Options for the structure of an autonomous electric power system with a battery of hydrogen fuel cells

Abstract

Background. Recently, interest in the problem of reducing the emissions of hydrocarbon fuel combustion products into the atmosphere and the use of alternative and renewable energy sources has sharply increased. This problem is relevant to both stationary and transport energy. One of the ways to reduce the harmful impact of primary energy sources in autonomous transport power plants on the environment is their hybridization, i.e., use, along with traditional energy sources (turbogenerators and diesel generators), of hydrogen sources of electricity (fuel cell batteries). Aim. This study presents a justification of the optimal variant of the structure of an autonomous electric power system with a combined power plant based on hydrogen sources of electricity. Materials and Methods. To achieve this goal, a comparative analysis of the parameters and characteristics of the power system elements was performed, as well as a method for modeling processes in the power system under study using the MATLAB Simulink package. Two options for the structure of an autonomous electric power system are being considered, namely, a common AC and DC bus. An analysis of the parameters and characteristics of these options was performed for three typical operating modes, namely, turning on a static load, direct starting of an asynchronous motor with a load on the shaft, and transferring consumers from power from a diesel generator to power from a battery of hydrogen fuel cells. Results. In all considered modes, the VTE battery is characterized by a rapid response to load changes and stable efficiency. The nature of transient processes is aperiodic or low oscillatory, rapidly decaying. In terms of the number of semiconductor converters, filtering devices, and their total power, the structure of an autonomous power system with a common AC bus is more preferable.