Integration Of Power Generation Research Articles

Observing Mixed Chemical Reactions at the Positive Electrode in the High-Performance Self-Powered Electrochemical Humidity Sensor.

Electrochemical humidity (ECH) sensors that integrate power generation and humidity sensing have attracted great research attention in recent years. However, the design of high-performance ECH sensors faces many challenges. Namely, the working mechanism of the ECH sensors is still controversial, and related self-powered applications have not been well implemented. To overcome these limitations, this study constructs an ECH sensor with high power-generation and humidity-sensing performance using the KCl/carbon black/halloysite nanotubes (KCl/CB/HNTs) as a humidity-sensing electrolyte. The proposed ECH sensor has a wide humidity-sensing response of 10.9%-91.5% relative humidity (RH), and a single ECH sensor can output 1.46 V with a maximum power of 133.2 μW at 91.5% RH. Particularly, the unprecedented mixed chemical reactions at the positive electrode, including the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction, are analyzed using multiple characterization and testing techniques. The analysis results provide solid experimental evidence for the current controversial working mechanism of ECH sensors. Due to the advantage of high-power generation, the proposed ECH sensor can be used for self-powered humidity detection. This study provides a valuable reference for improving the power generation of ECH sensors and solid evidence for clarifying their working mechanism, which could be beneficial for guiding the future development of ECH sensors.

Photothermal conversion-enhanced thermoelectric generators combined with supercapacitors: An efficacious approach to integrated power generation and storage

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs), which harness and convert solar-thermal energy into electrical energy, possess immense potential within the field of photothermal conversion (PTC). However, the widespread adoption of conventional TEGs in PTC domain has encountered some obstacles, which represent that TEGs have poor inherent PTC performance, resulting in low solar-thermoelectric conversion efficiency, and this solar-thermal-electric conversion method lacks the capability of electrical energy storage. Hence, an urgent imperative exists to develop integrated and synergistic energy technologies that can respond to these underlying challenges. Herein, we reported a novel strategy for employing spinel-type Cu1.5Mn1.5O4 PTC coating to adorn conventional TEG to construct the solar-thermoelectric generator (STEG) which exhibited excellent solar-thermoelectric conversion capability, and then integrating the STEG in series with a supercapacitor composed of synthetic ionic liquid electrolytes and carbon electrodes to fulfill the conversion and storage of solar-thermal energy into electrical energy. The results indicated that, when compared to a conventional TEG, the STEG attained a drastically elevated internal temperature difference due to the excellent PTC capability of spinel-type coating. As a result, remarkable enhancements were observed in both the steady-state voltages (Voc) and maximum output power density (Pmax) of the STEG, exceeding a 6-fold and 40-fold increase, respectively. Furthermore, we conducted experimental validation to ascertain the viability of the solar-driven STEG to charge a supercapacitor, thereby achieving the conversion and storage of solar-thermal energy into electrical energy, and the working mechanism of this integrated system has been revealed. This study offers invaluable insights into the development of highly efficient solar-thermal energy conversion and storage methods.

Capacity configuration and economic analysis of integrated wind–solar–thermal–storage generation system based on concentrated solar power plant

As the proportion of wind and photovoltaic power plants characterized by intermittency and volatility in the electric power system is increasing continuously, it restricts the development of renewable energy at a higher proportion and a larger scale. CSP has the dual functions of peak-regulating power supply and energy storage, which can provide important support for grid access and power regulation for renewable energy power. In this study, the capacity configuration and economy of integrated wind–solar–thermal–storage power generation system were analyzed by the net profit economic model based on the adaptive weight particle swarm algorithm. A case study was conducted on a 450 MW system in Xinjiang, China. The effects of heat storage capacity, capacity ratio of wind power and photovoltaic to molten salt parabolic trough power generation on the economy of the integrated power generation system were obtained under the condition that the system output should meet the power load. The results show that when the capacity ratio is fixed and the heat storage capacity increases, the net profit of the system increases first and then decreases. When the heat storage capacity is fixed, the net profit of the system increases with the increase of the capacity ratio, but when the capacity ratio exceeds 5:1, the upward trend is gradually slowed down. When there are different heat storage capacities and capacity ratios, the lowest peak-shaving electricity prices corresponding to the net profit break-even point of the integrated system are obtained.

Advances in zero liquid discharge multigeneration plants: A novel approach for integrated power generation, supercritical desalination, and salt production

In light of the escalating worldwide demand for energy and water resources, the imperative for developing sustainable multigeneration systems has gained prominence in recent research and development. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and performance of a novel multigeneration plant operating at supercritical conditions to simultaneously generate freshwater, power, and dry salt as a by-product while eliminating liquid discharge. This approach offers a promising solution to address the interconnected challenges of energy and water sustainability. The theory contends that combining supercritical desalination with power generation increases energy efficiency and water production rates, surpassing conventional systems. Therefore, a model is developed employing a supercritical once-through boiler capable of supplying the necessary heat duty required for steam generation from the integrated desalination plant, producing power. Additionally, multiple heat exchangers and flash separators are implemented, enhancing freshwater productivity and obtaining dry salt, eliminating the need for brine waste disposal. A thorough sensitivity analysis is conducted utilizing a robust model developed on Aspen HYSYS to ascertain the optimal operational parameters of the proposed plant. The findings of this study underscore the potential of concurrent production of 1.65 million m3/year of freshwater, 302.5 GWh of electricity, and 64,845 ton/year of dry salt for 0.38 $/m3, 0.07 $/kWh, and 0.02 $/kg, respectively. In conclusion, this research highlights the prospects of revolutionary progress in multigeneration systems for sustainable development.

Sustainable approach to integrate a conventional power plant and renewable energies, coupled with the Goswami cycle and Maisotsenko heat exchanger

AbstractThis paper presents a pioneering investigation into an integrated power generation cycle that combines gas turbines, steam turbines, Goswami cycles, biomass fuel, solar energy sources, and advanced Maisotsenko heat exchangers. Biomass gasification has been applied to partially fuel the gas turbine, while the M‐Cycle serves as the gas turbine inlet air cooling system. Solar parabolic collectors are utilized to elevate the compressed air temperature for combustion, and the Goswami cycle generates both power and cooling through waste heat recovery. This research addresses a critical gap by undertaking a holistic examination of the integrated power generation cycle, modelling the overall system performance by considering interactions and synergies between various components. The base model has been implemented, and the impacts of influential parameters on system efficiency, such as ambient temperature, seasonal variation, and steam‐to‐biomass ratio, have been taken into consideration. Remarkably, the incorporation of the M‐Cycle, solar parabolic systems, steam cycles, and the Goswami cycle into the base gas cycle results in substantial energy efficiency enhancements of 1.59%, 1.96%, 16.87%, and 6.06%, respectively, highlighting the transformative potential of this integrated approach for sustainable and efficient power generation.

Integrated System of Mechanical Regulator and Electrical Circuitry on Triboelectric Energy Harvesting with Near‐Field Communication for Low Power Consumption

AbstractThis paper presents an integrated power generation, conversion, and storage system with a temperature monitoring system, including passive near‐field communication (PGCS‐TMS‐pNFC), based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The system consists of three parts; first, a mechanical regulation system (MRS) with kinematic design and multiphase control; second, a phase control rectifying circuit (PCRC) with a battery charging circuit (BCC); and third, a data processing and communication system (TMS‐pNFC) for low power consumption. The MRS, consisting of a reel spring and gear train, achieves a high‐frequency output exceeding 1000 Hz, and long‐lasting operation. PCRC provides stable and minimizing fluctuated DC output with a ripple effect as RMS voltage and current of 423 V and 46 µA, for 2 s, with a crest factor of 1.15 and 1.08. The PGCS‐TMS‐pNFC, harvesting building energy, such as opening and closing doors, is used to sense and store temperature data for more than 29 min, and the data is transmitted to the receiver via pNFC through smartphone tagging. Additionally, the PGCS with BCC is implemented on a bicycle frame to charge electronic devices while riding. This research underscores the integrated approach and practical applications of TENG technology that contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability in the lives.

Performance evaluation of heater and recuperator in Brayton cycles for power and energy storage

The performance of heat exchangers matters in the Brayton cycles for power and energy storage systems. However, the understanding of how heat exchanger performances affect cycle efficiency is still highly inadequate. The existing methods, including the performance evaluation criteria (PEC) and exergy/entropy analysis, are insufficient in evaluating the contributions of heat transfer enhancement or flow resistance reduction to the cycle performance. Also, the coupling analysis only provides the solutions for the cases under specific operation parameters of a specific cycle layout, in addition to their high computational cost and technical complexity. In the present work, a novel evaluation method, a performance recovery coefficient (PRC), was proposed to evaluate the effect of heat exchanger performances on the cycle efficiency simply using the component-scale parameters, avoiding complex coupling analysis. The applications of PRC in both heaters and recuperators were demonstrated, under different layouts, parameters and working fluids, of Brayton cycles for power generation, and integrated power generation and storage. Finally, it is shown that the PRC can facilitate the type selection and arrangement of heat exchangers of both direct and indirect heating, and deliver a cycle efficiency enhancement by 1.4 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively. Overall, the present method provides clear insights into how the interplay between heat transfer and flow resistance in heat exchangers contributes to cycle performance.

Large-Scale Production and Integrated Application of Micro-Supercapacitors.

Micro-supercapacitors, emerging as promising micro-energy storage devices, have attracted significant attention due to their unique features. This comprehensive review focuses on two key aspects: the scalable fabrication of MSCs and their diverse applications. The review begins by elucidating the energy storage mechanisms and guiding principles for designing high-performance devices. It subsequently explores recent advancements in scalable fabrication techniques for electrode materials and micro-nano fabrication technologies for micro-devices. The discussion encompasses critical application domains, including multifunctional MSCs, energy storage integration, integrated power generation, and integrated applications. Despite notable progress, there are still some challenges such as large-scale production of electrode material, well-controlled fabrication technology, and scalable integrated manufacture. The summary concludes by emphasizing the need for future research to enhance micro-supercapacitor performance, reduce production costs, achieve large-scale production, and explore synergies with other energy storage technologies. This collective effort aims to propel MSCs from laboratory innovation to market viability, providing robust energy storage solutions for MEMS and portable electronics.

Key technology and application of AB2 hydrogen storage alloy in fuel cell hydrogen supply system

At present, there is limited research on the application of fuel cell power generation system technology using solid hydrogen storage materials, especially in hydrogen-assisted two-wheelers. Considering the disadvantages of low hydrogen storage capacity and poor kinetics of hydrogen storage materials, our primary focus is to achieve smooth hydrogen ab-/desorption over a wide temperature range to meet the requirements of fuel cells and their integrated power generation systems. In this paper, the Ti0.9Zr0.1Mn1.45V0.4Fe0.15 hydrogen storage alloy was successfully prepared by arc melting. The maximum hydrogen storage capacity reaches 1.89 ​wt% at 318 ​K. The alloy has the capability to absorb 90% of hydrogen storage capacity within 50 ​s at 7 ​MPa and release 90% of hydrogen within 220 ​s. Comsol Multiphysics 6.0 software was used to simulate the hydrogen ab-/desorption processes of the tank. The flow rate of cooling water during hydrogen absorption varied in a gradient of (0.02 ​+ ​x) m s−1 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12). Cooling water flow rate is positively correlated with the hydrogen absorption rate but negatively correlated with the cost. When the cooling rate is 0.06 m s−1, both simulation and experimentation have shown that the hydrogen storage tank is capable of steady hydrogen desorption for over 6 h at a flow rate of 2 L min−1. Based on the above conclusions, we have successfully developed a hydrogen-assisted two-wheeler with a range of 80 km and achieved regional demonstration operations in Changzhou and Shaoguan. This paper highlights the achievements of our team in the technological development of fuel cell power generation systems using solid hydrogen storage materials as hydrogen storage carriers and their application in two-wheelers in recent years.

Sustainability and affordability of Chinese-funded renewable energy project in sub-Saharan Africa: a hybridized solid oxide fuel cell, temperature sensors, and lithium-based solar system approach.

Renewable energy projects are at the crux of all Chinese-funded investment in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for some 56% of all Chinese-led investments globally. However, the prevailing problem is that about 568 million people were still without electricity access in 2019 across urban and rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa, which does not commensurate with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG7) of ensuring affordable and clean energy for all. Previous studies have assessed and improved the efficiency of integrated power generation systems often combined on three levels, power plant, solar panel, and fuel cells, and integrated into national grids or off-grid systems for a sustainable supply of power. This study has included a lithium-ion storage system as a key component in a hybridized renewable energy generation system for the first time that has proven to be efficient and investment worthy. The study also examines the operational parameters of Chinese-funded power plant projects in sub-Saharan Africa and their effectiveness in achieving SDG-7. The novelty of this study is evident in the proposed integrated multi-level hybrid technology model of solid oxide fuel cells, temperature point sensors, and lithium batteries powered by a solar system and embedded in thermal power plants as an alternative electrical energy system for domestic and industrial use in sub-Saharan Africa. Performance analysis of the proposed power generation model indicates its complementary capacity of generating additional energy output with thermodynamics energy and exergy efficiencies of 88.2% and 67.0% respectively. The outcome of this study draws the attention of Chinese investors, governments in sub-Saharan African countries, and top industry players to the following: to consider refocusing their energy sector policy initiatives and strategies towards exploring the lithium resource base in Africa, optimizing energy generation cost, recouping optimal profit from their renewable energy technology investments, and making electricity supply clean, sustainable, and affordable for use in sub-Saharan Africa.

Simulation and analysis of a peak regulation gas power plant with advanced energy storage and cryogenic CO2 capture

Flexible gas power plants are subject to energy storage, peak regulations, and greenhouse gas emissions. This study proposes an integrated power generation system that combines liquid air energy storage (LAES), liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy utilization, gas power systems, and CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies, named the LAES-LNG-CCS system. The off-peak electricity can be stored in liquid air. During the peak period, air and gas turbines generate supplementary electricity. Both LNG chemical energy and cold energy were considered: the former was used for gas power plants, and the latter was used for LAES regasification and CCS processes. Based on the thermodynamic analysis, we evaluated the effects of the recovery pressure, CCS pressure, and combustion temperature on the system power consumption and efficiency. The results demonstrated that the system recovery pressure, CCS pressure, and combustion temperature had the greatest effects on system power generation. Round-trip efficiency (RTE) was significantly affected by combustion temperature. The largest exergy loss occurred in the gas power plant. The optimal system operating ranges of the system recovery pressure, CCS pressure, and combustion temperature were 6−10 MPa, 0.53−0.8 MPa, and 1,503−1,773 K, where the RTEs and ηEx,RS reached 55%−58.98% and 74.6%−76%, respectively. The proposed system can simultaneously achieve the synergistic functions of large-scale energy storage, multilevel energy utilization, peak regulation, and carbon emission reduction. It can also be widely used in advanced distributed energy storage applications in the future.

Integration of ion transport membrane with conventional powerplant to enhance the plant capacity with improved power production

Ion Transport Membrane (ITM) is an emerging technology for producing O2 by separating air in its membrane. To decrease energy loss in air separation unit and to increase the overall efficiency of a power generation unit ITM is added with the gasification unit in this model. Ceramic materials are generally used to make the ion transport membrane that produces oxygen by conducting oxygen ions at a specified temperature. Potential advantages can be gained by integrating ITM technology with power generation units as 99% pure oxygen is produced from ITM. Using ITM air separator is more beneficial compared to cryogenic air separation as ITM technology helps to improve IGCC overall efficiency and also reduces plant auxiliaries than that of power generation systems integrated with cryogenic. This paper proposed a novel and effective integration of ITM, gas turbine, HRSG system, gas clean up system and gasification unit to produce sustainable energy. Environmental impacts are considered to design this integrated power generation unit. The proposed model achieved a high gross electric efficiency of 47.58% and high net power of 296730 kW which revealed its potentiality compared to available cryogenic ASU-based combine cycle power plants.

Analysis and research on the thermal system of waste incineration power generation unit based on heat balance method

The thermal system of waste incineration power generation unit is simple and small in capacity, but the original parameters are few. It needs to calculate the thermal system and derive the parameters by using the conventional heat balance method to obtain the complete thermal system parameters. In this paper, an accurate and perfect thermodynamic model of waste incineration power generation is established to solve the problems of low thermal efficiency and high unit investment cost of the waste incineration power generation. To investigate the internal relationship between the incinerator unit structure, operating parameters, waste calorific value and waste combustion process, optimize the combustion status of different incinerators burning different waste, and realize its stable and efficient operation, it is necessary to study the impact of changing operating parameters and different incinerator structures on the waste incineration process, as well as the incineration law of a single incinerator unit structure burning waste with different calorific value. Based on the two-fluid model of primary oxygen supply and secondary oxygen supply, a newly developed thermodynamic model for waste incineration engineering was developed, and the direct coupling between the reciprocating grate and the incinerator was realized in the software. Using the conventional heat balance method and constant flow calculation, the flow parameters of the thermal system under the design condition are calculated through the design pressure parameters to calculate the power generation and thermal economy index of the condition; and the relevant steam extraction flow is checked and verified. The experimental results show that the net thermal efficiency of waste incineration increases from 19. 73% to 26. 40%, and the energy utilization efficiency also increases by 0. 18%. The net thermal efficiency of the optimized integrated power generation system is always higher than that of the independent power generation system more than 0.16%. The model method used in this paper can reduce the influence of incinerator arch structure on bed combustion to a greater extent, which makes the simulation results close to reality, greatly reduces the calculation cost, and is conducive to the industrial application of simulation in the field of waste incineration.

Flatness-based disturbance observer for condition monitoring of marine power generation units

The article proposes a flatness-based disturbance observer for condition monitoring of the integrated power generation system, which comprises a marine turbine and a synchronous generator. It is proven that this power generation system is differentially flat, thus it can be transformed into an input–output linearized form and into the canonical Brunovsky form. For the linearized state-space description of the system, state estimation can be performed with the use of Kalman Filtering (derivative-free nonlinear Kalman filter). Moreover, by re-designing the Kalman filter as a disturbance observer, it becomes possible to estimate disturbances, model uncertainty terms and fault-induced perturbations that affect the power unit. Consequently, model inconsistencies and faulty conditions in the functioning of the marine power unit can be diagnosed.

Innovative technology for large-scale photovoltaic consumption using reversible solid oxide cells

It is inevitable that renewable energy consumption will increase as installed capacity continues to increase, primarily wind and photovoltaic power generation. Power to Gas (P2G) technology can store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy on a large scale. Reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) has a very high conversion efficiency in both electrolytic gas production and fuel cell power generation compared with traditional electricity-to-gas devices. For the future integrated energy system, Reversible solid oxide cells are expected to play a significant role in integrating power generation and energy storage. This work proposes a new integrated energy system based on Reversible solid oxide cell for photovoltaic (PV) consumption. The Integrated Electricity-Gas System (IEGS) considers the two modes of electrolysis and power generation of Reversible solid oxide cell in the model. The model takes the minimum running cost as the objective function to linearize part of the model to generate a mixed integer linearization problem and solve it in GAMS. The case study shows that wind power is maximized, and the gas mixture can be transported in natural gas pipelines, improving the economics and stability of Integrated Electricity-Gas System. This work not only can reduce the operating cost of the system but also increase the high penetration of photovoltaic power generation. A quantitative assessment of the impact of hydrogen injection ratio and renewable energy penetration was also carried out.

Energy, exergy and economic analysis of different integrated systems for power generation using LNG cold energy and geothermal energy

This paper constructs four integrated power generation systems using liquefied natural gas (LNG) cold energy and geothermal energy. These systems contain a geothermal single flash cycle, LNG expansion process and organic Rankine cycle (ORC). Different mathematical models are established to simulate the systems under steady-state conditions respectively. The influences of key working parameters on energy efficiency, exergy efficiency and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) are analyzed, and the comprehensive performances are estimated. The results show that increasing separator pressure, LNG turbine and Rankine turbine inlet pressures could increase the energy and exergy efficiencies. Also, a higher LNG turbine outlet pressure leads to a higher LCOE. To achieve the best system performance, single- and multi-objective genetic algorithm (GA) based optimizations are performed respectively. By single-objective optimization, GSF-TSORC and GSF-TPORC can reach the highest energy and exergy efficiencies of 34.80% and 52.61% respectively, and GSFC has the lowest total cost rate of 0.326 M$·year−1. After using multi-objective optimization, the energy and exergy efficiencies of GSF-TPORC are 29.56% and 51.29% respectively, which are superior to the other three systems, from the thermodynamic point of view. From an economic perspective, GSF-ORC has the lowest LCOE of 0.028 $·kWh−1, implying that it is the best system.

Enrichment of iron from bauxite waste in chemical looping combustion

AbstractThis work reports a method and findings related to the enrichment of iron from bauxite waste (red mud) using chemical looping combustion (CLC). According to the results from X‐ray Diffraction, X‐ray Fluorescence, and scanning electron microscope–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, uniformly distributed iron in the red mud particles migrated outward to the surface during the 148 redox cycles in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor, in which the size‐reduced iron‐oxide particles due to attrition are concentrated in filters. The concentrations of iron oxide in raw particles and attrition fines are 43 wt.% and 83–87 wt.%, respectively. Since the attrition in CLC is inevitable, this recycled iron oxide can be a valuable by‐product to compensate for the cost of CLC, whereas the bed materials continue to participate in the CLC process. Moreover, the abundant bauxite waste can be processed in an eco‐friendly manner for integrated power generation, carbon capture, and iron recovery by the proposed strategy in this work.

Research on Size Optimization of Wave Energy Converters Based on a Floating Wind-Wave Combined Power Generation Platform

Wind energy and wave energy often co-exist in offshore waters, which have the potential and development advantages of combined utilization. Therefore, the combined utilization of wind and waves has become a research hotspot in the field of marine renewable energy. Against this background, this study analyses a novel integrated wind-wave power generation platform combining a semi-submersible floating wind turbine foundation and a point absorber wave energy converter (WEC), with emphasis on the size optimization of the WEC. Based on the engineering toolset software ANSYS-AQWA, numerical simulation is carried out to study the influence of different point absorber sizes on the hydrodynamic characteristics and wave energy conversion efficiency of the integrated power generation platform. The well-proven CFD software STAR CCM+ is used to modify the heaving viscosity damping of the point absorber to study the influence of fluid viscosity on the response of the point absorber. Based on this, the multi-body coupled time-domain model of the integrated power generation platform is established, and the performance of the integrated power generation platform is evaluated from two aspects, including the motion characteristics and wave energy conversion efficiency, which provides an important reference for the design and optimization of the floating wind-wave power generation platform.

Design and analysis of the multi-port converter based power enhancement for an integrated power generation system using predictive energy amendment algorithm

The power quality analysis aims to identify electricity consumers to enhance quality using power converters. The study examines the interactions between loads, power networks, and various power quality enhancement technologies. In particular, modern controllers are used in a unified structure to build a novel DC-DC converter for renewable hybrid power generation. Also, the modified DC-DC converter requires efficient power management and a balanced supply-demand system. This work focuses on creating a multi-port power electronic converter that can be used to integrate numerous renewable energy sources with varying source and load characteristics. When surplus energy is available in photovoltaics, the proposed converter may conduct maximum power point tracking control for the system and regulate the charging and discharging of the battery. Therefore, the modified converter should reduce the static level error and maximum overshoot. This paper proposed a multi-port converter that ensures high energy efficiency. Moreover, the proposed circuit driven by the predictive energy amendment algorithm ensures superior energy harvesting from different ports while maintaining high power, transfer efficiency and reliability. The dynamically generated duty cycles avoid cross-regulation and regulate the various port voltages irrespective of the environmental conditions. The impact of fluctuation can be significantly reduced by combining renewable energy sources with the statistical capacity to counteract each other, enhancing the system’s overall reliability and utility. Furthermore, the proposed converter has the potential to lower system cost and size owing to reducing switch counts while increasing efficiency and reliability. The MATLAB/SIMULINK environment examined and evaluated the proposed architecture and control technique, proven the feasibility and its superior characteristics demonstrates the steady-state error of 0.284%, total harmonics distortion of about 0.13%, and system efficiency of 96.2%. Moreover, the numerical results proven that the proposed controller efficiency is 6.88% greater than that of conventional PID controller.

Optimal design of a hybrid power generation system based on integrating PEM fuel cell and PEM electrolyzer as a moderator for micro-renewable energy systems

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell (PEMEC) are integrated for power generation and reduce power production fluctuations of renewable energy technologies. For this purpose, the three-dimensional model of the PEMFC and PEMEC are numerically simulated. Afterward, the integrated power generation system performance is evaluated in terms of power output, efficiency, and levelized cost of electricity. The performance analysis showed the necessity of multi-objective optimization for the power generation system. In this regard, three scenarios are considered for optimization. In the first case, power output and efficiency, and in the second scenario, power output and levelized cost are considered objective functions. Finally, in the third scenario, the three abovementioned parameters are considered three objective functions. For choosing the final optimal solution, decision-making techniques are employed. Results of decision-making techniques showed that the third scenario was the complete case to optimize the system. Furthermore, the TOPSIS method provided a more favorable final optimal solution with the lowest value for the levelized cost of the system, 0.498 $.kWh−1, while the efficiency and output power of the power generation system were 0.323 and 1801.87 W m−2, respectively. Considering that the efficiency and cost of the PEMFCs and PEMECs are expected to improve drastically over time, these systems could be a promising option for power generation applications.