This study offers an overview of the technologies for hydrogen production especially alkaline water electrolysis using solar energy. Solar Energy and Hydrogen (energy carrier) are possible replacement options for fossil fuel and its associated problems of availability and high prices which are devastating small, developing, oil-importing economies. But a major drawback to the full implementation of solar energy, in particular photovoltaic (PV), is the lowering of conversion efficiency of PV cells due to elevated cell temperatures while in operation. Also, hydrogen as an energy carrier must be produced in gaseous or liquid form before it can be used as fuel; but its‟ present major conversion process produces an abundance of carbon dioxide which is harming the environment through global warming. Alkaline water electrolysis is considered to be a basic technique for hydrogen production. In the present study, the effects of electrolyte concentration, solar insolation and space between the pair of electrodes on the amount of hydrogen produced and consequently on the overall electrolysis efficiency are experimentally investigated. The water electrolysis of potassium hydroxide aqueous solution was conducted under atmospheric pressure using stainless steel 316 as electrodes. The experimental results showed that the performance of alkaline water electrolysis unit is dominated by operational parameters like the electrolyte concentration and the gap between the electrodes. Smaller gaps between the pair of electrodes and was demonstrated to produce higher rates of hydrogen at higher system efficiency This study shows some attempts to product pure Hydrogen and pure Oxygen as both Hydrogen and Oxygen have there commercial demands.

1. supervisors

2. OUTLINE

3. THE GLOBAL WARMING
Atmospheric carbon dioxide record from Mauna Loa

4. WHAT IS HYDROGEN ?

5. Producing Hydrogen As A Fuel

6. HYDROGEN PRODUCTION & DEMANDS
Sources Supply & Demand

8. Hydrogen Methane
Boiling point K 20.3 337
Density kg/m³ 0.0887 0.707
Concentration for combustion (Volume %) 4.1- 72.5 5.1-13.5
Explosion limits (Volume %) 13 – 65 6.3-14
Lower heating value Kwh /kg 33.33 13.9
Self Ignition Temp. C 585 540
Flame Propagation in air m/s 2.65 0.4
Flame Temp. C 2045 1875
HYDROGEN PROPERTIES
[LOUIS SCHLAPBACH AND ANDREAS ZÜTTEL , 2001]
& [ RAND AND DELL, 2008 ]

9. HYDROGEN PRODUCTION & DEMANDS
Current hydrogen production
 48% natural gas
 30% oil
 18% coal
 4% electrolysis
Total Production in tonnes / yr
 50 million tonnes / yr
Production & Use In 2008Production & Use In 2002
Production In 2011

10. HYDROGEN PRODUCTION COSTS
Updated hydrogen production costs and parities for
conventional and renewable technologies
RICARDO GUERRERO LEMUS & JOSE MANUEL MARTINEZ DUART

12. Sources: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pv_systems.html
http://thomashawk.com/hello/209/1017/1024/Staring%20at%20the%20Sun.jpg
WHAT IS SOLAR
ENERGY?
Radiation Energy
produced by the sun
Clean, renewable
source of energy
Harnessed by solar
collection methods such
as solar cells
Converted into usable
energy such as
electricity
Photovoltaic (solar)
panel
Set of solar panels

13. ENERGY FROM THE SUN IS ABUNDANT
The Earth receives
174 petawatts (PW)
of incoming solar
radiation (insolation)
at the upper
atmosphere
Solar power systems
installed in the areas
defined by the dark
disks could meet the
world's current total
energy demand
Sources:1- http://www.ez2c.de/ml/solar_land_area/
2-NREL "World Solar Insolation data"
Egypt receives annually 2,400 hrs. of solar operation
with high intensity of solar radiation equivalent to 2,600
KWh/m2.

14. SOLAR CELLS ARE
CONVERTERS OF ENERGY
Solar cells are devices that
take light energy as input and
convert it into electrical
energyLight energy
Solar cell - converts light
energy to electricity
Electrical energy (carried
through wires)

15. It is the process by which we generate hydrogen (and oxygen) from water
.The word "lysis" means to dissolve or break apart, so the word "electrolysis"
literally means to break something apart (in this case water) using electricity.
Electrolysis is very simple - all you have to do is arrange for electricity to pass
through some water between to electrodes placed in the water
The principle of electrolysis was first formulated by Michael Faraday in 1820
What is Water Electrolysis?

16. Cathode : 2H2O + 2e H2(g) + 2OH-
Anode : 4OH- 2H2O + 4e + O2(g)
Overall : 2H2O 2H2 + O2
Equations of reactions of Electrolysis of
water at Cathode and Anode

17. Methods of hydrogen production through
water electrolysis
Methods
Alkaline electrolysis
Proton exchange
membrane
water electrolysis
Solid oxide
electrolyzer

18. Alkaline
electrolyzer
PEM
electrolyzer
Solid oxide
electrolyzer
Electrolyte KOH
(20-30%)
PEM polymer
(Nafion)
Yttria stabilized
Zirconia
Operating
temperature
340-420 K 320-360 K 870-1270K
Charge carrier OH-
H+
O2+
Efficiency 80% 94.4% 90%
Cost Lowest Highest Medium
Comparison Between Alkaline , PEM ,
Solid Oxide Electrolyzer

19. Experimental work

20. Experimental diagram

21. Experimental apparatus

22. Experimental apparatus
Experimental apparatus for producing hydrogen from alkaline
water (KOH) electrolysis under atmospheric pressure .
Material : acrylic dimensions : (30 x 16 x 15) cm Wall thickness : 1
cm

23. Experimental apparatus
The Model : This particular system was fabricated specifically for the
study, observation and experimental development of hydrogen
generation with improving the efficiency of the electrolysis.
Number of plates : Four plates (Two anode – Two Cathode)
Material : Stainless steel Dimensions : 2x2 cm² Thickness : 2
mm

24. Experimental apparatus
Photovoltaic cell : Solar cells are devices that take light energy as input
and convert it into electrical energy. The PV cell generates the dc power
that is transferred to the water electrolyser directly. The PV module is
supported up on a tilted structure from aluminium frames. The tilt angle is
fixed at 30° with horizontal and the structure is mounted such that the
module is facing south direction
Rated Maximum Power 225W
Tolerance 0~5W
Voltage at Pmax (Vmp) 30.40V
Current at pmax (Imp) 8.39A
Operation Cell Temp 45° C ± 2°C

25. Experimental procedure
1.Check that all apparatus are in
their correct position.
2.Preparing the solution with the
desired concentration.
3.Put the electrolyte into the
electrolysis vessel.
4.Turn on PV wire switch
5.Measure voltage (V), current (I)
and flow rate per hour

26. Experimental Results
And Discussions

27. Efficiency = Output Power/ Input
Power
Pout
=
Pin
=
in
out
p
p
=η
.
We can calculate Efficiency by using this equation:
Calculations Equations
)/(24000/)/(286000*)( 33
2 molcmmolJcmvolH
timeIV **

28. Result from (con. %=10% , δ = 5 [mm])

29. Result from (con. %=10% , δ = 5 [mm])

30. Result from (con. %=10% , δ = 10 [mm])

31. Result from (con. %=10% , δ = 10 [mm])

32. Result from (con. %=30% , δ = 5 [mm])

33. Result from (con. %=30% , δ = 5 [mm])

34. Result from (con. %=30% , δ = 10 [mm])

35. Result from (con. %=30% , δ = 10 [mm])

36. Effect of gap distance increase
on electrolyser efficiency
•Efficiency / TimeEfficiency / Time

37. Effect of Electrolyte concentration increase on
electrolyser efficiency
•EfficiencyEfficiency / Time/ Time

38. •Efficiency/VoltageEfficiency/Voltage

39. Effect of gap distance increase on hydrogen
generation
Total (H2) GeneratedTotal (H2) Generated
•5mm,10% (19.9125liter)
•10mm,10% ( 20.75 liter)
•Flow rate/TimeFlow rate/Time

40. Effect of electrolyte concentration on
hydrogen generation
Total (H2) GeneratedTotal (H2) Generated
•5mm,10% (19.9125liter)
•5mm,30% (21.525 liter)
•Flow rate/TimeFlow rate/Time

41. •Flow rate/VoltageFlow rate/Voltage

42. An experimental system was built for hydrogen production using photovoltaic
energy and an overview of other methods of hydrogen production. The
investigation covered the effects of voltage, solution concentration, and space
between the pair of electrodes on the characteristics of alkaline water electrolysis.
The study was carried out under atmospheric pressure using stainless steel
electrodes. Smaller gaps between the pair of electrodes and was demonstrated to
produce higher rates of hydrogen at higher system efficiency. Also, it is found that
the environmental conditions such as solar intensity, ambient temperature and the
module surface temperature have a large effect on the system performance and
the rate of hydrogen production.
The models with membrane show that the rate of hydrogen production is
decreased but the overall efficiency of the process increased due to decrease of the
input electrical power.
Conclusion

43. The objective of such researches should include
the use othertype of connection in which the P-
V output is routed through a (DC /DC)
converterto modify the voltage and current
input to the electrolyser.
Also an emergency powersupply (battery)
attached with charge controlleris to be installed
to overcome the high fluctuation due to solar
irradiation. Hence more uniformdistribution for
(Power, efficiency and flow rate) will be shown
in experimental results.
Future Work

44. Thanks
Hydrogen Production Team:
1- Mohamed Hassan Younes Nasr
2- Micheal Edward Rafael
3- Hany Mohamed Talaat EL-Gizawy
4- Ahmed Ali Shaheen
5-Mohamed Mostafa Sheha