Operation Prediction of a Bioethanol Solar Reforming System Using a Neural Network

Abstract

The bioethanol reforming system (FBSR) using sunlight as a heat source is a fuel production system for fuel cells with little environmental impact. However, because solar radiation and outside air temperature are unstable, it is difficult to predict operation of the system with accuracy. Therefore, an operation prediction program of the FBSR using a layered neural network (NN) with the error-correction learning method has been developed. We developed a method of analyzing the operation of a natural energy system with sufficient accuracy. The weather pattern (the amount of global solar radiation and the outside air temperature) and energy-demand pattern for the past one year are inputted into the NN. Moreover, training signals are calculated by a genetic algorithm (GA). The training signals are given to the NN, and the operation pattern of the FBSR is made to learn. Operation of the FBSR on arbitrary days can be predicted by inputting the weather pattern and the energy-demand pattern into this learning NN. In this paper, the operation prediction program of the FBSR is developed, and details of the analytic accuracy are clarified. As a result of analyzing using the developed algorithm, when ±20% or less of power load fluctuation occurred, the operation plan was analyzable in 14% or less of error span. On the other hand, in operation prediction when ±50% or less of fluctuation is added to the outside temperature and global solar radiation, there was 16% or less analysis error.

Efficiency analysis of a combined PEFC and bioethanol-solar-reforming system for individual houses

“…Furthermore, there are researches on much hydrogen production technology using solar energy currently (for example, [4][5][6][7]). In this research, we have investigated the characteristics of the reformed gas production [1], the production-of-electricity characteristic of the FBSR using the weather forecast [2,3], and the relationship between solar insolation with fluctuation and a production-of-electricity characteristic [8]. This paper continues these reports.…”

“…Alternatively, a fuel cell system that uses the heat of a small solar collector for the steam reforming of bioethanol, a bioethanol reforming system for fuel cells (FBSR system), has been examined [1][2][3]. Furthermore, there are researches on much hydrogen production technology using solar energy currently (for example, [4][5][6][7]).…”

A simulation study of a bioethanol‐solar‐reforming system for proton‐exchange membrane fuel cell home cogeneration system

“…Figure shows a block diagram of the fuel cell system with a bioethanol solar reforming system (FBSR) . Two rotating parabolic mirrors with a solar tracking system are used for FBSR.…”

“…From these results, the efficiency of the system and the rate of use concentrated solar energy are examined. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the fuel cell system with a bioethanol solar reforming system (FBSR) [8][9][10]. Two rotating parabolic mirrors with a solar tracking system are used for FBSR.…”

“…We examine a system using the heat obtained from a small sunlight solar collector to reform bioethanol into a vapor FBSR (fuel cell system with bioethanol solar reforming system). We propose that hydrogen will be produced when installing FBSR in individual houses and apartments , and we aim to use a layered neural network as the weather forecast information . Generally, a fuel inversion ratio is obtained by using the temperature of the catalyst layer and the space velocity of the bio‐ethanol vapor.…”