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A prototype of a fuel cell PEM emulator based on a buck converter

Author

Listed:
  • Marsala, Giuseppe
  • Pucci, Marcello
  • Vitale, Gianpaolo
  • Cirrincione, Maurizio
  • Miraoui, Abdellatif

Abstract

After a brief introduction about fuel cell systems, and their modelling, this paper proposes a possible solution to emulate a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM-FC) system by using a DC-DC buck converter. The fuel cell system, including all its auxiliaries and related control systems, is emulated by a buck converter realized experimentally and controlled in the DSPACE environment. The realization of the buck converter allows the behaviour of any fuel cells to be easily emulated since only the modification of the control law of the switch is necessary. The proposed emulator can be applied easily to other fuel cell systems if the polarization curve has the same current rate and maximum power. In this way it is possible to utilize the converter and perform the necessary tests to optimize a fuel cell system by avoiding the waste of hydrogen and the purchase of cells as well as any cell damage. With regard to current other types of emulators, the one presented here has the following characteristics: (1) all the auxiliaries of the system have been considered, each including its own control system, as in a real FCS, (2) the converter is a classical buck converter with a free-wheeling diode and is designed to have a high bandwidth and to be practically always in conduction mode (discontinuous mode appears only at very low currents) (3) the voltage control is made by a space-state controller, able to fix properly the closed loop poles of the system, thus guaranteeing the desired bandwidth of the control system and (4) it can be used in laboratory as a stand-alone low-cost system for design and experimental purposes.

Suggested Citation

  • Marsala, Giuseppe & Pucci, Marcello & Vitale, Gianpaolo & Cirrincione, Maurizio & Miraoui, Abdellatif, 2009. "A prototype of a fuel cell PEM emulator based on a buck converter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(10), pages 2192-2203, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:86:y:2009:i:10:p:2192-2203
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    Cited by:

    1. Durán, E. & Andújar, J.M. & Segura, F. & Barragán, A.J., 2011. "A high-flexibility DC load for fuel cell and solar arrays power sources based on DC-DC converters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1690-1702, May.
    2. Luna, M. & Di Piazza, M.C. & La Tona, G. & Accetta, A. & Pucci, M., 2021. "Exploiting dynamic modeling, parameter identification, and power electronics to implement a non-dissipative Li-ion battery hardware emulator," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 48-65.
    3. Bizon, N., 2011. "Nonlinear control of fuel cell hybrid power sources: Part II - Current control," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2574-2591, July.
    4. Ram, J. Prasanth & Manghani, Himanshu & Pillai, Dhanup S. & Babu, T. Sudhakar & Miyatake, Masafumi & Rajasekar, N., 2018. "Analysis on solar PV emulators: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 149-160.
    5. Prieto-Araujo, E. & Olivella-Rosell, P. & Cheah-Mañe, M. & Villafafila-Robles, R. & Gomis-Bellmunt, O., 2015. "Renewable energy emulation concepts for microgrids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 325-345.
    6. Kalantar, M. & Mousavi G., S.M., 2010. "Posicast control within feedback structure for a DC-DC single ended primary inductor converter in renewable energy applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3110-3114, October.
    7. Bedatri Moulik & Dirk Söffker, 2016. "Online Power Management with Embedded Offline-Optimized Parameters for a Three-Source Hybrid Powertrain with an Experimental Emulation Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-33, June.
    8. Bizon, N., 2010. "On tracking robustness in adaptive extremum seeking control of the fuel cell power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3115-3130, October.
    9. Wang, Chin-Tsan & Hu, Yuh-Chung & Zheng, Pei-Lun, 2010. "Novel biometric flow slab design for improvement of PEMFC performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1366-1375, April.
    10. Di Piazza, Maria Carmela & Vitale, Gianpaolo, 2010. "Photovoltaic field emulation including dynamic and partial shadow conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 814-823, March.
    11. Tirnovan, R. & Giurgea, S. & Miraoui, A., 2011. "Strategies for optimizing the opening of the outlet air circuit's nozzle to improve the efficiency of the PEMFC generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 1197-1204, April.
    12. Henriques, T. & César, B. & Branco, P.J. Costa, 2010. "Increasing the efficiency of a portable PEM fuel cell by altering the cathode channel geometry: A numerical and experimental study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1400-1409, April.
    13. Yan, Wei-Mon & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Lee, Duu-Jong & Zhang, Xin-Xin & Guo, Yi-Fan & Su, Ay, 2011. "Experimental study of commercial size proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 392-396, January.
    14. Seo, Sang Hern & Lee, Chang Sik, 2010. "A study on the overall efficiency of direct methanol fuel cell by methanol crossover current," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(8), pages 2597-2604, August.
    15. Perng, Shiang-Wuu & Wu, Horng-Wen, 2010. "Effect of the prominent catalyst layer surface on reactant gas transport and cell performance at the cathodic side of a PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1386-1399, April.
    16. Tang, Yong & Yuan, Wei & Pan, Minqiang & Li, Zongtao & Chen, Guoqing & Li, Yong, 2010. "Experimental investigation of dynamic performance and transient responses of a kW-class PEM fuel cell stack under various load changes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1410-1417, April.

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