Integrated solar-driven high-temperature electrolysis operating with concentrated irradiation

Summary High-temperature electrolysis for reducing H2O (and CO2) to H2 CO) converts concentrated solar energy into fuels and chemical feedstock. We invented an integrated reactor concept comprising a cavity receiver reactant heating, solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE) stack water electrolysis, photovoltaic (PV) cells the SOE stack's electricity demand. A numerical model compared thermoneutral endo/exothermal operation of stack. Without heat recovery, we predicted maximum solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency 19.85% (assuming 20% PV losses in receiver) preferentially endothermal operation. Heat recovery further improved performance. demonstrated 2.5 kW (17% electrical 83% thermal input) reactor, incorporating commercial 16-cell Ni/YSZ/LSM double-helical receiver, with 3.33% STH efficiency). The experimentally supported analysis indicates that increases performance predicts efficiencies encouraging intensified research technology development.