Engineering and Built Environment Project Conference 2021
Sponsor – School of Computer and Electrical Engineering
Tharindu Rukshan
Kahawalage
Master of Engineering Science
Power Engineering
Supervisors: Prof Tony Afhock, USQ
Keywords: Alkaline Electrolyser, Hydrogen, Energy
storage
1. Introduction
Hydrogen, the first ever atom created in the Big bang,
the simplest form of element is yet to become a major
tool of human kind. Thus to analyse a carbon neutral
method of producing hydrogen, the oldest method of
splitting water into hydrogen by using an Alkaline
electrolyser is explored.
Integration of fundamental theories into a MATLAB
Simulink model of an Alkaline electrolyser is one of the
key part of project. In the later part of the research, life
time, economical and, operational aspect has been
explored with regards to variation of solar irradiation of
a PV array connected electrolyser with the support of
battery.
2. Background
Rapid growth of the renewable energy sources leads us
to exploit possible supports for batteries such as
hydrogen, which identified as a long term and
exportable energy storing options. MATLAB Simulink
model of fuel cell which is currently available at the
simscape library is considered as one of the references
since fuel cell has the reverse engineering process of
the electrolyser.
3. Methodology
Modelling of the MATLAB model started with
implementing the simplest model which can interpret
Faraday’s first law on MATLAB Simulink environment
and it has developed taking other parameters such as
temperature, partial pressures, current density and with
ability to connect with other MATLAB Simulink
models.
In order to find optimum electrolyser to battery ratio
and, the validation of hydrogen amount Homer Pro
software is selected to be used. A fixed PV array input
and range of battery and electrolyser sizes to supply a
hydrogen load is set as test scenarios.
ENG4903 Professional Practice 2, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.
Figure 1: Scenario to test the best mixture of
Electrolyser and Battery using Homer Pro Software
4. Key Outcomes
A MATLAB simuling model block with taking
condideration into three overpotential component has
produced with the ability connect into in to a simulink
design with renewable energy input such as solar pv
array. The optimum ratio of the battery and electrolyser
for a commercial level of hydrogen load has been
identified with given economical and life time aspects.
5. Further Work
Validation of MATLAB Simulink model using Homer
is yet to be completed with using similar parameter
inputs to both model. Green and efficient method of
producing Ammonia using the hydrogen and nitrogen to
be explored as a part of use of hydrogen.
6. Conclusions
It is identified that it is viable and efficient to have a
mixture of electrolyser and battery to support
electrolyser with the variation of irradiation. More study
on other electrolyser technologies such as PEM, Solid
Oxide and hybrid electrolysers identified as areas to be
explored.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank for the immense support provided
by Prof Tony Afhock for his ideas and guidance. I would
also thank to USQ for the support they provided with
accessing necessary industrial level engineering tools
such as MATLAB and Homer Pro.
References
Abdin, Z., Webb, C.J. and Gray, E.M., (2017).
Modelling and simulation of an alkaline electrolyser
cell. Energy, 138, pp.316-331.
Tremblay, O. and Dessaint, L.A., (2009), September. A
generic fuel cell model for the simulation of fuel cell
vehicles.IEEE (pp. 1722-1729). IEEE.
Gillessen, B., Heinrichs, H.U., Stenzel, P. and Linssen,
J., 2017. Hybridization strategies of power-to-gas
systems and battery storage using renewable energy.
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 42(19),
pp.13554-13567.