On the design of an automatic control system for a photovoltaic energy conversion system with hydrogen energy storage

In this project a preliminary design is presented for an automatic control system (ACS) for the Photovoltaic Energy Conversion System (PECS) with hydrogen energy storage at The Cooper Union. The purpose of the ACS is to automate essential safety and process controls to enable a minimum of one person to operate the PECS.; The ACS design consists of four control activity levels. A Safety Interlock level monitors key system parameters, such as power to the electrolyzers and hydrogen gas pressures, and it incorporates an Automatic Shutdown Routine to shut down the entire PECS, and several design features to provide passive fail-safe protection for both automatic and manual control of the PECS. The Manual Control level retains all the existant manual controls and visual displays of the PECS. An Automated Process Control level (Individual Modules) involves several control loops that automate certain PECS processes that require constant attention. An Automated Process Control level (Integrated System) is used to regulate the entire PECS hydrogen production, storage and utilization process. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...