Hydrogen production performance optimization for direct-coupled photovoltaic electrolysis systems based on a novel 3D opto-electro-thermal model

IF 10.1 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS

Applied Energy Pub Date : 2025-04-29 DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125961

Hao Wang, Weiding Wang, Chuanjie Lin, Yongquan Lai, Changchen Li, Ziyou Xu, Yuanbo Yang, Yimin Yang, Wenxuan Dong, Jinzhan Su

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Photovoltaic-powered electrolysis systems represent a promising approach for large-scale renewable energy storage, with direct-coupled systems offering particular advantages in terms of reduced system complexity and cost. However, a mismatch issue between photovoltaic (PV) and electrolysis (EC) modules of these systems could be caused by suboptimal structural design and flow rate control strategies, leading to a significant reduction in hydrogen production performance. While these problems could potentially be addressed through numerical simulation, existing low-dimension models are overly simplified due to the assumptions of spatial homogeneity, failing to adequately capture the intricate coupling mechanisms among optical, thermal, electrical and gas-liquid flow phenomena in these complex systems. In this study, a novel 3D opto-electro-thermal model has been developed for direct-coupled systems, utilizing semiconductor drift-diffusion equations and a gas-liquid two-phase flow model within each grid cell. This advanced model facilitates comprehensive performance assessments during the optimization of the fundamental system structure (PV-EC), including the evaluation of novel system configurations that integrate photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) and contact-based thermal designs. Additionally, it could help to streamline flow rate control by optimizing the relative sizing between the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of EC and PV modules. The results demonstrate that the PV/T-EC Non-thermal integration structure achieves the maximum Solar-to-Hydrogen efficiency (STH). Moreover, by setting the relative sizing at 2.25 %, maintaining the flow rate in a wide range without precise control could be sufficient to achieve outstanding and stable STH under real-world fluctuating conditions. This allows the flow rate control strategy to be effectively streamlined. The findings could provide guidance for optimizing hydrogen production performance by refining system structure and flow rate control strategy in direct-coupled photovoltaic electrolysis systems.

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基于新型三维光电-热电模型的直接耦合光伏电解系统制氢性能优化

光伏电解系统代表了大规模可再生能源存储的一种有前途的方法，直接耦合系统在降低系统复杂性和成本方面提供了特殊的优势。然而，这些系统的光伏（PV）和电解（EC）模块之间的不匹配问题可能由次优的结构设计和流量控制策略引起，从而导致制氢性能显著降低。虽然这些问题可以通过数值模拟来解决，但由于空间均匀性的假设，现有的低维模型过于简化，无法充分捕捉这些复杂系统中光、热、电和气液流动现象之间复杂的耦合机制。在这项研究中，利用半导体漂移扩散方程和每个网格单元内的气液两相流模型，为直接耦合系统开发了一种新的三维光电-热模型。这种先进的模型有助于在优化基本系统结构（PV- ec）期间进行综合性能评估，包括评估集成光伏/热（PV/T）和基于接触的热设计的新系统配置。此外，它还可以通过优化EC和PV组件的膜电极组件（MEA）之间的相对尺寸来简化流量控制。结果表明，PV/T-EC非热集成结构实现了最大的太阳能制氢效率。此外，通过将相对粒径设置为2.25%，在没有精确控制的情况下将流量保持在较宽的范围内，就足以在实际波动条件下获得出色而稳定的STH。这使得流量控制策略可以有效地简化。研究结果可为优化直接耦合光伏电解系统的制氢性能、优化系统结构和流量控制策略提供指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Energy 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

21.20

自引率

10.70%

发文量

1830

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Applied Energy serves as a platform for sharing innovations, research, development, and demonstrations in energy conversion, conservation, and sustainable energy systems. The journal covers topics such as optimal energy resource use, environmental pollutant mitigation, and energy process analysis. It welcomes original papers, review articles, technical notes, and letters to the editor. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts that bridge the gap between research, development, and implementation. The journal addresses a wide spectrum of topics, including fossil and renewable energy technologies, energy economics, and environmental impacts. Applied Energy also explores modeling and forecasting, conservation strategies, and the social and economic implications of energy policies, including climate change mitigation. It is complemented by the open-access journal Advances in Applied Energy.