Decarbonisation Technology – August 2021

250 350 300 400 450 150 200 100

Wind energy (kWh) Wave energy (kWh) Solar energy (kWh)

34.9433 100.027

33.2397 91.4867

31.2308 82.6235

28.4734 73.9121

65.9216

57.9323

49.7464

41.4836

33.0946

253.351

215.31

166.169

141.355

121.987

122.933

123.449

129.562

50

88.6755 105.946 118.536

51.8531

0

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Jan

Dec

50 70 60 80 90 30 40 10 20

8.25051

8.86319

8.54012

8.36305

8.71145

51.8531

8.8893

49.1409

17.2704 12.5905 7.5917

38.0405

7.99048 11.7928

36.8225

7.9893 6.11309

24.8141

8.38902 8.26283 8.18588

0

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

100

13.29

14.77

17.69

17.65

24.01

30.38

32.1

80

34.83

45.13

7.6

53.95

66.11

64.54

10.6

60

14.67

13.76

83.56

20.33

81.88

77.7

78.78

40

68.39

23.86

59.02

53.23

51.41

20

28.08

29.72

34.53

22.19

7.39

0

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Figure 2 Monthly analysis of the cumulated energy production, the monthly energy production and the monthly repatriation of energy sources

several sources can be used, such as wind turbines, solar panels, wave converters. These energy sources can be combined to improve performance and reliability. However, the energy produced fluctuates due to uncontrollable conditions and does not correspond continuously to the power demand. Energy storage is, therefore, mandatory. Using water electrolysis, this energy can be stored as hydrogen. Since hydrogen has a low density in ambient conditions, it is compressed before storage in high-pressure tanks. When the power demand exceeds the power produced by the solar panels, the wind turbine and the wave converter, a fuel cell generates the surplus electric power. This kind of system involves a multitude of complex physics. That is a typical case where a system model (see Figure 1 ) can help better understand physical phenomenon and interactions between various subsystems and components. Hence, evaluating virtual design options makes it possible to better size components, integrate them in the best architecture and better

control them to select the right design on the first attempt. Off-the-shelf and validated models of the system simulation software tools are based on lumped parameters. So simulations can precede the detailed design of the components and be performed very early in the system design stages. Moreover, that makes simulation run very fast, enabling you to evaluate many configurations and scenarios, including ones with long time-range simulations. Further into the project, when the subsystems are better defined, models can still be refined, integrating more physics and capturing more dynamics. That makes it possible to improve simulation accuracy, allowing you to focus more on the component’s design. The application case of this article is based on the following assumptions regarding the definition of the system: • Wind turbines: Wind turbines have a 50 m radius. Their pitch is controlled, depending on the wind orientation. The wind orientation is variable.

www.decarbonisationtechnology.com

46

Powered by