Dynamic modeling and simulation of a hydrogen power station for continuous energy generation and resilient storage

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells for power generation and electrolyzers for converting power into hydrogen are gaining significant global attention, particularly when integrated within renewable-based microgrids. Their application spans various sectors, including civil districts and telecommunications. Parallel, considerable efforts are being made in hydrogen storage from both technical and safety perspectives. Rapid technological progress suggests a promising future for these systems, with expectations of substantial market penetration in the coming years. This could result in reduced production costs and greater social acceptance. Pursuing this progression, this article presents dynamic modeling and simulations of a hydrogen Power Station (H2PEM), within an interconnected grid. The system integrates PEM fuel cells, electrolysis units, and a dual-mode hydrogen storage solution using both compression and metal hydride technologies. Designed for both energy supply and absorption, the system operates with a nominal power capacity of 1 kW and a hydrogen storage capacity of 5 Nm³. A control strategy is developed to manage the H2PEM system. Accordingly, extensive simulation campaigns are carried out in the Matlab/Simulink computational environment. The simulations are dedicated to a chronological sequence of assessments, including dynamic response tests, power tracking tests for fuel cell and electrolyzer actuation, H2 accumulation and discharge assessments for the hydrogen storage sub-units, resilience, and global tests under various input scenarios. The dynamic response tests demonstrate the system's fast and adaptive performance, complemented by a detailed evaluation of the control logic, ultimately confirming the system's resilience.