Preformance analysis of a water splitting reactor with hybrid photochemical conversion of solar energy

In this paper, a new hybrid system for hydrogen production via solar energy is developed and analyzed. In order to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen without the net consumption of additional reactants, a steady stream of reacting materials must be maintained in consecutive reaction processes, to avoid reactant replenishment or additional energy input to facilitate the reaction. The system comprises two reactors, which are connected through a proton conducting membrane. Oxidative and reductive quenching pathways are developed for the water reduction and oxidation reactions. Supramolecular complexes [{(bpy)2Ru(dpp)}2RhBr2] (PF6)5 are employed as the photo-catalysts, and an external electric power supply is used to enhance the photochemical reaction. A light driven proton pump is used to increase the photochemical efficiency of both O2 and H2 production reactions. The energy and exergy efficiencies at a system level are analyzed and discussed. The maximum energy conversion of the system can be improved up to 14% by incorporating design modification that yield a corresponding 25% improvement in the exergy efficiency.