Stand-Alone Power Systems for the Future:

Optimal Design, Operation & Control of Solar-Hydrogen

Energy Systems

Ø. Ulleberg

ABSTRACT
A stand alone power system (SAPS) is defined as a decentralized electricity producing
system. The first part of the thesis, which begins with an introduction on the global needs
and requirements of SAPS, is slightly philosophical. The initial focus is on several
fundamentally important energy issues related to SAPS. A systematic approach
demonstrates in a factual way why solar–hydrogen systems are one of the most viable
options for the future. In this context, the most realistic technological options are
reviewed and a few general recommendations about generically optimal SAPS for the
future is given.

The second part, and main bulk, of the thesis deals with the modeling of SAPS, with focus
on PV–H2 systems. Simulation models for TRNSYS have been developed for PV–H2
components, including models for a PV-generator, a water electrolyzer, a fuel cell, and a
secondary battery. These models are based on both physical and chemical principles, as
well as empirical parameters. The PV–H2 demonstration plant PHOEBUS, located at the
research center in Jülich, Germany, was studied in detail and served as a reference case.
This plant has been in operation since 1993, but most of the comparisons between
simulated and measured data were made for 1996—a year with very consistent operation
and regular minutely measurements. The developed TRNSYS models were also tested
and verified up against data from separate experiments of PV–H2 system components.
One example of this is the model for a PEM fuel cell.

The third part of the thesis includes detailed simulation studies of integrated SAPS, with
focus on systems based on solar–hydrogen energy technology similar to that used in the
PHOEBUS plant. The simulations gave answers to several important issues related to the
design and operation of PV–H2 systems. The influence of various control strategies on the
overall system performance was investigated. These overall control strategies are
interrelated to the design of the overall system in a way which is best understood by
running one-year simulations. Since, the final design of SAPS based on hydrogen
depends heavily on the size and profile of the users’ power demand and the location of
the system, a general conclusions about the optimal design of such systems is not easily
found. However, one feasible approach—and the one applied in this thesis—is to find the
optimal control actions for various system configurations for a given load and location.
These systems may include alternative components such as wind energy conversion units.
The TRNSYS models developed for this study are general, flexible, and include
parameters that readily can be obtained by following the procedures outlined in this
thesis. Thus, the developed simulation tools can be used to simulate hydrogen–SAPS
with different loads and locations.

Ulleberg Ø. (1998) Stand-Alone Power Systems for the Future: Optimal Design, Operation & Control of Solar-
Hydrogen Energy Systems. PhD thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim.