According to foreign media reports, Miyazaki University in Tokyo, University of Tokyo, Fujitsu Lab and Sumitomo Electric cooperated to use hydrogen to produce hydrogen in Miyazaki.
The researchers successfully electrolyzed water using high-efficiency concentrating photovoltaic cells developed by Miyazaki University (output 470 W), converting solar energy (daily average) to hydrogen energy at 18.8% efficiency, which is the actual system in outdoor experiments. The highest efficiency achieved.
The deployment of new electrical conversion equipment between solar cells and electrolysis equipment enables stable power supply without the loss of solar cells due to weather changes, thus achieving the highest efficiency in the world. Miyazaki Prefecture is rich in solar energy. It is possible to realistically produce a large amount of hydrogen, so that the production and consumption of local renewable energy can be developed.
Assistant Professor Otauyuki Ota of Miyazaki University and Prof. Nensoka Kensuke, Professor Masakazu Sugiyama of the University of Tokyo, Fujitsu Laboratory Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Electric Co., Ltd. formed a research team to design and establish a water electrolysis system. Acquired electric energy, which can successfully convert 18.8% of solar energy (daily average) into hydrogen energy. Miyazaki University has been working with the University of Tokyo to design and conduct field tests on hydrogen production systems for solar cells and electrolysis equipment. Now, the research team A new electrical conversion device (DC / DC converter) has been developed.
Test equipment used in outdoor hydrogen production experiments at Miyazaki University
Changes in operating temperature and solar radiation can cause instability in the maximum output of the solar cell (the point at which maximum conversion efficiency is achieved). Now, the newly developed electrical conversion equipment for this system enables high energy conversion efficiency from solar cells to electrolyzers. (90.0%). The device controls the voltage and current supplied to the electrolyzer according to the temperature and solar radiation over time, so that the maximum output from the solar cell can be maintained.
Concentrated photovoltaic cells are based on the optical design of components such as lenses, as well as advanced tracking technology to ensure that the lens is accurately facing the direction of the sun, and it is not easy to improve the power generation efficiency in the actual outdoor environment. In this experiment, concentrating photovoltaic The component (manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries Co., Ltd.) was installed on the high-precision sun tracking bracket of Miyazaki University. Under the actual outdoor sunshine conditions in Miyazaki Prefecture, it can achieve an average power generation efficiency of 27.2% throughout the day.
In the future, the power generation efficiency of concentrator PV modules under actual working conditions is expected to increase to 35%. Assuming that the energy conversion to hydrogen energy in water electrolysis is 80%, the efficiency of solar energy conversion can be predicted to reach 25%.
