Molten Carbonates Electrolyzer Model for Hydrogen Production Coupled to Medium / Low Temperature Solar Power Plant
Abstract
In this work, mathematical model of molten carbonates electrolyzer (MCEC) has been developed for its integration into concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. MCEC modeling has been based on electrochemical and thermodynamics approach using experimental information from a testing device. Despite the high temperature requirements for MCEC operation (above 500 ºC), heat generation during the electrolysis process reduces the requirement of external heat addition. Energy optimization approach using ASPEN HYSYS pointed out that MCEC stable operation could be achieved for a wide temperature range of the feeding steam by using smart heat recovery diagram. Temperature conditions that are covering from exothermal to thermoneutral working conditions have been explored depending on the input thermal and electrical requirements. MCEC model described in this work has been encoded into TRNSYS platform for transient performance evaluation. Optimal integration scheme of MCEC coupled to linear-Fresnel solar plant has been proposed and sized for the hydrogen production of a refueling station.