SIMULATION OF A SOLAR-HYDROGEN-FUEL CELL SYSTEM - RESULTS FOR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN MEXICO

The authors report the results obtained from the simulation of a PV-hy drogen-fuel-cell (PVHFC) hybrid system for different locations in Mexi co. The hybrid system consists of photovoltaic arrays coupled with an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen, a fuel cell which converts chemical energy (H-2) to electricity, a hydrogen storage, a battery storage sys tem, and the load. In this kind of system, all components can be conne cted electrically in parallel. The voltage of the PV arrays the fuel c ell must be high enough to charge the battery, and the voltage of the electrolyzer must be low enough for the battery to power it during per iods of low insolation. The simulation is based on the electrical comp onent models and variable insolation data depending on the location. ( C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the Internation al Association for Hydrogen Energy.