Power adaptive control strategy for multi-stack PEM photovoltaic hydrogen systems considering electrolysis unit efficiency and hydrogen production rate

Abstract

To address the issue of low efficiency and hydrogen production caused by prolonged low-power operation in some electrolyzers under fluctuating photovoltaic power in multi-stack hydrogen systems, we propose a power adaptive distribution strategy for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers. This strategy considers electrolyzer efficiency and hydrogen production, incorporating electrolysis efficiency, Faraday efficiency, auxiliary equipment efficiency, and converter efficiency. The Dung Beetle Optimization algorithm is used for offline calculations, combined with fuzzy PID control for real-time power optimization. A case study based on actual data from a hydrogen project in Turpan, Xinjiang, shows that after 4500 mins of operation in a system with four electrolyzers, the proposed method increases total hydrogen production by 9.94%, 2.34%, and 4.87% compared to traditional average distribution, Daisy chain distribution, and efficiency-based distribution strategies, respectively. Additionally, the strategy reduces the low-power and full-load operation times of the electrolyzers, extending the equipment’s lifespan. This approach provides a new solution for ensuring stable and efficient operation of hydrogen production systems under complex conditions.