Optimization of Solar Thermo-Chemical Hydrogen Production Process

Based on the integration of different systems and the comprehensive step utilization of energy, the system of hydrogen production by biomass gasification in supercritical water using concentrated solar energy has been coupled by using the combination of solar and biomass as an energy source. As a model compound of biomass, glucose was gasified in supercritical water at 25MPa and 873K, whether there is pre-heater water in the hydrogen production system was compared by the way of thermodynamic analysis. The results show that energy and exergy efficiency is high in the hydrogen production system with pre-heat water.

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Hydrogen production by biomass gasification in supercritical water using concentrated solar energy: System development and proof of concept

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy ◽

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.02.023 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 35 (13) ◽

pp. 7134-7141 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Jingwei Chen ◽

Youjun Lu ◽

Liejin Guo ◽

Ximin Zhang ◽

Peng Xiao

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Production ◽

Solar Energy ◽

Supercritical Water ◽

System Development ◽

Biomass Gasification ◽

Energy System ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Concentrated Solar Energy

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Techno-Economic Assessment of Solar-Driven Steam Gasification of Biomass for Large-Scale Hydrogen Production

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9030462 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 462

Author(s):

Houssame Boujjat ◽

Sylvain Rodat ◽

Stéphane Abanades

Keyword(s):

Solar Energy ◽

Large Scale ◽

Biomass Gasification ◽

Sensitivity Study ◽

H2 Production ◽

Steam Gasification ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Production Costs ◽

Concentrated Solar Energy ◽

Land Cost

Solar biomass gasification is an attractive pathway to promote biomass valorization while chemically storing intermittent solar energy into solar fuels. The economic feasibility of a solar gasification process at a large scale for centralized H2 production was assessed, based on the discounted cash-flow rate of return method to calculate the minimum H2 production cost. H2 production costs from solar-only, hybrid and conventional autothermal biomass gasification were evaluated under various economic scenarios. Considering a biomass reference cost of 0.1 €/kg, and a land cost of 12.9 €/m2, H2 minimum price was estimated at 2.99 €/kgH2 and 2.48 €/kgH2 for the allothermal and hybrid processes, respectively, against 2.25 €/kgH2 in the conventional process. A sensitivity study showed that a 50% reduction in the heliostats and solar tower costs, combined with a lower land cost of below 0.5 €/m2, allowed reaching an area of competitiveness where the three processes meet. Furthermore, an increase in the biomass feedstock cost by a factor of 2 to 3 significantly undermined the profitability of the autothermal process, in favor of solar hybrid and solar-only gasification. A comparative study involving other solar and non-solar processes led to conclude on the profitability of fossil-based processes. However, reduced CO2 emissions from the solar process and the application of carbon credits are definitely in favor of solar gasification economics, which could become more competitive. The massive deployment of concentrated solar energy across the world in the coming years can significantly reduce the cost of the solar materials and components (heliostats), and thus further alleviate the financial cost of solar gasification.

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