A Robust Maximum Power Point Tracking Control Method for a PEM Fuel Cell Power System

Derbeli, Mohamed; Barambones, Óscar; Sbita, Lassaâd

doi:10.3390/app8122449

Cited by 66 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Therefore, PEMFCs are ideally suited for a wide range of applications, such as stationary, automotive, and portable power supplies. However, despite the sundry features of the PEMFCs, cost reduction and efficiency improvement are needed to overcome the limited market of fuel cells' technologies [9,10]. The high cost of PEMFCs may have been the fundamental hindrance in the past, but with the development of technology, this may have not been the case.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-Time Implementation of a Super Twisting Algorithm for PEM Fuel Cell Power System

et al. 2019

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Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) topology is becoming one of the most reliable and promising alternative resource of energy for a wide range of applications. However, efficiency improvement and lifespan extension are needed to overcome the limited market of fuel cell technologies. In this paper, an efficient approach based on a super-twising algorithm (STA) is proposed for the PEMFC system. The control objective is to lengthen the fuel cell lifetime by improving its power quality, as well as to keep the system operating at an optimal and efficient power point. The algorithm adjusts the PEMFC operating point to the optimum power by tuning the duty cycle of the boost converter. The closed-loop system includes the Heliocentris hy-ExpertTM PEMFC, DC–DC boost converter, DSPACE DS1104, dedicated PC, and a programmable electronic load. The practical implementation of the proposed STA on a hardware setup is performed using a dSPACE real-time digital control platform. The data acquisition and the control system are conducted together with the dSPACE 1104 controller board. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm, experimental results are compared with 1-order sliding mode control (SMC) under different load resistance. The obtained results demonstrate the validity of the proposed control scheme by ensuring at least 72% of the maximum power produced by PEMFC. In addition, it is proven that the STA ensures all the fundamental properties of the 1-order SMC, as well as providing chattering reduction of 91%, which will ameliorate as a consequence the fuel cell lifetime.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Real-Time Implementation of a Super Twisting Algorithm for PEM Fuel Cell Power System

et al. 2019

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“…Derbeli et al. presented a new MPPT scheme based on a current reference estimator in order to keep the PEM fuel cell functioning at an efficient power point. The proposed MPPT uses the backstepping technique to drive the DC–DC boost converter powering the load.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Single Sensor Variable Step Size Maximum Power Point Tracking for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Power System

Harrag

Bahri

2019

Fuel Cells

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This paper proposes a novel single sensor variable step size maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This paper is a first, if modest, attempt to develop a single sensor MPPT for fuel cell systems. The proposed MPPT algorithm uses only one sensor to track the maximum power of PEM fuel system composed of 7 kW proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) powering 50 Ω resistive load via a DC–DC boost converter driven using the proposed MPPT. The performances of the proposed controller have been evaluated using the implemented PEM fuel cell power system Matlab/Simulink model using two test scenarios considering temperature and hydrogen pressure variation. Simulation results show that the proposed controller can effectively track the maximum power point using only one sensor which reduces the cost as well as the complexity of the PEM fuel cell power system. Comparative results with the two sensors MPPT show that the two sensors MPPT outperforms the single sensor MPPT regarding the dynamic performances. However, the proposed single sensor MPPT performs better considering the static performances. In addition, the proposed controller reduces drastically the current ripple increasing by the way the fuel cell efficiency and lifetime by reducing the frequent trip due to over‐current and even harmonics.

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“…Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) are a promising technology of producing electricity from hydrogen, for both portable and stationary applications [1,2]. The integration of a PEFC in a power generation system requires an thorough design in the balance of plant [3,4] and a detailed power conditioning stage [5] to guarantee the best performance of the fuel cell. However, even if the balance of plant is optimized, the quality of the fuel supply (hydrogen purity) affects severely the fuel cell's performance due to the presence of contaminants [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Ammonia Impurities on the Hydrogen Flow in High and Low Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

et al. 2019

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Fuel cells are a promising technology to use as a source of electricity and heat for buildings, and as an electrical power source for electric motors propelling vehicles. They consume hydrogen as fuel and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water. Conventional fuels, such as natural gas, methanol, or even gasoline are reformed to produce the hydrogen required by the fuel cells. During the reforming process, impurities are inevitably obtained in the hydrogen flow. One of them is ammonia (NH 3 ) that can result in serious damage to the fuel cell operation. In this paper, the effects produced by different concentrations of NH 3 present in the hydrogen flow on the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance are studied, differentiating between irreversible and recoverable damages. Strictly experimental, the study includes both low and high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC).The NH 3 poisoning effect is analyzed and quantified by comparing the polarization curves. After the poisoning stage, the cells are subjected to a regeneration process (feeding the cell with neat H 2 ) with the aim of knowing the membrane's recovery capacity. The experimental results demonstrate that in low temperature (LT)-PEFCs, the cell recovers its performance almost completely with a new exposure to neat H 2 , in spite of the damage previously caused by the presence of traces of NH 3 in the anode feed stream. In contrast, in high temperature (HT)-PEFCs, the cell suffers irreversible damage, even with short time exposure to NH 3 . The paper concludes with discussing the possible chemical interactions by which NH 3 affects the cell performance.

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A Robust Maximum Power Point Tracking Control Method for a PEM Fuel Cell Power System

Cited by 66 publications

References 65 publications

Real-Time Implementation of a Super Twisting Algorithm for PEM Fuel Cell Power System

Real-Time Implementation of a Super Twisting Algorithm for PEM Fuel Cell Power System

A Novel Single Sensor Variable Step Size Maximum Power Point Tracking for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Power System

Effects of Ammonia Impurities on the Hydrogen Flow in High and Low Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

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