A 25.1% Efficient Stand‐Alone Solar Chloralkali Generator Employing a Microtracking Solar Concentrator

Abstract Chlorine is a large‐scale chemical commodity produced via the chloralkali process, which involves the electrolysis of brine in a membrane‐based electrochemical reactor. The reaction is normally driven by grid electricity; nevertheless, the required combination of voltage–current can be guar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Enrico Chinello, Miguel A. Modestino, Laurent Coulot, Mathieu Ackermann, Florian Gerlich, Demetri Psaltis, Christophe Moser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-12-01
Series:Global Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201700095
Description
Summary:Abstract Chlorine is a large‐scale chemical commodity produced via the chloralkali process, which involves the electrolysis of brine in a membrane‐based electrochemical reactor. The reaction is normally driven by grid electricity; nevertheless, the required combination of voltage–current can be guaranteed using renewable power (i.e., photovoltaic electricity). This study demonstrates an off‐grid solar‐powered chlorine generator that couples a novel planar solar concentrator, multijunction InGaP/GaAs/InGaAsNSb solar cells and an electrochemical cell fabricated via additive manufacturing. The planar solar concentrator consists of an array of seven custom injection‐molded lenses and uses microtracking to maintain a ± 40° wide angular acceptance. Triple‐junction solar cells provide the necessary potential (open‐circuit voltage, VOC = 3.16 V) to drive the electrochemical reactions taking place at a De Nora DSA insoluble anode and a nickel cathode. This chloralkali generator is tested under real atmospheric conditions and operated at a record 25.1% solar‐to‐chemical conversion efficiency (SCE). The device represents the proof‐of‐principle of a new generation stand‐alone chlorine production system for off‐grid utilization in remote and inaccessible locations.
ISSN:2056-6646