Title: Exergy analysis and environmental impact assessment of a photovoltaic-hydrogen production system

Authors: Ahmet Yilanci, Harun Kemal Ozturk, Ibrahim Dincer, Eylem Yilmaz Ulu, Engin Cetin, Orhan Ekren

Addresses: Energy Research and Application Center, Pamukkale University, 20070, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey. ' Energy Research and Application Center, Pamukkale University, 20070, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey. ' Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe St. North, L1H 7K4, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. ' Energy Research and Application Center, Pamukkale University, 20070, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey. ' Energy Research and Application Center, Pamukkale University, 20070, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey. ' Department of HVAC, Ege Vocational Training School, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, exergy analysis and environmental impact assessment of a Photovoltaic (PV)-hydrogen production system and its components are carried out. Actual data measured in the system are employed for analysis purposes. Daily hydrogen production amount from solar energy through water electrolysis is 4.43 kg. The average system exergy efficiency is determined to be 3.18%. It is found that the highest exergy destruction occurs in the PVs. In the PVs, 93.3% of the total exergy input (incoming solar exergy) is destroyed. The second highest exergy destruction is from the electrolyser as 4.76% of the total exergy destruction. The average percent exergy destructions are 1.29% and 1.94% for charge controllers-inverter and batteries, respectively.

Keywords: solar energy; hydrogen production; exergy analysis; impact assessment; environmental impact; PV-hydrogen production systems; solar power; photovoltaics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2011.038520

International Journal of Exergy, 2011 Vol.8 No.2, pp.227 - 246

Published online: 10 Feb 2011 *

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