The envisaged system is deliberately simple. Some suggestions for development of the model, and possible changes to the system itself, are outlined below.
Suggested Project Developments
Possible improvements to the model
Possible project variations
There may be practical challenges finding a suitable use for heat which would be generated for short periods, and unpredictably, as the time of operation depends on the needs of National Grid. Furthermore, as it is envisaged the plant would run at near ambient temperature (realistically, around 50oC is more likely) it is likely the temperature of the cooling water (or other cooling medium) would not be high. However, the modular small-scale approach to the plant construction allows flexibility in its location: site selection criteria could include the presence of a suitable user for occasional heat.
Selecting an electrolyser which operates at higher pressure would also reduce the necessary compression work [5]. Alternatively, if space is at a premium, hydrogen can also be stored in smaller volumes, by compression to higher pressures. Hydrogen can also be stored as a cryogenic liquid, or solid in metal hydride form [6]. While these approaches are will entail additional costs, and the latter use technologies are immature at present, in some circumstances these approaches may be advantageous.
Naturally, the additional equipment would require additional capital investment, and would also increase operation and maintenance costs. The amended system would need to be modelled to explore whether such an addition would improve financial performance.
[1] US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, and Fuel Cell Technologies Programme. (2010). Fuel Cells.
Available: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/fct_h2_fuelcell_factsheet.pdf [2] C. Spiegel, Designing and building fuel cells. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. [3] P. Millet, Fundamentals of water electrolysis in "Hydrogen production by electrolysis" ed. Godula-Jopek, A.: Weinheim, Germany : Wiley-VCH, 2015. [4] Hydrogenics. (2013). Fuel cell megawatt power generation platform. Available: http://www.hydrogenics.com/hydrogen-products-solutions/fuel-cell-power-systems/stationary-stand-by-power/fuel-cell-megawatt-power-generation-platform [5] O. Ulleberg, T. Nakken, and A. Ete, "The wind/hydrogen demonstration system at Utsira in Norway: Evaluation of system performance using operational data and updated hydrogen energy system modeling tools," International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 35, pp. 1841-1852, 2010. [6] A. Godula-Jopek, Hydrogen storage options including constraints and challenges. In: "Hydrogen production by electrolysis", ed. A. Godula-Jopek. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley - VCH, 2014. |