For a solar thermal power tower coupled solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) hydrogen production system with molten salt thermal storage
the thermodynamic model of each subsystem is established to analyze the effects of key operating parameters and operating modes on the performance of SOEC hydrogen production and its impact on the system electrical power and heat flow rate supply and demand
thermal storage capacity and efficiency. The results show that SOEC operating in exothermic mode enhances both electrolysis efficiency and system hydrogen production efficiency compared with thermo-neutral mode
and reduces solar radiant power and heat storage capacity required by the system. The lower the operating temperature of the electrolysis cell
the greater the enhancement. At the operating temperature of 600 ℃
the hydrogen production efficiency of the system can be enhanced by 5.14 % to 14.49 % when the SOEC is operated in the exothermic mode where the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet is from 100 ℃to 400 ℃. Therefore
for the SOEC hydrogen production system coupled with solar thermal
appropriately increasing the current density at low operating temperatures to make the electrolysis cell work in exothermic mode is of significance to improve both the electrolysis efficiency and the system hydrogen production efficiency.
YUE W X, LI Y F, ZHENG Y, et al.Enhancing coking resistance of Ni/YSZ electrodes: in situ characterization, mechanism research, and surface engineering[J]. Nano energy, 2019, 62: 64-78.
ZHAO C H, LI Y F, ZHANG W Q, et al.Heterointerface engineering for enhancing the electrochemical performance of solid oxide cells[J]. Energy & environmental science, 2020, 13(1): 53-85.
NI M, LEUNG M K H, LEUNG D Y C. Parametric study of solid oxide steam electrolyzer for hydrogen production[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2007, 32(13): 2305-2313.
LIU M Y, YU B, XU J M, et al.Thermodynamic analysis of the efficiency of high-temperature steam electrolysis system for hydrogen production[J]. Journal of power sources, 2008, 177(2): 493-499.
CAI Q, LUNA-ORTIZ E, ADJIMAN C S, et al.The effects of operating conditions on the performance of a solid oxide steam electrolyser: a model-based study[J]. Fuel cells, 2010, 10(6): 1114-1128.
ALZAHRANI A A, DINCER I.Thermodynamic and electrochemical analyses of a solid oxide electrolyzer for hydrogen production[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2017, 42(33): 21404-21413.
WANG J J, YAO W Q, CUI Z H, et al.Energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic analysis of solar-driven solid oxide electrolyzer system integrated with waste heat recovery for syngas production[J]. Journal of thermal science, 2023, 32(1): 135-152.
SANZ-BERMEJO J, MUÑOZ-ANTÓN J, GONZALEZ-AGUILAR J, et al. Optimal integration of a solid-oxide electrolyser cell into a direct steam generation solar tower plant for zero-emission hydrogen production[J]. Applied energy, 2014, 131: 238-247.
DANESHPOUR R, MEHRPOOYA M.Design and optimization of a combined solar thermophotovoltaic power generation and solid oxide electrolyser for hydrogen production[J]. Energy conversion and management, 2018, 176: 274-286.
IM-ORB K, VISITDUMRONGKUL N, SAEBEA D, et al.Flowsheet-based model and exergy analysis of solid oxide electrolysis cells for clean hydrogen production[J]. Journal of cleaner production, 2018, 170: 1-13.
ALZAHRANI A A, DINCER I.Design and analysis of a solar tower based integrated system using high temperature electrolyzer for hydrogen production[J]. International journal of hydrogen energy, 2016, 41(19): 8042-8056.