Simplified Thermal Analysis of a Concentrated Solar Water-Splitting Photocatalytic System

Photocatalytic water-splitting (PWS) technologies that produce hydrogen are approaching the necessary efficiencies to become a cost competitive alternative to traditional electrolysis. Continuous advancements in the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiencies of PWS materials can be seen globally. This work presents a theoretical investigation into understanding the thermal behavior of a PWS system under concentrated light conditions. Ordinary differential equations (ODEs) were used to theoretically simulate experimental conditions. A python-based code solved the ODEs, the simulated results successfully matched the experimental results reaching an equilibrium temperature of 74.4 °C, which is within the experimental temperature range of 75 °C ± 3 °C reported in literature. The implementation of a simplified thermal model enabled initial analysis of this system. The current model provided a useful tool for assessing various conditions and observing system behavior in a timely manner which can feed into future design decisions of PWS systems.