Performance Prediction of a Hydrogen Production System Based on PV/T Technology

Abstract

With the rapid development of hydrogen production technology by using solar energy, the research of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) and Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) system have become popular. A design scheme of hydrogen production system based on PV/T technology was proposed. The electrolytic cell combined photovoltaic panels, trough solar collectors and multiple heat exchagers to improve the overall efficiency of the hydrogen production system. The efficiency was predicted based on empirical models. The results showed that the hydrogen production efficiency of SOEC increased with increasing temperature and with decreasing current density. However, the balance between energy efficiency and hydrogen production rate of SOEC needed to be taken into account. The predicted hydrogen production efficiency of SOEC and overall system efficiency also agreed well with the results available in literature.