(321d) Economic and Dynamic Performance Solar-Driven Thermochemical Production of Hydrogen Using Ceria

Economic and dynamic performance
solar-driven thermochemical production of hydrogen using ceria

Alicia Bayon and Alberto de la Calle

CSIRO
Energy, PO Box P.O. Box 330, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia

In this work, we
explore the dynamic performance of a 1 MW_th hydrogen production plant based on ceria
thermochemical cycle. This work extended from our previous dynamic modelling
recently published (de la Calle and Bayon 2019) by incorporating an economic
analysis of the production of hydrogen. In this presentation, we aim to explain
the main critical characteristics of the plant operation that affects the
overall solar-to-fuel performance: heat recovery strategy, location, heliostat
field operation and thermal inertial of chemicals and components.

The elements of the plant are shown
in Figure 1. The main models are: a data source for encapsulating the weather
data extraction, a heliostat field layout optimized using SolarPILOT^TM,
a rotatory cavity receiver, two tanks for storing Ceria particles, two particle
conveyors that allows Ceria to move between the reactors (labelled CeO₂
pump 1 and 2), gas valves to control the pressure in the reactors, heat
exchangers and two high temperature membranes for separating the product gases.
The operation of the plant begins by transporting solid particles of CeO₂
from a tank (CeO₂ tank 1) to the receiver (Figure 1) when the solar
energy is available. CeO₂ is reduced using a flow of N₂
to enable a low O₂ partial pressure atmosphere. In our design, the
reduced Ceria (CeO_2−δ) is stored (in the CeO₂
tank 2) at a high temperature in order to allow a continuous flow of hydrogen.
The gases coming into the receiver and oxidizer are pre-heated using the gas
outlet and with heat exchangers (N₂ HEX and H₂O HEX).
Heat recovery is also implemented over the ceria particles moving from the
oxidizer to the receiver (CeO₂ HEX). In addition, the pressure in
the reactors is controlled with purge valves. For accomplishing this study, a
library of typical meteorological year was developed for ten location selected.

The plant is located in Learmonth
(Western Australia), selected from our previous work as the most efficient
location close to a maritime port (Bayon and de la Calle 2019) showing that a
maximum production of hydrogen of 17.46 tons a year. From this plant design, we
have performed a further techno-economic analysis showing that the technology
could produce hydrogen at a selling price of $18 GJ^-1 if the total
Capex is around 9 million $ and CO₂ reduction incentives are
considered. We also compared our results with previous techno-economic analysis
with other forms of hydrogen like electrolysis and conventional reforming. This
analysis will also provide the selling price of the hydrogen and maximum Capex
and Opex to be achievable for deployment this technology
with a minimum net present value of $1 million over 30 years of operation together
with a maximization of the internal rate of return.

This presentation will show how the
incorporation of our economic analysis into the dynamic modelling is critical
to optimize the process design conditions (e.g. particle storage inventory,
maximum operational temperature, size of tanks and receivers, among others). We
believe this novel approach can drive to the full economic optimization of a
solar thermochemical hydrogen production plant design that can be applicable to
other materials for a full comparison.

Figure

Bayon, A., Calle,
A. de la, 2019. Effect of Plant Location on the Annual Performance of a
Hydrogen Production Plant based on CeO2 Thermochemical Cycle. AIP Conf. Proc. -
SolarPaces2018 Accepted.

de la Calle, A.,
Bayon, A., 2019. Annual performance of a thermochemical solar syngas
production plant based on non-stoichiometric CeO2. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 44,
1409–1424. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJHYDENE.2018.11.076