Electronic device for the emulation of wind systems and analysis of alkaline water electrolysers

This paper proposes an electronic device that emulates the electric power generated by complete wind systems in order to test alkaline water electrolysers under real operating conditions typical of wind regimes. This Wind Emulator has a rated power of 10 kW. It is first validated by means of experimental tests in order to probe its performance concerning quickness, accuracy and reliability. Afterwards, the Wind Emulator is used to test a commercial alkaline electrolyzer from Hydrogenics, whose nominal production rate is 1 Nm³h^-1so as to obtain its electric characteristic curves. Finally, a wind emulation test is carried out based on real wind data applied to the commercial wind turbine INCLIN6000 from Bornay. By means of this test, the electrolyzer behaviour is analyzed when supplied by a wind energy profile. The results obtained in all the experimental tests have been satisfactory.