Test of a spectral splitting prototype hybridizing photovoltaic and solar syngas power generation

Xueli Xing, Yu Xin, Fan Sun, Wanjun Qu, Hui Hong and Hongguang Jin

Applied Energy, 2021, vol. 304, issue C, No S0306261921011168

Abstract: Cost-effective solar power generation systems are of vital importance. The efficient use of full-spectrum sunlight has drawn widespread attention in solar power generation. Here, a 2 kWe hybrid prototype coupling monocrystalline silicon photovoltaics and solar syngas fuelling a heat engine is proposed and experimentally tested. Using double-layer parabolic trough mirrors as the concentrator, the full-spectrum sunlight is split into different wavebands. Split visible and near-infrared sunlight are provided for the photovoltaics and converted into electricity, while both ultraviolent and far-infrared sunlight are used to drive methanol decomposition and produce solar syngas as a fuel for internal combustion engines. At a given solar irradiance intensity, the testing results show that the net solar-to-electricity efficiency of the hybrid prototype is 20.2%. Furthermore, comparison experiments are carried out between the hybrid prototype and the individual power system. The results show that the efficiency of the hybrid prototype is 5.2% higher than that of individual concentrated solar photovoltaics. This study provides an innovative approach to synergistically couple photovoltaic and solar thermal fuel for the cascading use of full-spectrum sunlight.

Keywords: Hybrid prototype; Full spectrum utilization; Spectral splitting approach; Photovoltaics; Solar syngas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117779

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