Experimental study on a laboratory scale Totalized Hydrogen Energy Utilization System for solar photovoltaic application

• Published in: Applied energy 2016-09, Vol.177, p.309-322
• Main Authors: Bhogilla, Satya Sekhar, Ito, Hiroshi, Kato, Atsushi, Nakano, Akihiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy efficiency; Energy utilization; Fuel cells; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogen system; Metal hydride; Nuclear accidents; Nuclear power generation; Photovoltaic cells; Solar cells; Solar power generation; Unitized reversible fuel cell
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.05.145

•Dynamic response of the Totalized Hydrogen Energy Utilization System was studied.•Adaptability of the THEUS for the intermittent solar energy was investigated.•Power, hydrogen, heat output from the THEUS were evaluated quantitatively.•Efficiency of the THEUS was evaluated for a sunny day and a partly cloudy day test.•A decline in WE efficiency was not observed for the fluctuating power input. Most of the countries have increased the production of renewable energy to reduce pollution and their dependency on oil and natural gas. In case of Japan, solar power is increased rapidly, especially after the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. The load leveling and fluctuation absorption are the main bottlenecks to the integration of solar PV power into the future electricity system. Hydrogen is considered as an energy carrier in a future energy system based on renewable resources. Totalized Hydrogen Energy Utilization System (THEUS) consists of a unitized reversible fuel cell and a hydrogen storage tank. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the THEUS operation and performance at different variations in solar photovoltaic (PV) power during a sunny day and a partly cloudy day and to characterize its dynamic response. Energy efficiency of the THEUS was evaluated in water electrolyzer and fuel cell mode operation.