Features

HYRIS (Hydrogen & Renewables Integration Simulation) is an innovative tool designed to enhance the performance and profitability of energy systems by focusing on hydrogen components. The tool offers three simulation options and a toolbox with four elements:

The three available simulations are:

• Simulation:
• Simplified Simulation: simulates renewable energy production with the possibility of including hydrogen generation. Users can choose up to 9 locations, specifying latitude, longitude, and energy sources for each.
  Based on these inputs, the tool retrieves weather data to estimate energy production. Users can select from three energy sources: solar, wind, or both, and add specific characteristics for each energy source. An optional electrolyzer can be included, allowing users to define parameters like power rating, temperature, and pressure.
  The simulation then calculates the energy generated over the selected time period, and if an electrolyzer is included, it estimates hydrogen production based on the provided settings.
  
• Energy Consumption: simulates the energy balance of an installation by analyzing energy consumption data from a macro-enabled Excel file. Users upload the file, select a time range, and define key parameters such as the initial battery level, base load, and minimum power purchase.
  The simulation runs for the next seven days, comparing photovoltaic power generation with energy demand and calculating both surplus and residual power to provide a comprehensive overview of the system’s energy balance. Users can choose whether to include a battery in the system. If a battery is included, the simulation also determines how much energy can be stored or drawn from it.
  Any data in the uploaded Excel file that extends beyond the seven-day period is ignored. However, if the file contains only past data, an error is triggered, and the simulation is halted.
  
  Note: The simulation is based on the H2APEX solar farm in Kritzkow and includes a default base consumption of 350 kW, which users can customize as needed.
• Generator Set: simulates an island solution, where energy is required in environments disconnected from the power grid, such as ships or remote locations.
  Users can integrate a hydrogen storage and fuel cell system and/or a battery system to manage energy supply. The tool also allows users to specify whether refueling is possible for the hydrogen/fuel cell system and whether recharging is possible for the battery system.
  
  

The toolbox includes four elements:

• Hydrogen Tank Properties: allows users to calculate key hydrogen storage properties by selecting three of the following parameters:
  - Volume (m³): the storage capacity of the hydrogen tank. - Maximum Operating Pressure (bar): the highest allowable pressure within the tank. - Minimum Operating Pressure (bar): The lowest operational pressure that must be maintained. - Hydrogen Needed (kg): The amount of hydrogen the user wants to access inside the tank. Additionally, the tool computes: - The fourth parameter (whichever was not selected by the user). - Not Usable Hydrogen (kg): The portion of hydrogen that cannot be accessed due to pressure constraints (required to maintain the minimum pressure). - Total Stored Hydrogen (kg): The sum of the available hydrogen and the amount necessary to maintain the minimum pressure. - Volume at STP (m³N): The hydrogen gas volume under standard conditions (0°C and 1 bar). By inputting the necessary values, users can evaluate their hydrogen storage system's feasibility and optimize storage planning.
• Density Calculator: calculates the density of hydrogen (in kg/m³) based on input values for absolute pressure (in bar) and temperature (in °C).
  
• Volume at STP / Mass Calculator: calculates either the volume at STP (in m³_N) or mass (in kg) of hydrogen, depending on the user's input.
  Note: Volume at STP (standard temperature and pressure) refers to the volume of gas under standard conditions (0°C and 1 bar).
• Overflow Simulation: simulates the process of transferring hydrogen between high-pressure and low-pressure tanks. The input values include:
  - Stopping Criteria: defines how the simulation progresses or stops. The simulation either stops completely or moves on to the next tank, depending on which criterion is met. Additionally, the simulation stops or moves to the next tank if the pressure difference between the high-pressure and low-pressure tanks drops below 8 bar, or if the maximum pressure in the low-pressure tank is reached. - Pressure Loss Factor: empirical coefficient that accounts for the pressure drop as hydrogen flows between the tanks. To determine the pressure loss factor for a specific system, an empirical test should be conducted using a high-pressure tank and a low-pressure tank, recording key results such as total running time, total hydrogen overflow, final pressure, and the final hydrogen mass in the low-pressure tank. Afterward, the overflow simulation should be run with the same setup as the empirical test, adjusting the pressure loss factor to match the values of total running time, total hydrogen overflow, final pressure, and final hydrogen mass in the low-pressure tank with those obtained in the empirical test. - Ambient Heat Transfer Coefficient (in W/m²K): represents how efficiently heat is transferred between the hydrogen tank and its surrounding environment (such as air or other external conditions). A higher value means the tank exchanges heat more quickly with its surroundings. - Internal Heat Transfer Coefficient (in W/m²K): measures how efficiently heat is transferred within the hydrogen tank itself, particularly between the gas inside and the tank walls. A higher value indicates faster internal heat exchange. - Tank Material Coefficient (in W/mK): refers to the thermal conductivity of the material used in the tank. A higher value means that heat is conducted more efficiently through the tank walls. - Maximum Flow Rate (in kg/h): sets an upper limit on the amount of hydrogen that can flow between the high-pressure and low-pressure tanks per hour. If the calculated flow rate exceeds this value, the flow is capped at the maximum allowed rate. This ensures that the hydrogen transfer doesn’t happen too quickly, providing control over the speed of the process in the simulation and preventing the system from operating beyond its intended capacity.