Hybrid model predictive control of a two-generator power plant integrating photovoltaic panels and a fuel cell

This paper describes the application of hybrid modeling control techniques to a two-generator power system connected to the grid. The plant consists of a solar field and a secondary power source formed by an electrolyzer, hydrogen tank and fuel cell stack. The system is inherently hybrid as it combines both continuous and hybrid dynamics, since it can operate in four distinct modes, depending on the power circuit configuration and the fuel cell stack state. Firstly, a mixed-logical-dynamical (MLD) description of the system is obtained. A hybrid receding horizon finite-time optimal controller based on on-line multiparametric programming techniques is then tuned. Finally, the effectiveness of such a control design is shown through the simulation results.