Title: Solar thermochemical Dy2O3/DyO water splitting cycle for hydrogen production

Authors: R.R. Bhosale; A. Kumar; F. AlMomani; S. Yousefi; D. Dardor; M.H. Usmani; M.S. Anis; U. Ghosh

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Al Tarfa, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar

Abstract: The thermodynamic analyses of the dysprosium oxide-based water splitting (Dy-WS) cycle are reported in this paper. The first step of the Dy-WS cycle involves thermal reduction of Dy2O3, whereas water splitting reaction is the following second step. HSC simulation experiments (by varying the partial pressure of O2 and reaction temperature) are performed to identify the equilibrium compositions associated with both the above given steps. Exergy and energy analysis of the Dy-WS cycle is performed to estimate various solar reactor process parameters including the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency with and without heat recuperation. The HSC simulation results indicate that the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency for the Dy-WS cycle is comparable with the ceria cycle.

Keywords: thermodynamic analysis; solar reactors; thermochemical reactions; dysprosium oxide; Dy2O3; water splitting cycle; hydrogen production; exergy analysis; energy analysis; simulation; solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency; heat recuperation. simulation; solar energy; solar power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2017.081201

International Journal of Exergy, 2017 Vol.22 No.1, pp.54 - 72

Received: 31 Dec 2015
Accepted: 22 May 2016

Published online: 26 Dec 2016 *

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