Thermodynamic analysis of an innovative system for green hydrogen, oxygen, heat, and electricity production: Application to warm oceanic climate conditions in Pau

Renewable solar energy-powered multi-generation systems have become cutting-edge technology in the effort to
decrease greenhouse gas emissions. This research introduces and evaluates a new multi-generation system that
generates eco-friendly hydrogen, electricity, and thermal energy. The suggested system consists of a solar
photovoltaic heat pipe (PVT) collector, stratified water storage, and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer.
Increasing the electrical power generated by solar PVT systems helps meet the electrolyzer’s power
needs, resulting in increased oxygen and hydrogen production. A thermal stratification tank combined with a
solar PVT heat pipe collector result in higher thermal and electrical power output from the solar PVT heat pipe
collector. For the first time, this work proposes a solar PVT heat pipe collector combined with stratification tank
storage and a PEM electrolyzer. An engineering equation solver (EES) is utilized to analyze the thermodynamic
fluctuations in temperature within the stratification tank storage and the PVT heat pipe collector. It also evaluates
the electrical power generation and efficiency of the solar heat pipe PVT collector, as well as the production
rates of hydrogen and oxygen and the efficiency of the electrolyser. This research aims to evaluate the efficiency
of a novel configuration for generating green hydrogen and oxygen in warm oceanic areas, with a specific focus
on Pau City, France. The findings reveal that increased solar radiation enhances the electrical output of the solar
PVT heat pipe and the hydrogen and oxygen production rates of the electrolyser. Under Pau’s climatic conditions
for three summer days, the solar heat pipe PVT collector achieved an electrical power output of 92.63 W/m2, a
hydrogen production rate of 1.154 g/min, and an oxygen production rate of 9.712 g/min. For the same period,
the respective values were 73.12 W/m2, 0.9393 g/min, and 7.449 g/min. Additionally, the efficiency of the PVT
collector varied, with a minimum efficiency of 0.1345 on sunny days and a higher minimum efficiency of 0.1432
on colder days.