Solar Hydrogen Hybrid
System
www.iit.edu/~solarsign
Team Members
Dominik Miecznikowski, CPE
April Trauscht, CHE
Christopher Middendorff, CPE
Christopher Wilson, PPPH
Lynda Zenati, AMAT
Jyoti Nandi, CS
Iryne Ng, AE
Advisor: Said Al-Hallaj
Student Advisors:
Lynn Novosel, ARCE
Brian Kustwin
Abigail Ash, CHE
Bridget Wilson
Yul Capulong
Background
„
„
Purpose: To create an off grid, self-sustaining
energy system
System Specifications:
„
„
„
„
„
2.2kW & 2.7kW PV arrays
„ Amorphous, multi-crystalline, and single-cell
silicon
38 SCFH PEM Electrolyzer
250W PEM Fuel Cell
300A-hr Ni-Cd battery bank
450W LED sign
2.2Kwp
2.2Kwp
Solar
Solar
Panels
Panels
2.6Kwp
2.6Kwp
Solar
Solar
Panels
Panels
Phase II
Hydrogen Storage
PEM
Electrolyzer
Sign
Sign
(Load)
(Load)
450
450W
W
PEM
Fuel
Cell
Controller
Phase I
NiCd
Battery
Phase 1
„
„
„
„
Website was updated weekly with meeting
minutes and progress reports
Reconfiguring LabVIEW
Troubleshooting
Cameras were installed on the roof to show
pictures from the roof of the CoGen building
Lab View Problems
„
Lab view not gathering correct data
„
„
The voltage and current data is too high on
some readings
Keithley box
„
„
The box may be wired wrong
The box might have been flooded
Lab View Solutions
„
New LabVIEW program written
„
„
Did not fix the problem with the erroneous
data
Keithley box should be replaced by
another unit
„
Although it was reconfigured it still was
producing same data
Troubleshooting
„
„
„
Inspect the solar signs
Inspect the charge controller
Installation of new pump to be
interfaced with the electrolyzer
Solar Sign
„
Problem:
„
„
Possible Errors:
„
„
„
Obtaining a clear message on solar sign
New software
Computer interface
Solution:
„
Study software manual
Charge Controller
„
Problems:
„
„
„
On/off switch
Equalize the Nickel/Cadmium batteries
Solutions:
„
Installed & rewired new charge controller
Water Pump
„
Problems:
„
„
„
Wiring
Tube fittings
Suggestions:
„
„
Special fitting required
Connect pump to regular power cord with
plug
Phase 2
„
„
„
DC/DC drop box
Fixing the electrolyzer to produce
hydrogen
Creating a fuel cell test stand to test the
hydrogen
What was the DC/DC drop
box?
„
„
„
Electrolyzer specifications
Alternatives
Modifications
Electrolyzer Specifications
POWER SOURCE
VOLTAGE (V)
PURPOSE
AC
220 (50-60 Hz)
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
and Pump
DC
5
Control Signals
DC
24
Control Signals
DC
60
Running of Stack
Alternative to the Drop Box
„
Use DC/AC inverter to convert the DC
power to AC, and use DC/DC converter
to apply power directly to cell stack.
Modification #1
„
„
Use DC/DC
converter to step up
voltage
Use DC/AC inverter
to apply AC power
to the remaining
components
Modification #2
„
„
„
Use DC/DC
converter to step up
voltage for cell stack
Use DC/DC
converters to power
control circuit
Use DC/AC inverters
to power PLC and
pump
Comparing the two options
Fuel Cell Test Stand
„
„
„
„
Created to test the hydrogen from the
electrolyzer
Consists of a fuel cell, chassis, LabVIEW
data acquisition system, and two loads
Loads are a LED sign and a TV/VCR
LabVIEW program records data ten
times per second
Building the Test Stand
„
„
„
A new computer and TV/VCR was
purchased
An inverter was purchased, and later a
DC/DC converter was also obtained
A LabVIEW program was written to
acquire and analyze data from the
system
Building the Test Stand
„
„
„
„
„
The original fuel cell was damaged and
replaced
The wiring and the LabVIEW program
were modified
Portable hydrogen tank was purchased
All the parts were secured in place
Final touches were added and data was
collected from the system
Pow er vs. Tim e
300
Power (W)
250
200
150
100
50
0
600
620
640
660
Tim e (s)
680
700
Voltage vs. Tim e
75
65
Voltage (V)
55
45
35
25
15
5
-5600
620
640
660
Tim e (s)
680
700
Current vs. Time
25
Current (A)
20
15
10
5
0
600
620
640
660
Tim e (s)
680
700
Flow vs. Time
Flow
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
600
620
640
660
Tim e
680
700
The End