A comprehensive technical analysis on optimal sizing and operating strategy for large-scale direct coupled PV–electrolyser systems, considering PV system faults, degradation and partial shading conditions

Abstract

The paper presents an investigation of the performance of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser directly connected with large-scale PV systems under faulty, degradation and partial shading conditions. With the direct coupled system, the power loss and external price on auxiliary devices are avoided. However, the adaptability of the direct coupled system to fluctuate solar irradiance and ambient temperature is reduced significantly compared to systems with DC-DC converters. To maximise the system efficiency, the optimal electrolyser (ELY) cell configuration is identified using an optimal sizing approach or operating strategy. This paper applied the Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm to find the optimal configuration for the two approaches, namely the Sizing technique and Operating strategy under different PV systems: faults, degradation and partial shading conditions. Additionally, a large-scale system is simulated to describe the characteristics of a large-scale direct coupled PV-electrolyser system with actual operating faults and phenomena. Simulations of the large-scale direct coupling system were conducted using measured irradiance and temperature data for a typical day period. Based on the collected output, it is found that compared to the optimal sizing approach, the optimal operating strategy allows the direct coupled system to increase its coupling efficiency from 0.17% to 4.47%. In contrast, the amount of hydrogen production when applying the two methods witnessed different trends, depending on the type of faults. The differences are even more significantly presented during multiple short-circuit fault scenarios.