Optimal characteristics of fuel cell generating systems for utility distribution networks

This work evaluates the optimal parameters and locations of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks in distribution networks with the viewpoint of load curve management for residential, commercial and industrial consumers. In order to determine this optimal location, methods of multicriteria decision-making were employed. Under insufficient information, it can be used typical load curves and data regarding to monthly energy consumption for each group of typical consumers to estimate the distribution transformer load curves. The aim of the proposed algorithms is to establish the power level of the fuel cell contribution to be considered at the design stage of the power plant. The criteria for that are to take into account the amount of thermal energy demanded by the installation, the energy level of consumption and the changes in the load curve shapes of either consumers or feeder.