Real-Time Coordinated Operation of Off-Grid Wind Powered Multi-Electrolyzer Systems Considering Thermal Dynamics and HTO Safety
For operators of off-grid renewable hydrogen production systems, this work provides a real-time coordination method that balances energy utilization and safety constraints, addressing a practical bottleneck in fluctuating power environments.
This paper proposes a two-layer coordinated operation method for off-grid wind-powered multi-electrolyzer systems that integrates feedback optimization with a projection-based safety layer, achieving high energy utilization and safe operation in real-time. Case studies using annual wind data demonstrate online applicability, scalability, and robustness.
Coordinated operation of alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) systems with multiple electrolyzers under fluctuating renewable power input is challenging due to varying power availability and dynamic safety constraints. Moreover, the conventional separation between optimization and control may result in inconsistent decisions across timescales. To address these issues, this paper proposes a two-layer coordinated operation method integrating feedback optimization (FO) with a projection-based safety layer. The FO layer generates real-time reference inputs to improve renewable energy utilization, while the safety layer corrects these inputs to ensure compliance with operational and safety constraints. To explicitly address the safety constraints arising from the inertial dynamics of AWE systems, discrete-time control barrier function theory is incorporated into the safety layer, thereby enhancing safety assurance and online computational tractability. Theoretical analysis establishes the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. Case studies based on annual wind generation data show that the proposed method achieves high energy utilization, maintains safe operation, and demonstrates online applicability, scalability, and robustness.