VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED STUDIES

(VISTAS)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Solar Powered Hydrogen

Generation
Team Members

◦ARVINDH KUMAR . S 18604503

◦ANANTH . K 18604501
◦SELVAHARIHARAN . R 18604513
◦RANJIT KUMAR S.M 18604510

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Dr. [Link]
Dept of Mechanical Engineering
 ABSTRACT

There is a lot of concern nowadays about the

efficiency of the various plants. Here we are introducing
the use of non renewable energy sources. Hydrogen
produced through renewable energy sources, most
commonly with a device which uses electricity to
separate water into hydrogen and oxygen called an
electrolyzer, is an emissions-free way to carry energy.
Hydrogen is plentiful and can safely be harnessed for a
variety of stationary and mobile applications .
 INTRODUCTION
◦ Renewable energy research has received the greatest quantity of funding during the
gas price or availability crises.
◦ The main source of energy for 150 years has been fossil fuels, e.g. petroleum.
However, the world is running out of this source rapidly and there are detrimental
effects of its use e.g pollution and economic impact.
◦ A source without the dangerous by-products (greenhouse gases like CO2, CO, HC
etc.) that is available at all times and renewable is needed: the answer is “hydrogen”
energy;
◦ The system shows that water electrolysis, powered by solar energy, creates
hydrogen.
◦ The world has many renewable resources such as solar, wind, rain, tides and
geothermal heat which are naturally replenished. The technologies associated with
these natural energies are solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity, biomass and
biofuels for transportation purposes. Natural energy can help alleviate the world’s
petroleum shortage.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLUE AND GREEN HYDROGEN

BLUE HYDROGEN GREEN HYDROGEN

Blue hydrogen is produced from non- Green hydrogen is produced by using
renewable energy sources, by using one electricity to power an electrolyser that
of two primary methods. Steam methane splits the hydrogen from water
reformation is the most common method molecules. This process produces pure
for producing bulk hydrogen and hydrogen, with no harmful by-products.
accounts for most of the world’s
production.

This method uses a reformer, which An added benefit is that, because this
reacts steam at a high temperature and method uses electricity, it also offers the
pressure with methane and a nickel potential to divert any excess electricity
catalyst to form hydrogen and carbon – which is hard to store (like surplus
monoxide. wind power) – to electrolysis, using it to
create hydrogen gas that can be stored
for future energy needs
 Conversion of Solar Energy
The solar energy is the energy obtained by capturing heat and light from the Sun. The
method of obtaining electricity from sunlight is referred to as the Photovoltaic method.
This is achieved using a semiconductor material.
◦ The other form of obtaining solar energy is through thermal technologies, which give two
forms of energy tapping methods.
◦ The first is solar concentration, which focuses solar energy to drive thermal turbines.
◦ The second method is heating and cooling systems used in solar water heating and air
conditioning respectively.
◦ The process of converting solar energy into electricity so as to utilize its energy in day-to-
day activities is given below −
◦ Absorption of energy carrying particles in Sun’s rays called photons.
◦ Photovoltaic conversion, inside the solar cells.
◦ Combination of current from several cells. This step is necessary since a single cell has a
voltage of less than 0.5 V.
◦ Conversion of the resultant DC to AC
 WORKING PRINCIPLE OF SOLAR
HYDROGEN GENERATION
◦ The most common method used to produce renewable hydrogen. Electrolysis
involves the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen, using an electric
current. Although some electrolyzers use chemicals or intense heat to help the
separation, conventional electrolysis uses no chemicals, and works at room
temperature
◦ Creating oppositely charged particles (see diagram). Because opposite charges
attract, the negative pole (cathode) attracts the positive particle (with the
hydrogen molecules), and the positive pole (anode) attracts the negative particle
(with the oxygen molecules). As the particles reach the poles, the hydrogen and
oxygen gases rise and are collected separately. (It takes about 53 kilowatt-hours
to produce 1 kilogram of hydrogen assuming a 75% efficient electrolyzer).
◦ Electrolysis separates water into its constituent elements–hydrogen and oxygen–
by charging water with an electrical current. The charge, coming from two poles
in the water, breaks the chemical bond between the hydrogen and oxygen and
splits apart the atomic components.
Experimental Aparatus
◦Photovoltic Cell
◦Multimeter
◦Strainless Steel
◦Glass Tube
◦Battery
◦Strand
◦Hose
Experimental Setup
◦ PV Cell Connected to Battery and Battery is Connected to Electrolysis
Chamber
◦ Hose is Fitted to Chamber to exit the Hydrogen Gas for the Flash Test
◦ Electrolysis involves the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen, using
an electric current.
◦ Creating oppositely charged particles. Because opposite charges attract, the
negative pole (cathode) attracts the positive particle (with the hydrogen
molecules), and the positive pole (anode) attracts the negative particle (with the
oxygen molecules). As the particles reach the poles, the hydrogen and oxygen
gases rise and are collected separately. (It takes about 53 kilowatt-hours to
produce 1 kilogram of hydrogen assuming a 75% efficient electrolyzer).
◦ Electrolysis separates water into its constituent elements–hydrogen and
oxygen–by charging water with an electrical current.
◦ The charge, coming from two poles in the water, breaks the chemical bond
between the hydrogen and oxygen and splits apart the atomic components.
EXPERIMENTAL LAYOUT
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
◦ Check the Apparatus which are connected &Alinged in Position if not check
and correct the Apparatus set up
◦ Prepare the Solution prior before the Experimental Set-up by Checking PH
level with the desired concentration level.
◦ Pre-Check the Multimeter Which are aligned and connected Properly.
◦ Place the Electrolyte into the electrolysis vessel.
◦ Turn ON the PV Switch which have been connected to the circuits.
◦ Measure the Voltage(V), current(I), and flow rate per hour and maintain the
desired level
 WORKING PROCEDURE
First we have mounted the solar panel in 45 degrees
so the UV rays have received by the solar panel then only.
The solar plates have been placed in the slot which we have
been fabricated in the local workshop.
 After the solar panel is fixed in the
base the wiring is carried out from the panel
to D.C Battery the electricity is stored in the
Battery.
 This the main criteria where we check the
current voltage from each and every stages how
much volts are carried from start to end by the help
of ‘Multimeter’. If not, we rectified if needed.
 Then finally we come to the electrolysis process
where in a tight glass vessel we have poured sea water and
placed with cathode and anode the electricity is supplied
from the D.C battery and the electrolysis process is started
the hydrogen ions and oxygen ions are separated and the
separated hydrogen is carried out with the help of hose
How we show that we separated hydrogen from
oxygen?
So we decided to go with ‘flash Test’.
Flash point testing is a procedure designed to
determine whether a sampled mixture of vapor
and air is flammable. It can also determine the
temperature at which flammability occurs in a
sample. The lowest temperature at which its
vapor ignite from an ignition is the flash point of
a material and the process is continued until the
required amount of Hydrogen how much
quantity we needed .
Electrolysis
◦ Electrolysis is defined as a process of decomposing ionic
compounds into their elements by passing a direct electric
current through the compound in a fluid form. The cations are
reduced at cathode and anions are oxidized at the anode. The
main components that are required for conducting electrolysis
are an electrolyte, electrodes, and some form of external
power source is also needed. Additionally, a partition such as
an ion-exchange membrane or a salt bridge is also used but
this is optional. These are used mainly to keep the products
from diffusing near the opposite electrode.
◦ An acidified or salt-containing water can be decomposed by
passing electric current to their original elements hydrogen
and oxygen. Molten sodium chloride can be decomposed to
sodium and chlorine atoms.
APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR HYDROGEN
GENERATION

◦Hydrogen can be used as a fuel.

◦Hydrogen is a need of medical
field.
◦Hydrogen can also used for gas
welding
◦Internally fired boilers.
GLOBAL HYDROGEN CONSUPTION BY
INDUSTRY

10%

10%

55%

25%

Ammonia Production Petroleum Refining

Methanol Production Other
 ADVANTAGES

◦Reduces the CO2 emissions.

Eliminating pollution and other harmful
residues that our car engines produce.
◦Removes the carbon residues inside
your engine and prevent future carbon
deposits.
◦It uses renewable energy for its
operation.
 CONCLUSION
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.
 FUTURE SCOPE
Hydrogen has been called the fuel of the future
for decades, always promising to deliver huge benefits
in the following years, but we are only now starting to
see some major projects focusing on investments in
green hydrogen production and use.
The objective of such researches should include
the use other type of connection in which the P-V
output is routed through a DC/DC converter to modify
the voltage and current input to the electrolyser.
Thanking You