Green Hydrogen Generation with Hybrid Global MPPT based on MPC-MPPT and PSO in Buck Converter

Abstract

In order to maximize the efficiency of green hydrogen production from photovoltaic (PV) energy, it is necessary to ensure that the PV system generates the maximum energy possible. One of the difficulties is the occurrence of partial shading, when one of the panels operates with different irradiation than the others, generating local peaks and maxima in the PV curve, in a way that traditional algorithms such as perturbing and observing P&O cannot guarantee this maximum efficiency and, therefore, it is necessary to use global maximum power point tracking algorithms (GMPPT). This work proposes the energy optimization of green hydrogen generation, from a proton exchange membrane (PEM) using PV energy and a hybrid GMPPT technique based on predictive control (MPC-MPPT) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), which uses PSO to reach the region of maximum power and MPC-MPPT to reach the exact point. To apply this MPPT technique, this work also proposes the use of a buck converter, making changes to the hybrid technique algorithm, modifying its prediction equations.A second buck converter is also used to reduce the voltage of the PV array to the voltage level of the PEM cell, since the first converter is used to obtain the MPP, while the second converter actually reduces the voltage to compatible levels. The results presented show the effectiveness of the technique used in the green hydrogen generation system and the high overall efficiency of the system.