Electrolyzer Performance Analysis of an Integrated Hydrogen Power System for Greenhouse Heating. A Case Study

Simone Pascuzzi, Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis, Ileana Blanco and Giacomo Scarascia Mugnozza
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Simone Pascuzzi: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DiSAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DiSAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Ileana Blanco: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DiSAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Giacomo Scarascia Mugnozza: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DiSAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: A greenhouse containing an integrated system of photovoltaic panels, a water electrolyzer, fuel cells and a geothermal heat pump was set up to investigate suitable solutions for a power system based on solar energy and hydrogen, feeding a self-sufficient, geothermal-heated greenhouse. The electricity produced by the photovoltaic source supplies the electrolyzer; the manufactured hydrogen gas is held in a pressure tank. In these systems, the electrolyzer is a crucial component; the technical challenge is to make it work regularly despite the irregularity of the solar source. The focus of this paper is to study the performance and the real energy efficiency of the electrolyzer, analyzing its operational data collected under different operating conditions affected by the changeable solar radiant energy characterizing the site where the experimental plant was located. The analysis of the measured values allowed evaluation of its suitability for the agricultural requirements such as greenhouse heating. On the strength of the obtained result, a new layout of the battery bank has been designed and exemplified to improve the performance of the electrolyzer. The evaluations resulting from this case study may have a genuine value, therefore assisting in further studies to better understand these devices and their associated technologies.

Keywords: greenhouse heating; hydrogen production; renewable energies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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