Hydrogen Plant Setpoints Under Renewable Energy Availability Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrogen production plants face challenges in determining suitable operational setpoints, especially when aiming to use specific types of energy like green energy, which is volatile and often collides with optimized operational behaviors.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that determines hydrogen setpoints by considering the maximum available and target minimum amounts of a predetermined energy category, such as green energy, as constraints to optimize plant operation while minimizing energy waste and volatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If renewable energy is used for hydrogen production, then environmental sustainability is improved, but operational stability deteriorates due to energy volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining hydrogen setpoints in advance for upcoming time intervals based on predicted renewable energy availability. This allows the plant to prepare operational plans that account for future energy volatility, enabling smoother transitions and reducing operational instability while maintaining environmental sustainability goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts hydrogen setpoints by continuously determining them for current and upcoming time intervals based on real-time and predicted renewable energy availability. This dynamic approach allows the plant to adapt to changing energy conditions while maintaining operational stability through proactive planning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If green energy usage is maximized, then environmental sustainability is improved, but energy waste increases due to expiry of time-categorized energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines hydrogen setpoints in advance for upcoming time intervals, allowing it to plan energy usage before green energy expires. By proactively scheduling hydrogen production to utilize green energy within its valid time window, the system maximizes environmental sustainability while minimizing energy waste due to expiry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from predicted renewable energy availability to continuously adjust hydrogen setpoints. This feedback mechanism ensures that green energy is utilized effectively within its time category, preventing waste while maintaining environmental sustainability goals.
3Productivity
If operational setpoints are optimized for efficiency, then productivity is improved, but adaptability to renewable energy volatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines hydrogen setpoints for current and upcoming time intervals based on predicted renewable energy availability. This dynamic approach maintains productivity by continuously optimizing operations while simultaneously adapting to energy volatility through real-time setpoint adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
By determining setpoints in advance for upcoming time intervals, the system prepares efficient operational plans that account for predicted energy conditions. This preliminary action maintains productivity while adapting to volatility, as the plant can execute pre-planned efficient operations even as energy conditions change.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides computer-implemented method for use in controlling operation of a hydrogen production plant, the method comprising determining a maximum available amount of energy of a predetermined energy category in a current time interval; determining a target minimum amount of the energy of the predetermined energy category to be used for hydrogen production in the current time interval; and determining hydrogen setpoints for the current time interval using the maximum available amount and the target minimum amount as constraints.