Design of a Real-Time Monitoring and Controlling System for the PEM Fuel Cell Model Based on LabVIEW with IoT Technology

Abstract

In this research, a predictive voltage neural controller and remote monitoring for the nonlinear proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system are implemented in real-time. This paper's major purpose is to precisely and rapidly determine the appropriate hydrogen partial pressure (PH2) control action to improve the fuel cell's nonlinear performance under varying load currents and to enable remote monitoring of the nonlinear PEMFC system based on the internet of things (IoT). The laboratory, virtual instrument engineering workbench (LabVIEW) package is used to demonstrate the real-time performance of the proposed predictive voltage controller applied to the 150-watt PROTIUM PEMFC, which will be used to generate the appropriate amount of hydrogen partial pressure control action that will enter the fuel cell for stabilizing the desired output voltage. The message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocol and a Raspberry Pi 4 acting as a local server are the building blocks upon which the monitoring component of the proposed system is implemented in order to monitor the desired output voltage, the fuel cell output voltage, and PH2. The Raspberry Pi collects the necessary fuel cell data and sends it to the node-red dashboard for monitoring. According to the simulation and the experimental results obtained using the proposed predictive controller on PROTIUM PEMFC, the proposed controller can generate an accurate, prompt, and timely reaction to the hydrogen partial pressure control action to reduce the tracking voltage error and to get rid of the fuel cell output voltage oscillation. The proposed experimental work was compared to the simulation findings to confirm its effectiveness in terms of effectively tracking the desired output voltage, providing a fast response, and achieving the optimal partial pressure of hydrogen. However, in the simulation findings, a voltage error of 0.01 volts was observed without any oscillation. On the other hand, the experimental results indicate a slightly higher voltage error of approximately 0.1 volts, accompanied by oscillations of around ± 0.1 volts.