Description of direct PV power supply system for an electrolyzer[edit | edit source]
After conducting an analysis of the electrolyzer's behavior and reviewing relevant literature, it was determined that the most suitable architecture for the small AEM electrolyzer involves integrating a DC-DC converter between the battery and the electrolyzer. Furthermore, it should be noted that the performance of the electrolyzer is influenced by temperature, necessitating the use of a battery to ensure smooth operation. The buck converter must feature a high current supply rating and include multiple protection systems. For a small-scale system, a 20A rating is adequate at room temperature. Therefore, a lab-scale PV power supply for the electrolyzer should incorporate the following configuration, complete with over-voltage and current protection mechanisms.
Literature review on "PV power supply system for Electrolyzer"[edit | edit source]
PSCAD/EMTDC modeling and simulation of solar-powered hydrogen production system[1]
In 2006, Minwon Park et al. developed a solar-powered hydrogen production system, utilizing PSCAD for modeling and simulation. Their approach involved modeling the electrolyzer by employing the equivalent resistance model.
- The electrolyzer they utilized was based on solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), and its representation involved the application of a resistance calculation formula.
- The electrical resistance within the SPE cell exhibited a notable decrease as the current flowing into the SPE cell increased.
- In their simulation setup, they directly integrated MPPT between the photovoltaic (PV) system and the electrolyzer.
- The conversion efficiency of the DC/DC converter was under the control of the MPPT, exerting a direct influence on the rate of hydrogen production.
- Their findings demonstrated a remarkable alignment between the experimental and simulation results up to an input current of 40 A.
- However, under the specific conditions of direct coupling, when the IGBT was fully activated, the system exhibited notably low energy conversion efficiency.
Improved Hydrogen-Production-Based Power Management Control of a Wind Turbine Conversion System Coupled with Multistack Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers[2]
In 2020, Damien Guilbert et al. designed a power management system for a wind turbine-based PEM electrolyzer setup.
- The wind turbine control system (WTCS) and the electrolyzers are interconnected through a stacked interleaved DC-DC buck converter (SIBC), chosen for its advantageous characteristics in terms of output current ripple and overall reliability.
- This converter has faster dynamic performance surpassing that of the wind turbine itself, thereby preventing overvoltage during transient conditions, which could potentially harm the PEM electrolyzers.
- The primary aim of their research was to assess the efficiency of the power conversion system while also exploring the implications of electrical harmonics generated during the electrolysis process.
- The auxiliary battery system is used to store any excess energy.
Dynamic Electric Simulation Model of a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer System for Hydrogen Production[3]
In 2022, Guiseppe De Lorenzo et al. developed a dynamic simulation model for a PEM electrolytic stack, specifically tailored to accommodate variations in power and mitigate voltage and current spikes during power supply fluctuations.
- They employed a synchronous buck converter for their design, but the experimental setup, power management system, and converter control details were not presented in their work.
- The PEM electrolyzer system achieves maximum production efficiency at approximately 0.754 when the stack operates at a current of approximately 7.5 A.
- The optimal operating range for the stack is identified to fall between 4.5 A and 14.5 A.
- The power input to the PEM electrolyzer system is adjustable, ranging from a minimum of around 56 W to a maximum of approximately 440 W, and this variation is achieved by appropriately adjusting the duty ratio of the DC/DC buck converter.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ M. Park, D.-H. Lee, and I.-K. Yu, “PSCAD/EMTDC modeling and simulation of solar-powered hydrogen production system,” Renew. Energy, vol. 31, no. 14, pp. 2342–2355, Nov. 2006, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2005.12.001.
- ↑ D. Guilbert and G. Vitale, “Improved Hydrogen-Production-Based Power Management Control of a Wind Turbine Conversion System Coupled with Multistack Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers,” Energies, vol. 13, no. 5, Art. no. 5, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.3390/en13051239.
- ↑ G. De Lorenzo, R. G. Agostino, and P. Fragiacomo, “Dynamic Electric Simulation Model of a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer System for Hydrogen Production,” Energies, vol. 15, no. 17, Art. no. 17, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3390/en15176437.