Dynamic interaction of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell and a lead-acid battery

An air-independent fuel cell/lead-acid battery power system could extend the submerged endurance of conventional submarines. This load sharing system requires a deep understanding of how the systems will interact, both from an operational perspective and to avoid high battery voltages that may result in excessive hydrogen production in a completely contained environment. A methodology for predicting the response of the coupled systems was developed to predict the transient behaviour under various loads at standard operating conditions.