Modeling and optimization of a hybrid energy supply system by combining fuel cell with TRNSYS software - Bandar Anzali case study

In the current research, a renewable system based on wind, solar, and geothermal energy was analyzed with a targeted combination of fuel cell units, heat pump, proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, steam turbine and reverse osmosis. Transient modeling and simulation of the proposed system was done using TRNSYS software. This system was designed and evaluated to meet the needs of a residential complex with 80 residential units and 320 people for electrical energy, cooling, and heating. A case study was conducted for the feasibility of setting up the proposed system in the coastal city of Bandar Anzali in Iran. Optimization of system performance was done by determining two objective functions of production power and system life cycle cost with response surface method and Design Expert software. Five parameters affecting the system performance including the number of wind turbines, number of solar panels, fuel cell capacity, steam turbine capacity, and proton exchange membrane electrolyzer capacity were selected as optimization variables. In its most optimal state, the system can reach a production power of 3036105.022 kWh and a life cycle cost of 781944.254 $. The environmental results showed that by setting up the system in an optimal mode in Bandar Anzali city and producing electricity at the rate of 3036.1 MW per year, it is possible to help expand 3 hectares of green space per year. It also helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 619.36 tons of CO2 at a cost of 14,864.74 $.