Energy Management of a Hybrid Controlled Process with Renewable Sources

LUCAS NIETO DEGLIUOMINI; MARTÍN CUNNINGHAM; FACUNDO FERREYRA; PATRICIO LUPPI; MARTA BASUALDO

Computer-Aided Chemical Engineering 33

Elsevier

Año: 2014; p. 1141 - 1146

This work focuses on the multivariable control of a hydrogen production plant from bioethanolto feed a fuel cell and solar energy power generation system. The concept of combining bio-ethanol with solar energy to vehicular applications is new. A central power bus structure to receive and give the power generation is proposed. So the designed Energy Management Strategies (EMS) must act at every instant to achieve the most efficient way to handle the available energy sources. Some assumptions are adopted for defining the conceptual engineering of an integrated dynamic model of this system. It includes solar subsystem, the bio ethanol processor system (BPS), as well as a battery bank and supercapacitors to best satisfy the electric motor power demand. Several simulations are carried out to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed design and strategies. The solar profile and standard driving cycles for Rosario city in Argentine are considered for the tests. In addition, the hydrogen quality for the fuel cell is guaranteed by improving the base conventional control strategy with Model Predictive Control.