engleski

Optimization of fuel cell role in autonomous photovoltaic system

Fuel cells equipped with a hydrogen generator and hydrogen storage may be used to ensure autonomy of photovoltaic systems, particularly for the telecommunications base stations in remote areas. Although the cost of this, still developing, technology may be higher than that of the conventional systems, other advantages of fuel cells such as higher reliability, higher operational range, lower noise and lower environmental impact may prevail in selecting the equipment for autonomous power supply. For a required power profile over time and given solar availability, various combinations of batteries and hydrogen storage for energy storage, and photovoltaics, batteries and fuel cells for power output may be possible. In addition, an oversized fuel cell may result in higher efficiency thus requiring less hydrogen storage. This study presents the results of an optimization/trade-off analysis, with PV size, fuel cell nominal power and efficiency, electrolyzer nominal power and efficiency, battery capacity, hydrogen storage size and unit cost of each component being the optimization variables.

fuel cell; photovoltaics; electrolyzer; hydrogen storage

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