Optimal Operation of a Gas Turbine Cogeneration Unit With Energy Storage for Wind Power System Integration

Many energy supply systems around the world are currently undergoing a phase of transition characterized by a continuing increase in installed renewable power generation capacities. The inherent volatility and limited predictability of renewable power generation pose various challenges for an efficient system integration of these capacities. One approach to manage these challenges is the deployment of small-scale dispatchable power generation and storage units on a local level. In this context, gas turbine cogeneration units, which are primarily tasked with the provision of power and heat for industrial consumers, can play a significant role, if they are equipped with a sufficient energy storage capacity allowing for a more flexible operation. The present study investigates a system configuration, which incorporates a heat-driven industrial gas turbine interacting with a wind farm providing volatile renewable power generation. The required energy storage capacity is represented by an electrolyzer and a pressure vessel for intermediate hydrogen storage. The generated hydrogen can be reconverted to electricity and process heat by the gas turbine. The corresponding operational strategy for the overall system aims at an optimal integration of the volatile wind farm power generation on a local level. The study quantifies the impact of selected system design parameters on the quality of local wind power system integration, that can be achieved with a specific set of parameters. In addition, the impact of these parameters on the reduction of CO₂ emissions due to the use of hydrogen as gas turbine fuel is quantified. In order to conduct these investigations, detailed steady-state models of all required system components were developed. These models enable accurate simulations of the operation of each component in the complete load range. The calculation of the optimal operational strategy is based on an application of the dynamic programming algorithm. Based on this model setup, the operation of the overall system configuration is simulated for each investigated set of design parameters for a one-year period. The simulation results show that the investigated system configuration has the ability to significantly increase the level of local wind power integration. The parameter variation reveals distinct correlations between the main design parameters of the storage system and the achievable level of local wind power integration. Regarding the installed electrolyzer power consumption capacity, smaller additional benefits of capacity increases can be identified at higher levels of power consumption capacity. Regarding the geometrical volume of the hydrogen storage, it can be determined that the storage volume loses its limiting character on the operation of the electrolyzer at a characteristic level. The additional investigation of the CO₂ emission reduction reveals a direct correlation between the level of local wind power integration and the achievable level of CO₂ emission reduction.