A Photovoltaic-Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Energy System: Preliminary Operational Results

Abstract

The authors report preliminary operational results for a photovoltaic (PV) energy system which uses hydrogen as the storage medium and a fuel cell as the regeneration technology. The system installed at the Humboldt State University Telonicher Marine Laboratory consists of a 9.2 kW PV array coupled to a high pressure, bipolar, alkaline electrolyzer. The array powers the laboratory's air compressor system whenever possible; excess power is shunted to the electrolyzer for hydrogen and oxygen production. When the array cannot provide sufficient power, stored hydrogen and oxygen are furnished to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell which, smoothly and without interruption, supplies the load. The authors report measurements of PV module and subarray performance and electrolyzer current-voltage behavior and include an analysis of the match between these two components. They also detail modifications made to the electrolyzer to accommodate O2 collection and describe the monitoring and control systems being developed and tested.