Performance investigation of a new solar-hybrid fuel-fired distributed energy system integrated with a thermochemical process

摘要

A new solar-hybrid fuel-fired distributed energy system integrated with a thermochemical reaction driven by mid-and-low solar thermal energy and exhaust heat is proposed. The methanol is decomposed into the syngas (H2 and CO) through the solar thermochemical receivers/reactors, and the syngas drives an internal combustion engine to output power. Then a part of the exhaust heat is recovered and drives the methanol decomposition reaction to supply the syngas via the chemical recuperation process. With the combination of the solar thermochemical and chemical recuperation process, the solar energy and exhaust heat is utilized effectively. The thermodynamic performances of the proposed system are investigated, and the overall energy efficiency and net solar to electricity efficiency on the design condition reaches to 80.55% and 24.66%, respectively. The promising results provide an efficient and stable utilization approach of the solar energy and clean fuel in distributed energy systems.