Grid integrated non-renewable based hybrid systems: Control strategies, optimization, and modeling

Abstract The following paper aims to explore a heat pump’s (HP) as well as an organic Rankine cycle’s (ORC) novel combination for the development of both an efficient and low-emissions heating and cooling systems. This latest review examines both benefits and possibilities of a combined HP-ORC system. Previously, studies have explored several different combinations, such as directly-coupled and reversible combination units as well as parallel configurations units in addition to indirectly-coupled ones. Following defining aforementioned configurations, a discussion on their performance is carried out in detail. Considerations for the optimisation of the architecture, overall of such hybrid systems via utilising the same sources while also discussing heat source, sink selection and operating temperatures as well as thermal energy storage, expander/compressor units, control strategies in addition to working fluids’ selection and managing seasonal temperatures that are increasingly variable, have been identified. Additionally, the experimental studies that have been performed reveal increasingly practical obstacles as well as other areas that require more research while serving to shed light on experimental techniques, which can be applicable to this research’s area. Based upon research, it has been revealed that regional conditions including temperatures and annual weather as well as the cost of energy produce a colossal effect on such systems’ economic feasibility framework as well as partially dictating the overall system configuration’s selection. Additionally, the review disclosed how important the following elements are: 1) a greater temperature differential amid the source of heat and heat sink; 2) proper source of heat and sink selection; 3) working fluid selection; and 4) thermal storage for the maintenance of the difference. Comparatively, from the research works from the past, additional optimisation based on individual component level as well as through control strategies of either an advanced or predictive method, these produce a smaller effect and are worth performing an evaluation on economically due to them not being feasible for the current system. Lastly, based on investigated research, there are certain areas for which recommendation have been provided with regard to future research and this includes a technology configurations’ comparison for understanding different regions’ optimal system, a sensitivity analysis for understanding key system elements for both optimisation as well as design, both an investigation as well as testing carried out for available units and applicable systems that are presently available, and identifying novel use cases.

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Hardware-in-the-Loop Operations With an Emulator Rig for SOFC Hybrid Systems

Volume 3: Coal, Biomass and Alternative Fuels; Cycle Innovations; Electric Power; Industrial and Cogeneration Applications; Organic Rankine Cycle Power Systems ◽

10.1115/gt2017-63685 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mario L. Ferrari ◽

Alessandro Sorce ◽

Aristide F. Massardo

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Real Time ◽

Hybrid Systems ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Outlet Temperature ◽

Hardware In The Loop ◽

Set Point ◽

The Real ◽

System Components

This paper shows the Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) technique developed for the complete emulation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) based hybrid systems. This approach is based on the coupling of an emulator test rig with a real-time software for components which are not included in the plant. The experimental facility is composed of a T100 microturbine (100 kW electrical power size) modified for the connection to an SOFC emulator device. This component is composed of both anodic and cathodic vessels including also the anodic recirculation system which is carried out with a single stage ejector, driven by an air flow in the primary duct. However, no real stack material was installed in the plant. For this reason, a real-time dynamic software was developed in the Matlab-Simulink environment including all the SOFC system components (the fuel cell stack with the calculation of the electrochemical aspects considering also the real losses, the reformer, and a cathodic recirculation based on a blower, etc.). This tool was coupled with the real system utilizing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) data exchange approach (the model receives flow data from the plant at the inlet duct of the cathodic vessel, while it is able to operate on the turbine changing its set-point of electrical load or turbine outlet temperature). So, the software is operated to control plant properties to generate the effect of a real SOFC in the rig. In stand-alone mode the turbine load is changed with the objective of matching the measured Turbine Outlet Temperature (TOT) value with the calculated one by the model. In grid-connected mode the software/hardware matching is obtained through a direct manipulation of the TOT set-point. This approach was essential to analyze the matching issues between the SOFC and the micro gas turbine devoting several tests on critical operations, such as start-up, shutdown and load changes. Special attention was focused on tests carried out to solve the control system issues for the entire real hybrid plant emulated with this HIL approach. Hence, the innovative control strategies were developed and successfully tested considering both the Proportional Integral Derivative and advanced approaches. Thanks to the experimental tests carried out with this HIL system, a comparison between different control strategies was performed including a statistic analysis on the results The positive performance obtainable with a Model Predictive Control based technique was shown and discussed. So, the HIL system presented in this paper was essential to perform the experimental tests successfully (for real hybrid system development) without the risks of destroying the stack in case of failures. Mainly surge (especially during transient operations, such as load changes) and other critical conditions (e.g. carbon deposition, high pressure difference between the fuel cell sides, high thermal gradients in the stack, excessive thermal stress in the SOFC system components, etc.) have to be carefully avoided in complete plants.

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