Hierarchical Control of Grid-Connected Hydrogen Electrolyzer Providing Grid Services

TL;DR

This paper develops a hierarchical control framework for grid-connected hydrogen electrolyzers, enabling them to provide frequency and voltage support through primary and secondary control loops, validated by real-time simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive control architecture for electrolyzers to support grid stability, integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary control strategies.

Findings

Effective primary and secondary control strategies demonstrated.

Real-time simulation validates control scheme performance.

Electrolyzer support enhances grid stability and reliability.

Abstract

This paper presents the operation modes and control architecture of the grid-connected hydrogen electrolyzer systems for the provision of frequency and voltage supports. The analysis is focused on the primary and secondary loops in the hierarchical control scheme. At the power converter inner control loop, the voltage- and current-control modes are analyzed. At the primary level, the droop and opposite droop control strategies to provide voltage and frequency support are described. Coordination between primary control and secondary, tertiary reserves is discussed. The case studies and real-time simulation results are provided using Typhoon HIL to back the theoretical investigation.