Optimization of hydrogen production in multi-Electrolyzer systems: A novel control strategy for enhanced renewable energy utilization and Electrolyzer lifespan

Abstract

In large-scale water electrolytic hydrogen production system based on renewable energy, the allocation strategy of hydrogen production power among multi-electrolyzers plays a critical role in the efficiency of renewable energy utilization and the quantity of hydrogen production, given a fixed power output from renewable energy sources. This paper considers the minimum hydrogen production power constraint of electrolyzer and proposes a novel control strategy for multi-electrolyzers. The operational phase of multi-electrolyzers is divided into two distinct phases: 1) the rapid start-up phase; 2) the equal power allocation phase. During the rapid start-up phase, by reducing the power of electrolyzer that has reached its rated power to a predetermined level and using this saved power to start another electrolyzer, this strategy ensures that electrolyzers can proactively and quickly exceed the minimum operational power threshold. Upon the activation of all electrolyzers, the system enters second phase, wherein the power is evenly allocated among all electrolyzers. Besides, this strategy employs a priority scheduling method to ensure the uniformity of operating times across all electrolyzers. Compared to the existing three control strategies, this proposed strategy demonstrates significant advantages in minimizing unused wind energy and optimizing the lifespan of electrolyzers. The effectiveness of proposed strategy is validated by the simulation result.