Coordinated Optimization Operation Strategy for Hybrid Hydrogen Production System Considering Dynamic Characteristics and State Transition of Electrolyzers

Against the backdrop of the global low-carbon energy transition, the volatility of photovoltaic (PV) output has been found to significantly affect the safe and stable operation of hydrogen production systems. To ensure efficient hydrogen production while enhancing system safety, a coordinated optimal operation strategy is proposed for a hybrid hydrogen production system that accounts for the dynamic characteristics and state transitions of electrolyzers. By leveraging the power-efficiency curves and historical operating time of electrolyzers, together with a state tracking and feedback mechanism, the proposed strategy is able to capture state transition processes and the real-time operational status of electrolyzers. Subsequently, by accounting for the operating characteristics of different electrolyzers and dividing reasonable power intervals, the optimal power allocation among hybrid electrolyzers is achieved. A comparative analysis of four different schemes was conducted via simulation experiments, and the results demonstrate that compared with a single electrolyzer hydrogen production system, the hybrid system achieves a better trade-off between efficiency and economic performance while effectively enhancing PV absorption capacity. Furthermore, relative to a traditional operation strategy, the proposed strategy increases hydrogen production capacity, efficiency, and profit by 25.75%, 8.90%, and 36.00%, respectively, while reducing the unit hydrogen production cost by 23.13%.