Based on the proposed thermal cycle with inherent CO_2 separation using methanol-chemical looping combustion by low-grade solar thermal energy,this paper discussed the principle of upgrading low-temperature solar thermal energy,and disclosed the relationships among the radiation intensity,the reactivity of CH_3OH-Fe_2O_3,and the energy-level upgrade of solar thermal energy.

In this paper we proposed a novel approach for the solar hydrogen production which inte- grated methanol steam reforming and mid-and-low temperature solar thermal energy,and investigated its mechanism of energy conversion based on the second-law thermodynamics.

A low-temperature solar-thermal-electric power generation system,which uses HCFC123 as the working fluid of the organic Rankine cycle(ORC)and compound parabolic concentrator(CPC)as the solar collectors,was analyzed.

To select a suitable working fluid for low-temperature solar thermal power generation organic Rankine cycle,the PR equation of state was adopted to calcualte and analyze the thermal performances of organic Rankine cycles driven by low-temperature solar energy using 11 kinds of organic fluids with low boiling points.

Based on the thought of complementary utilization of solar energy and fossil energy, utilization of intermediate-low temperature solar energy is integrated with CCHP system organically and a CCHP system based on methanol decomposition is proposed in this paper.