Hydrogen production from coal gasification using solar energy : Thermodynamic equilibrium modelling and exergy analysis

Abstract

Paper presented to the 3rd Southern African Solar Energy Conference, South Africa, 11-13 May, 2015.

In this study the merits of hydrogen production using solar energy are discussed. The primary focus of the paper is to perform thermodynamics analysis of coal gasification via solar energy. Initially the chemical properties of coal are determined using proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and calorimeter. Using the coal properties a thermodynamics model bases on equilibrium constant approach is developed. The model is tested against the experimental data and further exergetic and cold gas efficiency is calculated. The effect of temperature and moisture contents is studied which shows that efficiency as high as 70% can be achieved with hydrogen yield of around 57% by volume. The model is further used to explore the potential of solar energy along with the partial combustion of coal. The result shows a sharp decline in the CO2 emission, while 43% increase in the yield of Hydrogen is calculated.