TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficiency maximization in solar-Thermochemical fuel production
T2 - Challenging the concept of isothermal water splitting
AU - Ermanoski, Ivan
AU - Miller, J. E.
AU - Allendorf, M. D.
PY - 2014/5/14
Y1 - 2014/5/14
N2 - Widespread adoption of solar-Thermochemical fuel production depends on its economic viability, largely driven by the efficiency of use of the available solar resource. Herein, we analyze the efficiency of two-step cycles for thermochemical hydrogen production, with emphasis on efficiency. Owing to water thermodynamics, isothermal H2 production is shown to be impractical and inefficient, irrespective of reactor design or reactive oxide properties, but an optimal temperature difference between cycle steps, for which efficiency is the highest, can be determined for a wide range of other operating parameters. A combination of well-targeted pressure and temperature swing, rather than either individually, emerges as the most efficient mode of operation of a two-step thermochemical cycle for solar fuel production.
AB - Widespread adoption of solar-Thermochemical fuel production depends on its economic viability, largely driven by the efficiency of use of the available solar resource. Herein, we analyze the efficiency of two-step cycles for thermochemical hydrogen production, with emphasis on efficiency. Owing to water thermodynamics, isothermal H2 production is shown to be impractical and inefficient, irrespective of reactor design or reactive oxide properties, but an optimal temperature difference between cycle steps, for which efficiency is the highest, can be determined for a wide range of other operating parameters. A combination of well-targeted pressure and temperature swing, rather than either individually, emerges as the most efficient mode of operation of a two-step thermochemical cycle for solar fuel production.
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U2 - 10.1039/c4cp00978a
DO - 10.1039/c4cp00978a
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84898415980
SN - 1463-9076
VL - 16
SP - 8418
EP - 8427
JO - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
JF - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
IS - 18
ER -