Journal
APPLIED ENERGY
Volume 248, Issue -, Pages 231-240Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.137
Keywords
Cascading solar energy utilization; Co-production system; Solar thermal fuel; Concentrator photovoltaics
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Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [51590904]
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Frontier Science Key Research Project [QYZDY-SSW-JSC036]
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In this paper, a cascading solar energy utilization system is proposed. A nanofluid spectrum selector, which absorbs ultraviolet and infrared sunlight, is adopted. Through a thermochemical reaction, the absorbed sunlight is stored in solar syngas. The nanofluid also transmits visible sunlight to a concentrator photovoltaic module for electricity generation. The nanofluid absorption, photovoltaics and thermochemical processes are coupled to simulate the cascading system. The results reveal that, compared with the individual solar thermal fuel process, the proposed nanofluid receiver can increase the solar-to-fuel efficiency by 15 percentage points. Furthermore, in comparison with the individual photovoltaics, the integrated concentrator photovoltaic module could receive 700-1100 nm sunlight and enhance efficiency by 5.6 percentage points. In a typical case, the cascading system has a solar-to-electricity efficiency of 36.3%. The sensitivity of several key parameters is examined in the solar to -electricity efficiency. It can be concluded that an operation temperature of 170-200 degrees C, a particle diameter less than 40 nm and a 3-cm optical thickness are preferred for the optimal performance of the energy converters. The results may provide a pathway of cascading full-spectrum sunlight for the co-production of solar fuel and electricity.
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