Modeling and control of the output current of a Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell system

Abstract In this work, a dynamic Matlab SIMULINK model of the relationship between the fuel cell current set point of a Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell system and the output current of the system is developed. The model contains an estimated fuel cell model, based on a polarization curve and assumed first order dynamics, as well as a battery model based on an equivalent circuit model and a balance of plant power consumption model. The models are tuned with experimental data and verified using a verification data set. The model is used to develop an output current controller which can control the charge current of the battery. The controller is a PI controller with feedforward and anti-windup. The performance of the controller is tested and verified on the physical system.

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