Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector

This study investigates a solar-driven chemical looping combustion (CLC) system for sustainable hydrogen production. A high-temperature CLC model was developed and optimized through sensitivity analysis, revealing that increasing iron steam reactor pressure (optimal: 40 bar) and steam flow rate enha...

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Main Authors: Mohammad Saeedan, Ehsan Houshfar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Fuel Processing Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378382025000542
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author Mohammad Saeedan
Ehsan Houshfar
author_facet Mohammad Saeedan
Ehsan Houshfar
author_sort Mohammad Saeedan
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates a solar-driven chemical looping combustion (CLC) system for sustainable hydrogen production. A high-temperature CLC model was developed and optimized through sensitivity analysis, revealing that increasing iron steam reactor pressure (optimal: 40 bar) and steam flow rate enhances hydrogen production by up to 28 %, while higher solar‑iron reactor pressure reduces output by 19 % due to reaction equilibrium constraints. The solar-CLC hybrid system demonstrated superior performance, with the high-temperature model producing 10,500 kmol/h of hydrogen—96 % more than the low-temperature model (5348 kmol/h) and 135 % more than non-solar CLC. Exergy analysis confirmed the iron-steam reactor as the most efficient component (90 % efficiency), whereas the iron-fuel reactor exhibited the highest losses (50 % efficiency). Shiraz as the most favorable location, required 32 % fewer mirrors than Ahvaz (the least suitable city) due to its higher solar irradiance (123.2 vs. 88.6 kWh/m2 DNI). Chabahar achieved the highest hydrogen yield (11,803 kmol/day) owing to extended daylight hours. Phase-change material storage analysis showed Chabahar needed 40 % fewer storage modules than Shiraz. Solar-CLC integration outperforms traditional CLC in both efficiency and emissions reduction, with the high-temperature model being optimal for high-irradiance regions. The findings provide actionable insights for deploying renewable-powered hydrogen systems in decarbonizing the energy sector.
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spelling doaj-art-ec9dbb45d8414e90994bfb2025e062c22025-08-20T03:48:19ZengElsevierFuel Processing Technology0378-38202025-08-0127310823010.1016/j.fuproc.2025.108230Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sectorMohammad Saeedan0Ehsan Houshfar1School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, IranCorresponding author at: Room 816, Mech. Eng. Dept. (New Building), Campus 2, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, North Kargar St., Tehran, Iran.; School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, IranThis study investigates a solar-driven chemical looping combustion (CLC) system for sustainable hydrogen production. A high-temperature CLC model was developed and optimized through sensitivity analysis, revealing that increasing iron steam reactor pressure (optimal: 40 bar) and steam flow rate enhances hydrogen production by up to 28 %, while higher solar‑iron reactor pressure reduces output by 19 % due to reaction equilibrium constraints. The solar-CLC hybrid system demonstrated superior performance, with the high-temperature model producing 10,500 kmol/h of hydrogen—96 % more than the low-temperature model (5348 kmol/h) and 135 % more than non-solar CLC. Exergy analysis confirmed the iron-steam reactor as the most efficient component (90 % efficiency), whereas the iron-fuel reactor exhibited the highest losses (50 % efficiency). Shiraz as the most favorable location, required 32 % fewer mirrors than Ahvaz (the least suitable city) due to its higher solar irradiance (123.2 vs. 88.6 kWh/m2 DNI). Chabahar achieved the highest hydrogen yield (11,803 kmol/day) owing to extended daylight hours. Phase-change material storage analysis showed Chabahar needed 40 % fewer storage modules than Shiraz. Solar-CLC integration outperforms traditional CLC in both efficiency and emissions reduction, with the high-temperature model being optimal for high-irradiance regions. The findings provide actionable insights for deploying renewable-powered hydrogen systems in decarbonizing the energy sector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378382025000542Solar energy integrationChemical looping combustionSustainable hydrogen productionExergy analysisPhase change materialsCO2 capture
spellingShingle Mohammad Saeedan
Ehsan Houshfar
Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
Fuel Processing Technology
Solar energy integration
Chemical looping combustion
Sustainable hydrogen production
Exergy analysis
Phase change materials
CO2 capture
title Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
title_full Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
title_fullStr Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
title_full_unstemmed Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
title_short Solar-driven chemical looping combustion: A pathway to low-impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
title_sort solar driven chemical looping combustion a pathway to low impact carbon emission and sustainable hydrogen generation for a decarbonized energy sector
topic Solar energy integration
Chemical looping combustion
Sustainable hydrogen production
Exergy analysis
Phase change materials
CO2 capture
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378382025000542
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammadsaeedan solardrivenchemicalloopingcombustionapathwaytolowimpactcarbonemissionandsustainablehydrogengenerationforadecarbonizedenergysector
AT ehsanhoushfar solardrivenchemicalloopingcombustionapathwaytolowimpactcarbonemissionandsustainablehydrogengenerationforadecarbonizedenergysector