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Grid Connected Fuel Cell and PV Hybrid Power

Generating System Design with Matlab
Simulink

Article in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy January 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.029

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Grid connected fuel cell and PV hybrid power

generating system design with Matlab Simulink

Gokay Bayrak*, Mehmet Cebeci

Firat University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Elazig 23119, Turkey

article info abstract

Article history: Renewable energy sources have been taken the place of the traditional energy sources and
Received 4 November 2013 especially rapidly developments of photovoltaic (PV) technology and fuel cell (FC) tech-
Accepted 3 December 2013 nology have been put forward these renewable energy sources (RES) in all other RES. PV
Available online 11 January 2014 systems have been started to be used widely in domestic applications connected to elec-
trical grid and grid connected PV power generating systems have become widespread all
Keywords: around the world. On the other hand, fuel cell power generating systems have been used to
SOFC support the PV generating so hybrid generation systems consist of PV and fuel cell tech-
Photovoltaic nology are investigated for power generating. In this study, a grid connected fuel cell and
Microgrid PV hybrid power generating system was developed with Matlab Simulink. 160 Wp solar
Hybrid power generating system module was developed based on solar module temperature and solar irradiation by using
real data sheet of a commercial PV module and then by using these modules 800 Wp PV
generator was obtained. Output current and voltage of PV system was used for input of DC/
DC boost converter and its output was used for the input of the inverter. PV system was
connected to the grid and designed 5 kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system was used for
supporting the DC bus of the hybrid power generating system. All results obtained from the
simulated hybrid power system were explained in the paper. Proposed model was designed
as modular so designing and simulating grid connected SOFC and PV systems can be
developed easily thanks to flexible design.
Copyright 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights
reserved.

which is currently attracting attention are micro-grid

1. Introduction
As energy generation and distribution companies compete in
the market place we have seen an increasing interest in
renewable and alternative energy sources. In addition to this
competition, companies are seeing demands from customers
for higher quality and cleaner electricity [1]. Also, considering
the worlds coal stocks are reducing and the creation of legis-
lation which is pushing for greener energy solutions [2], we are
led to seek new energy generation methods. One solution
systems.
Micro-grid systems are comprised of several alternative
energy sources. They can include solar cells, wind turbines,
micro-turbines (natural gas), fuel cells and storage batteries
[3,4]. They are connected in addition to the main power grid
and are placed on the site that is to use the system. That is it is
connected to the low voltage distribution network through
power electronics. There are several reasons why micro-grids
are so interesting [5,6]. First, because they involve alternative
energy sources, and most alternative sources offer far higher

* Corresponding author. Tel.: 90 424 2375228.

E-mail addresses: gbayrak@firat.edu.tr, gokaybayrak@gmail.com (G. Bayrak).
0360-3199/$ e see front matter Copyright 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.029
8804 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2

Fig. 1 e Developed microgrid model.

efficiency and less environmental issues than standard power
generation Furthermore, since they are to be on the site which
they are to supply, losses due to transmitting electricity is
proportionally eliminated, which makes micro-grids even
more efficient and cleaner than their standard counterpart.
Finally, it is possible to tailor a micro-grid to suit the needs of
the area it will be servicing [7e9].
Currently a lot of research is being undertaken into micro-
grids. Although the components of a micro-grid are somewhat
understood the system as a whole is not. When several sources
are connected to form a micro-grid the systems behaviour is
unpredictable [10]. This being the case, modeling the system
and investigating it in order to evolve an appropriate control
system is the heart of micro-grid research [11]. Currently several
research groups around the world are investigating the feasi-
bility and benefits that micro-grids may provide.
One model which has been proposed is The Consortium for
Electric Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) model [12].
This model is based on minimum control. CERTS is funded in
part by the US government in association with several private
companies. The crux of the CERTS concept is the notion of a
flexible, controllable interface between the micro-grid and the
wider power system. The CERTS group this year intends to
build a micro-grid both for use and testing. To date no results
or evidence that it has occurred is available.
Another American company, Northern Power Systems is
also investing in micro-grid technology. In 2003 they
announced that they would be engineering and building a
micro-grid in Waitsfield, Vermont [13]. They have not released
many details about their plan. They hope it will service five
commercial and industrial facilities, and up to 12 residences.
They are currently in the engineering phase.
The research group of most interest to this project is the
CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, Australia. Onsite they have
a micro-system setup, the system has a photovoltaic array,
several wind turbines, several micro-turbines, a fuel cell and
batteries [14]. They are currently in the process of researching
the micro-grid system and modeling its features. This project
aims to lay the ground work for the development of such a
model.

Fig. 2 e Implemented SOFC and PV power generating system in Matlab/Simulink.

 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2
Fig. 3 e SOFC Matlab/SimulinkModel.
Micro-grids are a new notion in power generation and
supply. To date not a lot is known about them, either at a
computer simulation level or at a practical hardware level.
There are many problems researchers are encountering one
major problem is simulating a micro-grids performance at a
power systems level, as there are no commercial power
simulators available that include alternative and renewable
sources. Also, the unpredictability as mentioned earlier
seems to be associated with the power electronics, this
being the case modeling the inverters becomes another
significant task [15,16].
This study aims to model a micro-grid consists of a SOFC
and PV system. It is intended that the work completed in this
study will lay the ground work for further model develop-
ment. The long term goal is the development of a highly so-
phisticated, accurate model of a micro-grid, as to allow for a
full understanding of how micro-grids behave. The goal of this
study is to build a block set of power sources consisting from
PV and SOFC systems, their power electronics as well as a load
and mains model in Matlab/Simulink.
2. Grid connected PV & fuel cell power
generating model
The technical details of a micro-grid are specified in the de-
tails of the individual sources (here a photovoltaic array and
SOFC) and their associated power electronics. Fig. 1 shows the
8805
general structure of the developed model. A possible inverter
configuration for the systems will be set out. Connecting them
to a load and to the mains supply was discussed. Finally, a
possible format for connecting them as a micro-grid was
considered and discussed in terms of the physical reality of
such systems. Developed Matlab/Simulink model is shown in
Fig. 2. SOFC and PV system are connected to the inverter and
the grid via DC/DC converters in this system.
3. Grid connected SOFC model
Solid oxide fuel cells are fuel cells that operate in a temperature
region between 650  C and 1000 C by using an oxygen ion
conductor as the electrolyte. The ionic transported species are
oxygen ions that allow the use of hydrogen and carbon mon-
oxide as well as directly applied methane as fuels while the
oxidant is oxygen provided by air. The state-of-the art SOFC
consists of an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as the electrolyte, a
ceramic metallic composite, a Ni-YSZ cermet as the fuel elec-
trode and a ceramic composite of strontium doped lanthanum
manganite and YSZ as the air electrode. The SOFC is, therefore,
an all-solid state system for which different designs may apply.
5 kW SOFC model was developed in Matlab/Simulink and
the main structure of the model can be seen in Fig. 3. Constant
parameters of the SOFC system are the inputs of the model
and voltage, current and power determined from the pro-
posed model.
8806 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2

Fig. 4 e Details of SOFC Matlab/Simulink model.

 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2 8807

Table 1 e DPS-160 solar module

parameters.
(Pmax) 160 W
(Vmpp) 35.2 V
(Impp) 4.44 A
(Voc) 43.3 V
(Isc) 4.98 A
(a) 0.038
(b) 0.35
(Nsc) 12
(Npc) 5
Mono-crystalline silicon

power generating system (HPGS). A real simulation

Fig. 5 e Output voltage of the SOFC.
Main structure of the SOFC model is shown in Fig. 4. All
input parameters are evaluated in these blocks and outputs
parameters are generated according to these parameters.
SOFC model output voltage is shown in Fig. 5. Input pa-
rameters of the developed SOFC model will change the output
voltage of the SOFC.
Obtained power from SOFC is also shown in Fig. 6. SOFC
generates the desired power and it is used input of a DC/DC
converter. Then this power converted to an AC signal and
system is connected to the grid.
model was developed by using these parameters shown in
Table 1.
Input parameters of the solar module are adjusted thanks
to parameter input interface of developed Simulink model
shown in Fig. 7. These parameters are evaluated with
developed model and generates output parameters of PV
module.
Fig. 8 shows the developed PV module model in Matlab/
Simulink. Module temperature and insolation are the input
parameters of the model and model generates output voltage
and current of the PV module according to this input
parameters.
The fundamental structure of the implemented model is
shown in Fig. 9. Model generates accurate voltage, current and
power values match up with DPS-160 solar module technical
data.

4. Grid connected photovoltaic system

model

DPS-160 solar module technical specifications were

used while developing the PV system model in hybrid

Fig. 6 e Output power of SOFC. Fig. 7 e Input parameters of DPS-160 solar module.
8808 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2

Fig. 8 e Simulink block diagram of PV module.

PV module current, voltage and power in STC (Standard

Test Conditions, 25 C and 1000 W/m2) shown in Fig. 10.
These results match with the DPS-160 solar module
specifications.
DPS-160 solar module currentevoltage (IeV) curve was
obtained from the developed model and it can be seen in
Fig. 11. IeV curve verifies the PV panel short circuit current
value (4.98 A) and open circuit voltage value (43.3 V).
Developed PV module model runs with the change of
module temperature and insolation so PV module IeV curves
under different insolation values can be obtained from the
model and these curves indicated in Fig. 12.
PV module current significantly changes when the inso-
lation changed and this change is bigger than the voltage
change. This situation is exact opposite while investigating
module temperature change. This situation can be seen in
Fig. 13 and voltage change is much more than current
change.
PV generator model was developed after designing the
PV module model. PV generator model shown in Fig. 14 is

Fig. 9 e Simulink model of PV module with insolation and module temperature.

 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2
Fig. 10 e PV model output voltage, current and power.
the total amount of PV modules which connected series or
parallel with together. In this study, PV generator consists
of 5 DPS-160 PV modules and generates approximately
800 Wp.
5. DC/DC converter model
SOFC and PV generator models generate DC power and this
DC power must be suitable for inverter input. DC/DC con-
verter model shown in Fig. 15 was developed fort this aim
and this model was used output of both SOFC and PV
model.
Input voltage, reference current and output current are the
inputs of the DC/DC converter model. Model generates a DC
Fig. 11 e DPS-160 PV module IeV curve.
8809
Fig. 12 e PV module IeV curves under different insolation
values.
voltage output of the model. Simulation results of this model
can be seen in Fig. 16.
6. DC/AC inverter model
Inverter model in HPGS was used for connecting SOFC and PV
system to the utility grid. The main structure of developed DC/
AC inverter model is shown in Fig. 17. DC/DC converter output
voltage feds the DC side of the inverter and desired current is
another input of the inverter.
AC current and voltage of the inverter can be seen in Fig. 18.
These parameters are also suitable for grid connection of the
HPGS. Duty cycle and input current of the inverter are also
indicated in Fig. 19.
Fig. 13 e PV module IeV curves under different module
temperature values.
8810 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2

Fig. 14 e Developed PV generator model.

Fig. 15 e Designed DC/DC converter model.

 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2 8811

Fig. 16 e DC/DC converter simulation results.

Fig. 18 e AC voltage and current of inverter.

7. Conclusion

In this study, a grid connected fuel cell and PV hybrid power

generating system was developed with Matlab Simulink.
160 Wp solar module was developed based on solar module
temperature and solar irradiation by using real data sheet of a
commercial PV module and then by using these modules
800 Wp PV generator was obtained. Output current and
voltage of PV system was used for input of DC/DC boost con-
verter and its output was used for the input of the inverter. PV
system was connected to the grid and designed 5 kW solid
oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system was used for supporting the DC
bus of the hybrid power generating system. All results ob-
tained from the simulated hybrid power system were
explained in the paper. Proposed model was designed as
modular so designing and simulating grid connected SOFC
and PV systems can be developed easily thanks to flexible
design.

Fig. 17 e DC/AC inverter model.

8812 i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 9 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 8 8 0 3 e8 8 1 2
Fig. 19 e Duty cycle and input current of the inverter.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Frat University Institute of Sci-
entific Research (FUBAP) within the scope of PhD research
project MF.11.39.
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