Developing a thermally compensated electrolyser model coupled with pressurised hydrogen storage for modelling the energy efficiency of hydrogen energy storage systems and identifying their operation performance issues

Abstract

This paper proposes a thermally compensated electrolyser model coupled with a Pressurised Hydrogen Storage model for modelling Renewable Hydrogen Energy Storage Systems needed to support the uptake of renewable energy sources (RES) integration into the grid. The model accurately simulates the output of real world electrolyser and hydrogen storage installations and can be used as a tool for assessing their integrity with intermittent RES.The model, which has been developed using Matlab/Simulink, incorporates a set of thermally compensated simulation equations to emulate the real world operating installations and define their hydrogen production under different energy configurations (grid connected or directly connected to the RES). It can also be used to determine the efficiency of an electrolyser under cold start or during full temperature operation. The proposed model has proved its ability to emulate real world hydrogen energy systems, and this has been validated by comparing its output to the real-world data logged from an existing field installation.The developed model has also been used as a tool to assess the performance of an operating real world system, installed in Africa, and which has not been performing as anticipated. Simulation results revealed the presence of a hydrogen leak within this infield installation, and this has been confirmed by an onsite inspection. The developed model has therefore also proved to be able to examine the performance of operating real-world hydrogen energy systems and detect irregularities and operation performance issues.In summary, this paper proposes a Hydrogen Energy Storage system (HES) model as an enabler simulation tool to support the projected increase of renewable integration into the grid. The model also allows the detection of performance issues within operating HES systems and allows the identification of leaks without the need for conducting intrusive inspections of the installations, hence saving money and time.