Designing an Economic Index for a Hybrid PV/FC System with Cost Analysis and Reliability Improvement Based on an Improved Reptile Search Algorithm

The present article investigates the processing of increasing a hybrid photovoltaic-fuel cell system’s performance considering an economic index. Further, by utilizing the Markov model, solutions to enhance the system’s dependability are evaluated. A solar array, a fuel cell, a hydrogen storage tank, and an electrolyzer stack are embedded in the offered system. The study aims to develop an economic index that illustrates the system’s excess cost in comparison to the required minimum investment to attain the highest degree of dependability. The system’s dependability or the projected energy of the system is evaluated under the equipment's failure and repair rate and their likelihood of operating at the minimal ideal tank pressure. For enhancing the performance of the proposed process an improved version of Reptile Search Algorithm is utilized. The outcomes demonstrated that the management of the hydrogen contained in the tank ensures the system’s capability and stability in producing energy continuously. Besides that, in the conditions of changing the capacity of the equipment (compared to the nominal capacity) in terms of reliability, the proposed system is desirable only for supplying sensitive and important loads. Moreover, the minimum pressure level of the tank had a very significant role in boosting the system’s reliability. System equipment capacity’s impact, such as the capacity of the solar array, fuel cell, and tank volume, on the economic index are examined. The great effectiveness of the suggested strategy is what led to the final outcomes.