A Predictive Approach to Optimize a HHO Generator Coupled with Solar PV as a Standalone System
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2021
Abstract
Production of hydrogen by means of renewable energy sources is a way to eliminate dependency of the system on the electric grid. This study is based on a technique involving coupling of an oxyhydrogen (HHO) electrolyzer with solar PV to produce clean HHO gas as a fuel. One of objectives of this study was to develop a strategy to make the electrolyzer independent of other energy sources and work as a standalone system based on solar PV only. A DC-DC buck convertor is used with an algorithm that can track the maximum power and can be fed to the electrolyzer by PV while addressing its intermittency. The electrolyzer is considered to be an electrical load that is connected to solar PV by means of a DC-DC convertor. An algorithm is designed for this DC-DC convertor that allows maximization and control of power transferred from solar PV to the electrolyzer to produce the maximum HHO gas. This convertor is also responsible for operating the electrolyzer in its optimum operating region to avoid overheating. The DC-DC converter has been tested under simulated indoor conditions and uncontrolled outdoor conditions. Analysis of this DC-DC convertor based on maximum power tracking algorithm showed 94% efficiency.
Keywords
Electrolyzer, Solar PV, Convertor, HHO
Divisions
umpedac
Funders
InnovateUM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC),Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) Program Research Grant [UMPEDAC-2020],Ministry of Education, Malaysia [TOP100UMPEDAC] [RU003-2020],Universiti Malaya
Publication Title
Sustainability
Volume
13
Issue
21
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND