Energy storage system fuel cell, battery, super capacitor with converters simulated using MATLAB.

Energy storage system fuel cell, battery, super capacitor with converters simulated using MATLAB.!

MATLABSolutions demonstrate how to use the MATLAB software for simulation of Fuel cell (FC) known as a high specific energy source, it is one of the possible alternative power sources for the future. Because it’s efficiency, reliably and high power density, the FCs are a highly acceptable eco-friendly source for microgrids. Microgrids based on fuel-cells are getting more attractive, as a result of the combination of the fuel-cell technology with microgrids, which serve a mutual task.

Collaboratively, it meets current energy demand at a competitive cost, extremely reliable, clean, quiet, contained, modular and scalable.

Abstract

In this study, we present an ameliorated power management method for dc microgrid. The importance of exploiting renewable energy has long been a controversial topic, and due to the advantages of DC over the AC type, a typical DC islanded micro-grid has been proposed in this paper. This typical microgrid is composed of two sources: fuel cell (FC) and one storage element [supercapacitor (SC)]. Here, we aimed to provide a management strategy that guarantees optimized bus voltage with arranged power-sharing between the sources. This proposed management aims to provide high-quality energy to the load under different loading conditions with variable solar irradiance, taking into account the FC state. Due to the slow dynamics of the FC, the SC was equipped to supply the transient period. A management algorithm is implemented to hold the DC bus voltage stable against the load variations. The management controller is based on differential flatness approach to generate the references. The DC bus is regulated by the SC energy; to reduce the fluctuations in the DC bus voltage, The PI controller is implemented. This proposed strategy reduces the voltage ripple in the DC bus. Moreover, it provides permanent supplying to the load with smooth behaviour over the sudden changes in the demand as depicted in the simulation results. Our study revealed that this proposed manager can be used for this kind of grids easily.

Introduction

Currently, with the enormous demand for electricity, the research focus on integrating multiple power sources, such as oil, coal, nuclear or renewable energy. With the urgent necessity to balance fossil fuel depletion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world is going towards on clean and efficient power sources, such as renewable (Photovoltaic, wind, biomass etc.) or fuel cells.

Fuel cell installations worldwide are expected to increase more than tenfold, from the 262 MW installed in 2016 to more than 3000 MW after nine years. This would put the market for new fixed fuel cells at $ 16.2 billion in 2025, according to Navigant Research. It is wildly intercorporate with other sources under the management controller, such as which aims to reduce the fuel consumption based on an advanced manager.

According to the research in the literature, the time constant is depended on the temperature and the injection system (compressor, valves and the hydrogen reformer). As a consequence, fast change in the demand will cause temporarily a drop voltage (stack starvation phenomenon). To avoid the drop voltage and supply the trainset period, the system must have at least one auxiliary source (storage device) forming a hybrid power system. Thus, to use the FC, it’s recommended to employ a current control loop to prohibit the overloads and improve its performance.