Optimal Operation of Biomass Gasifier Based Hybrid Energy System

Abstract

The focus of the world on renewable energy sources is growing rapidly due to its availability and environment friendliness. However, the renewable energy influenced by natural conditions is being intermittent, it is difficult to accomplish stable energy supply only by one kind of renewable energy source. In order to achieve reliability, it is necessary to integrate two or more energy sources together in an optimal way as hybrid energy system. Optimal allocation of sources, unpredictable load demand, intermittent behaviors of sources, and charging and discharging of storage devices are the major challenges in operating a hybrid energy system. A new controller algorithm is developed and implemented in controller hardware to overcome the above issues. The controller is incorporated in biomass gasifier-based hybrid energy system in a university campus at south India. A case study is carried out in real-time at the site for a typical day. From the experimentation, it is estimated that the annual savings in the operating cost are Rs 375,459.00 ($8475.4) for the optimal allocation of the sources by the controller.