mixing. Hydrogen was quantified by a micro gas chromatograph, and copper and nickel leaching by ICP-MS. The best hydrogen production (0.060 mMol kJ−1) was attained with a proportion of 10:1 of TiO2:MeO, that corresponds to a total metal concentration of 7.2 wt%, being Cu and Ni in the same proportion. Metal content in solution increased as the reaction progressed, but Ni lixiviation of <0.012 mg L−1 was not significant. Significant Cu leaching (>1 mg L−1) was observed. This article presents novel results, in a solar pilot plant, for determining which ternary mixture can give better results, as well as metal leaching into water. Handling relevant volume of water in anoxic conditions can help to understand the application of this technology for the production of hydrogen.

Thermo-economic evaluation and structural simulation of a parabolic solar collector (PTC) integrated with a desalination system

In last decades because of the increase in water demand various technologies used to increase the performance of desalination systems and decreasing the cost of produced water. In the present research, the thermal and economic performance of a parabolic trough collector connected to a desalination system was analyzed. Moreover, in order to improve the thermal efficiency of the collector, the effect of wind speed (considering the position of the collector) on the deflection of the collector and thermal performance was evaluated. By increasing the wind speed the thermal efficiency decreases. The twist angle at the end of the reflecting shaft was considered for calculations. Ansys analysis was used to survey the structural behavior of the collector at various conditions. The results of the experimental test demonstrated that for all three positions, the twist angle of the shaft increases as well Moreover, due to the fluctuation of the solar radiation the fluid temperature flows in the collector is not homogenous. Using materials with higher latent heat decreases the thermal fluctuations. In the present work PCM in the spiral tube was installed inside of the receiver tube. The results implied that the maximum twist angle was obtained for the wind speed of 30 km/h at the right position. The deviation from the focal line increased the heat loss, thus optimization process was applied to the system considering the maximum wind speed of 124 km/h. The produced water for 15, 22 and 30 km/h is 722, 557 and 351 ml/m2 in 4 h, respectively. The economic analysis implied that using proposed system would cause a decrease in the payback time.

Investigation and Optimization of Integrated Electricity Generation from Wind, Wave, and Solar Energy Sources

This study investigates the potential for renewable energy-based electricity generation using existing wave, wind, and solar energies in Türkiye. A significant part of Türkiye’s energy needs is still met using fossil fuels. Considering the country’s resources, renewable energy sources appear as an alternative source to meet these needs. The objective of this study is to find an effective, efficient, economical, environmentally friendly, and sustainable way to produce electricity to reach net-zero targets and transition towards low-carbon and carbon-free energy systems. To be able to make a deep investigation about the relevant issue, six provinces from different regions of Türkiye (Antalya, Çanakkale, İstanbul, İzmir, Kırklareli, and Muğla) are assessed in terms of wave, wind, and solar energy potential, including wave data, wind speeds, sunshine duration, and global radiation values. Wind, wave, and solar energy data of the selected regions were taken from the ERA5 database, which is the weather forecast model of the European Center for Medium-Term Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye and the General Directorate of Meteorology. Calculations were made using monthly data for the last 5 years. Considering the coastal lengths in the determined regions, the annual total electrical power produced from wave, solar, and wind energies was calculated. In these calculations, the coastal length parameter was assumed to be uniform across all cities, and the electrical power potential from these energy sources was analyzed. Within the framework of these analyses, the number of houses in the selected regions whose electricity needs can be met was calculated. As a result, the potential electrical power and the amount of affordable housing units in the selected regions were compared. As an important result of the studies, it was determined that the characteristic features of the selected regions, such as wavelength, wave height, and wind speed, were directly related to the applicable coast length. The power obtained from wave energy was higher than that from other renewable energy sources, considering the determined coast lengths. Wave energy was followed by parabolic solar collector, wind, and photovoltaic solar energy systems. According to the model, the power obtained from renewable energy systems was at the highest level in the Kırklareli/Demirköy province compared to other locations. Kırklareli was followed by İstanbul, Antalya, İzmir, Muğla, and Çanakkale. It was also found that the electricity needs of 763,578 houses were met in the Kırklareli/Demirköy region, and the electricity needs of 470,590 houses were met in the Çanakkale/Ayvacık region. The statistically optimized factors using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for wind, photovoltaic, parabolic solar collector, and wave power were reported as 995.278, 4529.743, 2264.546, and 276,495.09, respectively. The optimal factors aim to achieve a total electricity generation rate of 2.491 × 109 (kWh/year), a total number of houses of 682,590.55 (number/year), and a total cost of USD 813,940,876. In line with the results obtained, the Kırklareli/Demirköy region becomes favorable when considering wave and wave-integrated wind and solar energies. The proposed system has the potential to meet the entire electricity demand of the Kırklareli province based on data from the Republic of Türkiye Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA).

Effect of Acceptance angle on the design and performance of a heat pipe based compound parabolic collector at Kano, Nigeria

The performance of any solar collector depends on the solar radiation available, its design and orientation. The aim of this work is to develop a compound parabolic solar collector (CPC) and optimize its performance for domestic use under climatic condition of Kano, Nigeria (Φ =12.05 o N). The acceptance angle plays an important role in determining the solar radiation acceptance of the CPC collector. Therefore this paper investigates the effect of the acceptance angle on the CPC design, solar radiation collection and absorption by the heat pipe receiver installed inside the CPC collector. From the radiation data and the analysis used, this study shows that as the acceptance angle increases, the collector height decreases and the concentration ratio increases.

Assessment of a sustainable power generation system utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide working fluid: Thermodynamic, economic, and environmental analysis

Solar energy stands out as one of the most abundant and cost-effective resources for energy conversion systems, playing a pivotal role in addressing the world's growing energy demands and environmental concerns. This study focuses on a power generation system that integrates multiple technologies for efficient energy conversion, including a parabolic solar trough collector unit, a supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle, and two dual-pressure organic Rankine cycles. The goal is to assess this system from various angles, including energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental aspects. The base mode study results reveal an overall energy efficiency of 16.66 %, exergy efficiency of 17.88 %, a total net power generation of 17.32 MW, a payback period of 4.38 years, and a total exergoenvironmental impact rate of 126.75 Pt/h. Additionally, the study conducts a parametric investigation to analyze how the system performs under different conditions and how changes in design parameters affect its main outputs. Furthermore, the study utilizes a multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm and a decision-maker method to identify the most desirable condition for the system's performance. Three optimization scenarios are considered, and various specific costs for electricity are evaluated to determine the payback period and net present value.

Technical and economical design and optimization of a solar-biodiesel collector system to supply electricity and drink water in AbuMusa Island

A hybrid renewable energy system including microalgae cultivation ponds to produce biodiesel. The necessary heat for the biodiesel production system is provided by microalgae through a solar parabolic linear collector, and the water temperature of the ponds, which is supplied from the sea, is provided by a geothermal system. Additionally, the linear collector is utilized to supply the necessary heat for the solar water desalination system. All the simulations of the mentioned renewable systems, except for the solar collector, were carried out separately in ASPEN HYSYS software, and the solar collector was simulated in Fortran software. The results were utilized in the ASPEN HYSYS. The simulation results show that to supply 225 kW of power through a diesel generator, 492 microalgae cultivation ponds are needed and the share of biofuel in the power supply is 5 %. The biodiesel reactor produces fuel at a cost of 1.45 $/L and has an efficiency of 79.8 %. Also, by simulating the solar collector in the Fortran and using its results in solar water desalination, the minimum and maximum produced drinking water are 358 l/h in August and 609 l/h in October, respectively. The price of water produced is 3.45 $/m3.

Examining the Combination of a Parabolic Solar Collector with Phase Change Material (PCM) in Solar Distillation

An Experimental investigation had been executed in a solar distill unified with parabolic collector using PCM. This experiment had been compared with PCM less experimental setup. PCM and Parabolic solar collector are things embedded with the base system to increase the overall outcome. Used paraffin wax as PCM (Phase Change Material) was one of the most cost-effective approaches to store heat energy. The solar ray’s incidence had been harvested by using the solar distill in which the water passed by the water tubes. This base solar still consist of double slope and the water tube filled with PCM. These experiments were done at the water depth of 15 mm. In these experiments produce the results indicated that a solar distillation system with a Parabolic Solar Collector coupled with PCM yielded higher productivity and temperature levels compared to not utilizing PCM, and these experiments demonstrated that the introduction of PCM in DSSD with Parabolic solar collector with or without it PCM resulted the improvements of the productivity of 33.25% and 57.31% respectively.

EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF HEAT TRANSFER AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF PARABOLIC TYPE SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH RIBBED SURFACE TEXTURE FOR CLEAN ENERGY EXTRACTION

This paper examines the performance of a parabolic type solar collector (PTSC) that uses both plain tube and ribbed surface textured tube channels for elevating the water temperature used for various applications. The performance of a solar water heater is evaluated experimentally. During the experiment, the solar radiation intensity and the feed water flow rate of 1.0 kg/min to 5.0 kg/min in steps of 1 kg/min are taken into consideration for analyzing the effect of ribbed textured tubes on the thermal effectiveness, frictional factor, convective transfer of heat, Reynolds number, and the Nusselt number of the PTSC. Furthermore, the overall performance of the PTSC is analyzed considering the above thermo-physical parameters. Based on the result of this study, at a flow rate of 3.0 kg/min, the thermal efficiency is found to be enhanced by about 28.25&amp;#37;, the friction factor is augmented by about 0.23&amp;#37;, the convective heat transfer coefficient is improved by 24.22&amp;#37;, and the Nusselt number is increased by about 26.32&amp;#37;. On average, an overall improvement in the performance of 8.25&amp;#37; is observed for the ribbed textured tube than that of the plain tube. The experimental error analysis shows that the standard deviation for both plain and ribbed textured tubes is in the range of 3.2, which is in the acceptable limit.

Performance enhancement of flat-plate and parabolic trough solar collector using nanofluid for water heating application

Flat plate solar collector (FPSC) and parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) are widely used for residential solar water heating (SWH) applications. This work studied two different solar collector systems. Nanofluid and its influence on the residential solar water heating (SWH) systems were investigated. The two SWH systems were designed, installed, tested, and compared at varying mass flow rates (mf) of 0.47, 1.05, and 1.75 kg min−1 in ambient environmental conditions. The comparative study was conducted according to thermal efficiency (ηth), useful energy gain (QU), stored energy (QS), outlet hot water temperature (To), and difference temperature (ΔT) between the cold inlet and hot outlet water from the collectors. The analysis of outcomes showed that the PTSC was more efficient than FPSC. The FPSC and PTSC systems performance were investigated using two different types of nanofluids. Carbon nanotubes in water and ethylene glycol were utilized. A remarkable improvement in the average thermal efficiency 64.1 % and 80.6 % of FPSC and PTSC systems using ethylene glycol nanofluid were obtained respectively. The total reduction in CO2 emissions was 31.26 kg/day and 39.28 kg/day for the FPSCs and PTSCs, respectively in the presence of ethylene glycol nanofluid. A significant saving in CO2 release is owing to the renewable clean energy of solar collectors.

Performance of compound parabolic concentrator solar air flat plate collector using phase change material

This work involves an experimental investigation on two different new models of Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) solar air flat plate collector with adding paraffin wax Phase Change Material (PCM). The first model is called involute shape model, whereas the second model is called normal shape model. To explore the best model performance, the structures of compound parabolic concentrator models have two symmetric giant parabolic mirror reflectors, similar concentration ratio of 1.7, similar flat plate receiver with 12 tubes filled by paraffin wax phase change material. The performances of both models are presented together for purpose of comparison. The tests have been performed in April and May 2023 in Mosul city/Iraq under standard conditions for around 11 h during the day. The outcomes indicated that rising in air mass flowrate leads to rise the receiver performance. The findings confirm that the thermal efficiency of normal shape is more efficient than involute shape by 7.6%, 13%, and 11.7% for 0.0085 kg/s, 0.0174 kg/s, and 0.027 kg/s, respectively. The optimum thermal performances for involute and normal shapes have been obtained equal 65.4% and 77.1% for 0.027 kg/s, respectively. For constant air flowrate, the performance of normal shape is higher than involute shape by 15.5% (14th May), 12.6% (27th April) and 11.8% (15th April). A significant temperature change has been found in involute shape as compared to normal shape. The outlet temperature of normal shape is always lower than the involute shape for all air mass flowrate. It is demonstrated that phase change material and the position of the receiver have considerable influence on the model performance. The current work provides an important information for evaluating the compound parabolic concentrator model performance for Mosul/city.

A parabolic solar collector for harnessing solar energy in Bucaramanga, Colombia

In this work, a solar energy collection system based on a parabolic solar collector adjusted to the conditions and availability of energy was designed to examine this type of collection device and evaluate the energy potential when installed in an educational institution. To do this, data from the historical series of solar radiation compiled by the POWER project (Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources) were analyzed and compared with data from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies in Colombia (IDEAM).

Thermal analysis of operating a solar-powered diffusion absorption refrigerator with a parabolic collector

This study investigates the use of solar energy, one of the leading renewable energy sources, to power a diffusion absorption refrigerator, thereby demonstrating the feasibility and practicality of renewable energy applications without relying on electrical energy or fossil fuels. Two mini refrigerators with identical power and features were employed in the experimental study. The aim is to evaluate the performance of two refrigerators, one powered by electricity and the other by heat from a parabolic solar collector. The heat transfer oil circulating in the parabolic solar collector was transferred to the generator of the solar refrigerator through a special apparatus. Various parameters such as mass flow rates, system pressure, solution concentrations, and thermal and COP values of diffusion refrigerators were meticulously analyzed. Experimental results obtained from both refrigerators were compared for a comprehensive evaluation. While the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the electric refrigerator was determined as 0.398, the COP value of the solar refrigerator was determined as 0.380. These findings highlight the potential of solar energy in sustainable cooling applications and provide valuable information on comparing electric and solar cooling systems. The study contributes to the ongoing efforts to promote eco-friendly and energy-efficient technologies, emphasizing the role of solar energy in reducing dependence on traditional energy sources.

Comparative assessment of direct absorption solar collector performance in different climates

Energy supply and environmental protection by reducing pollutants are among the main challenges these days. As a clean and sustainable source, solar energy is capable of generating thermal and electrical power. In this regard, Iraq is one of the regions with high solar energy harvesting potential. A numerical model was developed and validated by experimental findings in MATLAB software. This model, which also included geometrical and optical characteristics, was developed using information from four cities representative of different climates in Iraq: Baghdad, Samawa, Mosul, and Al-Qa'im. This study examined the effects of climate on the performance of direct absorption parabolic solar collectors used for energy production in Iraq. According to the results, solar collectors in Samaveh provide the highest thermal energy efficiency (up to 66.5%). Even thoth, the highest exergy efficiency is found in Al-Qa'im (36.21%). From an environmental point of view, the collector in Al-Qa'im has the highest CO2 mitigation (2.73 kg per m2 of collector) every year. As compared to other cities, Al-Qa'im and Samawah have a high thermal efficiency and solar intensity, which can lead to more water and energy savings.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPOUND PARABOLIC SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH TWO GLASS COVERS

In a compound parabolic solar collector, a glass cover is normally used for decreasing the rate of heat loss from the absorber. In this paper, a solar collector with two glass covers and a concentration ratio of 1.6 is simulated and examined for the purpose of higher performance. The distance between covers is 45 mm and the cavity of solar collector is filled with air. Due to the temperature gradient, the turbulent free convection airflow takes place inside the cavity. As the main aim, the effect of the second glass sheet on performance improvement is examined. Towards this end, the equations govern to the turbulent buoyant airflow in the collector’s cavity was numerically solved by the finite element method using the COMSOL Multiphysics software. Also the conduction equation is employed for temperature computation in the solid elements. Numerical findings demonstrate the effective role of the second glass sheet in decreasing the rate of heat loss from solar collectors and a more than 6% increase in the thermal efficiency of the studied test cases is found because of the second glass sheet. Comparison between the numerical findings of free convection airflow with experimental data shows good consistency.

Investigating the thermo-economic performance and modeling of a parabolic solar collector with phase change material in the receiver tube in a solar desalination

Solar desalination is a suitable and cost-effective system for producing drinkable water from salt water. The main goal of this study is improving the thermal performance of the solar desalination with latent thermal storage system and the panel detector. The heat loss from the solar collector increases due to the fluctuations in the intensity of solar radiation and the use of phase change materials is a suitable solution for storing energy during peak hours and releasing it when the solar radiation intensity is reduced or absent. Thus phase change material (paraffin) placed in the focal tube in the form of a 6 mm spiral pipe with a pitch of 7 cm. Thermal performance of the collector was carried out at three fluid flow rates of the working fluid at 1.9, 1.3 and 4.2 l/min with phase change material and without phase change material in four consecutive days from 10:00 to 14:00. The results of the showed that the solar water desalination equipped with phase change materials had the highest thermal efficiency at the fluid flow rate of 4.2l/min and the lowest with a flow rate of 1.9 l/min. The results showed that the using phase change material improves the thermal efficiency by 3.05 %. Produced fresh water during 4 h was 0.722l/m2 and it significantly reduced the hardness of drinking water. The solar collector simulated by Anysy and the simulated results showed a good correlation between the predicted and experimental data with reasonable accuracy (R2 > 0.97).

A solar-assisted power-to-hydrogen system based on proton-conducting solid oxide electrolyzer cells

Green hydrogen is anticipated to play a major role in a Net-Zero 2050 scenario since it can be produced using sustainable renewable energy sources, resulting in no greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, hydrogen has a high energy density and is readily stored and transferred, making it a versatile and convenient fuel for a broad range of applications. In this regard, an attempt has been made to study a solar-assisted power-to-hydrogen system based on proton-conducting solid oxide electrolyzer cells. The article presents a detailed thermo-economic analysis along with genetic algorithm-based optimization studies of the system. The optimum values of energetic efficiency and the cost of hydrogen are found to be 25.15 % and 1.021 $/kg, respectively. Exergy analysis reveals that the highest exergy destruction occurs in solar photovoltaic thermal (67.83 %) and parabolic trough solar collector (13.31 %), respectively. Furthermore, performance results of the solar-assisted power-to-hydrogen system are compared with other hydrogen production technologies.