Renewable fuels from concentrated solar power: towards practical artificial photosynthesis

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 2791-2796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon A. Bonke ◽  
Mathias Wiechen ◽  
Douglas R. MacFarlane ◽  
Leone Spiccia
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Artificial Photosynthesis ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Renewable Fuels ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Fuel Conversion ◽  
Earth Abundant

A solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency of 22% was achieved by using concentrated solar power to run a matched electrolyser based on Earth-abundant materials.

Hybrid Brayton Multi-Stage Concentrated Solar Power Plant Energy and Exergy Performance Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faustino Moreno-Gamboa ◽  
César Nieto-Londoño
Keyword(s):  
Solar Power ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Cycle Performance ◽  
Performance Study ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power ◽  
Fuel Conversion ◽  
Double Compression ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Energy And Exergy ◽  
Exergy Performance

Abstract Hybrid Brayton concentrated solar power (CSP) plants have been gaining attention in the last decade upon many advantages regarding the use of traditional generation technologies combined with renewable energy sources. However, some technical and economic issues must be solved to allow its widespread use. Research and development efforts are deemed essential to the study of factors that constrain cycle performance looking to increase its efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and decreasing emissions. This study presents the performance evaluation of a hybrid multi-stage CSP plant considering specific environmental conditions to attain the factor that constrains its optimal performance. Overall energy and exergy plant efficiencies are analyzed, considering an arbitrary number of stages. For instance, a double compression expansion hybrid CSP plant shows the overall energy efficiency of 32% larger, a 30% higher exergy efficiency, and a fuel conversion rate around 18% larger when compared with a single-stage CSP plant.

CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER (CSP) PLANT PROPOSAL FOR BRAZIL

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Oliveira Helio Marques de ◽  
◽  
Giacaglia Giorgio Eugenio Oscare ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Power ◽  
Concentrated Solar Power

Investigating anode off-gas under spark-ignition combustion for SOFC-ICE hybrid systems

2021 ◽  
pp. 146808742110169
Author(s):  
Zhongnan Ran ◽  
Jon Longtin ◽  
Dimitris Assanis
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Systems ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Fuel Conversion ◽  
Generation Plant ◽  
Complementary Role ◽  
Power Generation Plant

Solid oxide fuel cell – internal combustion engine (SOFC-ICE) hybrid systems are an attractive solution for electricity generation. The system can achieve up to 70% theoretical electric power conversion efficiency through energy cascading enabled by utilizing the anode off-gas from the SOFC as the fuel source for the ICE. Experimental investigations were conducted with a single cylinder Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine by altering fuel-air equivalence ratio (ϕ), and compression ratio (CR) to study the engine load, combustion characteristics, and emissions levels of dry SOFC anode off-gas consisting of 33.9% H2, 15.6% CO, and 50.5% CO2. The combustion efficiency of the anode off-gas was directly evaluated by measuring the engine-out CO emissions. The highest net-indicated fuel conversion efficiency of 31.3% occurred at ϕ  = 0.90 and CR = 13:1. These results demonstrate that the anode off-gas can be successfully oxidized using a spark ignition combustion mode. The fuel conversion efficiency of the anode tail gas is expected to further increase in a more modern engine architecture that can achieve increased burn rates in comparison to the CFR engine. NOx emissions from the combustion of anode off-gas were minimal as the cylinder peak temperatures never exceeded 1800 K. This experimental study ultimately demonstrates the viability of an ICE to operate using an anode off-gas, thus creating a complementary role for an ICE to be paired with a SOFC in a hybrid power generation plant.

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