Liquid spherical lens as an effective auxiliary optical unit for CPV/T system with remarkable hydrogen production efficiency

Yizhou Zhu, Benchi Ma, Baichuan He, Xinyu Ma and Dengwei Jing

Applied Energy, 2023, vol. 334, issue C, No S0306261923000971

Abstract: How to efficiently convert solar radiation into energy sources for easy storage and consumption is an urgent issue. Although concentrated photovoltaics can achieve high efficiency, it places higher demands on the optical system and heat management. Herein, a new design is presented where a liquid spherical lens acts as a secondary optical element of the concentrating solar system, refracting the light beam while participating in spectral beam splitting. The radiation energy unavailable for solar cells is harvested by the liquid spherical lens through spectral beam splitting which serves to raise the temperature of the electrolyte. Compared with the conventional concentrated photovoltaic coupled electrolytic hydrogen production system, the addition of a liquid spherical lens improves the solar cell heat dissipation while increasing the operating temperature of the electrolyzer, achieving higher solar-to-hydrogen efficiency. The system with this design obtains a solar-to-electricity efficiency of 31.7% as verified by indoor experiments. The solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of the system achieved an average value of 22.1% and a benchmark maximum value of 22.7% during 7 h of continuous operation. The solar-to-hydrogen efficiency is improved by at least 10% compared to the design that separates the secondary optics from the spectral beam-splitting filter. Compared with existing systems employing commercial CPV modules, the efficiency is improved by at least 6% benefiting from the rational distribution of the spectrum by the liquid spherical lens.

Keywords: Concentrated photovoltaic/thermal system; Hydrogen; Secondary optical element; Spectral beam-splitting filter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.120733

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