Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran

Currently, solar energy is considered one of the most suitable options for overcoming the problems of fossil fuel depletion, and global warming. Also, the high costs associated to photovoltaic systems, renders the maximum utilization of solar cells, a fundamental and undeniable necessity. Technical-...

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Main Authors: Ali Mostafaeipour, Mehdi Jahangiri, Hamed Saghaei, Afsaneh Raiesi Goojani, Md. Shahariar Chowdhury, Kuaanan Techato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3186287
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author Ali Mostafaeipour
Mehdi Jahangiri
Hamed Saghaei
Afsaneh Raiesi Goojani
Md. Shahariar Chowdhury
Kuaanan Techato
author_facet Ali Mostafaeipour
Mehdi Jahangiri
Hamed Saghaei
Afsaneh Raiesi Goojani
Md. Shahariar Chowdhury
Kuaanan Techato
author_sort Ali Mostafaeipour
collection DOAJ
description Currently, solar energy is considered one of the most suitable options for overcoming the problems of fossil fuel depletion, and global warming. Also, the high costs associated to photovoltaic systems, renders the maximum utilization of solar cells, a fundamental and undeniable necessity. Technical-economic-environmental analysis, using HOMER software, was performed under four different scenarios: without the tracker, with the horizontal axis tracker, with the vertical axis tracker, and with the dual-axis tracker. Consequently, the best configuration was chosen for each scenario. The optimal system for all four scenarios, in the circumstance of disconnection from the grid, only involves the solar cells, while in the circumstance of connection to the grid; both the solar cells and the wind turbine are included. The results demonstrate that in the off grid situation, the scenario involving the use of a vertical axis tracker would be the most cost-effective, with the price of 0.812 $/kWh for energy produced, while the lowest price for producing one kg of hydrogen is $77.97 is attributable to the scenario without the use of a solar tracker. In the circumstance of being connected to the power grid, the scenario involving the use of a vertical axis tracker would be most cost-effective, with the price of each kWh of energy produced equal to $ 0.223. At the price of $29.33 per kilogram, the scenario involving the use of a vertical axis tracker would also be most suitable for the production of hydrogen. Another important fact revealed through the results, is the crucial role of dump load, in the provision of the heat required in an off-grid situation. However, dump load is not associated to heat provision in a grid-connected situation.
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publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Photoenergy
spelling doaj-art-5c5f524b84604d1d87bc4b5b2af807642025-02-03T06:08:40ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1687-529X2022-01-01202210.1155/2022/3186287Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in IranAli Mostafaeipour0Mehdi Jahangiri1Hamed Saghaei2Afsaneh Raiesi Goojani3Md. Shahariar Chowdhury4Kuaanan Techato5Industrial Engineering DepartmentEnergy Research CenterEnergy Research CenterDepartment of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of Sustainable EnergyDepartment of Sustainable EnergyCurrently, solar energy is considered one of the most suitable options for overcoming the problems of fossil fuel depletion, and global warming. Also, the high costs associated to photovoltaic systems, renders the maximum utilization of solar cells, a fundamental and undeniable necessity. Technical-economic-environmental analysis, using HOMER software, was performed under four different scenarios: without the tracker, with the horizontal axis tracker, with the vertical axis tracker, and with the dual-axis tracker. Consequently, the best configuration was chosen for each scenario. The optimal system for all four scenarios, in the circumstance of disconnection from the grid, only involves the solar cells, while in the circumstance of connection to the grid; both the solar cells and the wind turbine are included. The results demonstrate that in the off grid situation, the scenario involving the use of a vertical axis tracker would be the most cost-effective, with the price of 0.812 $/kWh for energy produced, while the lowest price for producing one kg of hydrogen is $77.97 is attributable to the scenario without the use of a solar tracker. In the circumstance of being connected to the power grid, the scenario involving the use of a vertical axis tracker would be most cost-effective, with the price of each kWh of energy produced equal to $ 0.223. At the price of $29.33 per kilogram, the scenario involving the use of a vertical axis tracker would also be most suitable for the production of hydrogen. Another important fact revealed through the results, is the crucial role of dump load, in the provision of the heat required in an off-grid situation. However, dump load is not associated to heat provision in a grid-connected situation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3186287
spellingShingle Ali Mostafaeipour
Mehdi Jahangiri
Hamed Saghaei
Afsaneh Raiesi Goojani
Md. Shahariar Chowdhury
Kuaanan Techato
Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran
title_full Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran
title_fullStr Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran
title_short Impact of Different Solar Trackers on Hydrogen Production: A Case Study in Iran
title_sort impact of different solar trackers on hydrogen production a case study in iran
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3186287
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