Design and analysis of fuel cell and photovoltaic based 110 V DC microgrid using hydrogen energy storage

Abstract

A 110 V DC system has been designed for photovoltaic and fuel cell generators to operate DC loads such as LED lights, fans, laptop, and mobile phone charging in a DC microgrid. As the output characteristics of photovoltaic and fuel cell generators vary according to the operating conditions and connected load, the designing of the DC‐DC converter ensures that a stable DC voltage is available to the load under varying input voltage. A boost converter (with output power of 500 W) has therefore been fabricated to generate a stable 110 V output voltage for a widely varying input voltage (30‐85 V), which utilizes photovoltaic (750 Wp) and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (1 kW) power generators. The DC‐DC converter is designed to use either a silicon or silicon carbide power MOSFET by a suitably modified circuit, both are operated at 20 kHz switching frequency. The maximum converter efficiencies with silicon and silicon carbide MOSFETs are 95.7% and 97.8%, respectively. It is shown that the DC‐DC converter provides a stable operation with variations in operating conditions of photovoltaic and fuel cell generators and is well suited for application in a 110 V DC microgrid and Railways load applications. A feasibility study is performed for determining the sizes of photovoltaic and fuel cell generators to meet the Railways carriage load demand and found to be 5 kW photovoltaic and 5 kW fuel cell.

Optimal Synergy between Photovoltaic Panels and Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Green Power Supply of a Green Building—A Case Study

“…The control strategy shows lower steady-state error and faster response. Alam et al [29] designed a system of 110V DC for fuel cell and photovoltaic generators to operate on loads such as laptops, fans, mobile phones, and LED lights in a microgrid DC. The system proved to be applicable on stable applications, and it was used for railways.…”

Formic acid synthesis and utilization for solar energy storage through solar‐driven chloralkali process and fuel cells

“…A PV‐FC‐battery hybrid electric vehicle was validated based on feasibility by cost and energy efficiency analysis 14 . PV and FC systems can be combined to generate electricity for LED lights, fans, laptop, and mobile phone charging in a DC microgrid 15 . The efficiency of PV panels (including multijunction cells) goes up to 38% under Standard Test Conditions 16 .…”

“…14 PV and FC systems can be combined to generate electricity for LED lights, fans, laptop, and mobile phone charging in a DC microgrid. 15 The efficiency of PV panels (including multijunction cells) goes up to 38% under Standard Test Conditions. 16 The electric power generated by the photovoltaic panels can be increased if their efficiency is enhanced.…”