Optimal Operation of Combined Photovoltaic Electrolyzer Systems

Arash Khalilnejad, Aditya Sundararajan, Alireza Abbaspour and Arif Sarwat
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Arash Khalilnejad: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
Aditya Sundararajan: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
Alireza Abbaspour: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
Arif Sarwat: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: In this study, the design and simulation of a combination of a photovoltaic (PV) array with an alkaline electrolyzer is performed to maximize the production of hydrogen as a reliable power resource. Detailed electrical model of PV system, as long as thermal and electrochemical model of electrolyzer is used. Since an electrolyzer is a non-linear load, its coupling with PV systems to get the best power transfer is very important. Solar irradiation calculations were done for the region of Miami (FL, USA), giving an optimal surface slope of 25.7° for the PV array. The size of the PV array is optimized, considering maximum hydrogen production and minimum excess power production in a diurnal operation of a system using the imperialistic competitive algorithm (ICA). The results show that for a 10 kW alkaline electrolyzer, a PV array with a nominal power of 12.3 kW The results show that 12.3 kW photvoltaic system can be utilized for supplying a 10 kW electrolyzer. Hydrogen production and Faraday efficiency of the system are 697.21 mol and 0.3905 mol, respectively.

Keywords: advanced alkaline electrolyzer; hydrogen storage; imperialistic competitive algorithm (ICA); photovoltaic (PV) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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