Thermodynamic simulation of a wind turbine-fuel cell hybrid system with application in a distributed generation system

The aim of this article is to design wind turbine PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell hybrid system in standalone area for Tehran, Mashhad, Manjil, and Zabol. According to importance of fuel cell role in output power fluctuation reduction of wind turbine and flexibility of hybrid system against changes of atmospheric conditions and fluctuations of consumption power, fuel cell and electrolysis with suitable power is selected in different numbers. In this research study, we have attempted to find out up to how many residential units, a wind turbine is able to meet the consumption power, and up to how many electrolysis and fuel cells are required for higher numbers of residential units. Providing consumption hydrogen by electrolysis and consumption power by hybrid system are design conditions of the system. Results indicate that the hybrid system is able to supply electrical energy for a few number of residential units in Tehran however, this number increases dramatically in Manjil and Zabol with 6,68 ,and 34 residential units respectively. In addition, hybrid system in Mashhad, due to poor wind speed, is not capable of meeting the demand. By increasing number of residential units, share of fuel cell increases in hybrid system. Also result shows that the capital cost of the hybrid system is approximately equal to the capital cost of combined-cycle power plant.