Modeling Solar Impacts on Hydrogen Production From Electrolysis

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

8-10-2008

Publication Title

Proceedings of ES 2008, Energy Sustainability

Publisher

ASME

Volume

2

First page number:

483

Last page number:

488

Abstract

A model is presented to simulate the energy production from a solar photovoltaic (PV) array in Southern Nevada and its energy produced for hydrogen production at a hydrogen filling station. A solar PV array composed of four single axis tracking units provides power to a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen that is stored on site for use in hydrogen converted vehicles. The model provides the ability to predict possible hydrogen production at the site, as well as the amount of hydrogen required to sustain a prescribed level of vehicle usage. Together, these results made it possible to determine the energy required to produce sufficient hydrogen to sustain the vehicles, and the percentage of that energy generated by the solar PV array. For an average year in Las Vegas and a travel requirement of 57 miles/day, this percentage was found to be 33 percent. This simulation has the potential to be modified for different locations, array size, amount of storage, or usage requirement.

Keywords

Electrolysis; Electrolytic cells; Hydrogen as fuel; Hydrogen cars; Hydrogen production; Modeling; Photovoltaic power systems; Solar energy; Water – Electrolysis

Disciplines

Energy Systems | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Sustainability

Language

English

Comments

Conference Held: Jacksonville, Florida, USA, August 10–14, 2008

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