Thermodynamic assessment of hydrogen production via solar thermochemical cycle based on MoO₂/Mo by methane reduction

Abstract

Inspired by the promising hydrogen production in the solar thermochemical (STC) cycle based on non-stoichiometric oxides and the operation temperature decreasing effect of methane reduction, a high-fuel-selectivity and CH₄-introduced solar thermochemical cycle based on MoO₂/Mo is studied. By performing HSC simulations, the energy upgradation and energy conversion potential under isothermal and non-isothermal operating conditions are compared. In the reduction step, MoO₂: CH₄ = 2 and 1020 K<T_red<1600 K are found to be most favorable for syngas selectivity and methane conversion. Compared to the STC cycle without CH₄, the introduction of methane yields a much higher hydrogen production, especially at the lower temperature range and atmospheric pressure. In the oxidation step, a moderately excessive water is beneficial for energy conversion whether in isothermal or non-isothermal operations, especially at H₂O: Mo= 4. In the whole STC cycle, the maximum non-isothermal and isothermal efficiency can reach 0.417 and 0.391 respectively. In addition, the predicted efficiency of the second cycle is also as high as 0.454 at T_red = 1200 K and T_oxi = 400 K, indicating that MoO₂ could be a new and potential candidate for obtaining solar fuel by methane reduction.

Keywords

MoO₂/Mo based on solar thermochemical cycle / methanothermal reduction / isothermal and non-isothermal operation / syngas and hydrogen production / thermodynamic analysis

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