Feedback-Linearization-Based Nonlinear Control for PEM Fuel Cells

This paper presents a dynamic nonlinear model for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A nonlinear controller is designed based on the proposed model to prolong the stack life of the PEM fuel cells. Since it is known that large deviations between hydrogen and oxygen partial pressures can cause severe membrane damage in the fuel cell, feedback linearization is applied to the PEM fuel cell system so that the deviation can be kept as small as possible during disturbances or load variations. A dynamic PEM fuel cell model is proposed as a nonlinear, multiple-input multiple-output system so that feedback linearization can be directly utilized. During the control design, hydrogen and oxygen inlet flow rates are defined as the control variables, and the pressures of hydrogen and oxygen are appropriately defined as the control objectives. The details of the design of the control scheme are provided in the paper. The proposed dynamic model was tested by comparing the simulation results with the experimental data previously published. The simulation results show that PEMFCs equipped with the proposed nonlinear controls have better transient performances than those with linear controls.

[1]  A. Isidori.  Nonlinear Control Systems , 1985 .

[2]  Alberto Isidori,et al.  Nonlinear control systems: an introduction (2nd ed.) , 1989 .

[3]  Weiping Li,et al.  Applied Nonlinear Control , 1991 .

[4]  B. Bequette.  Nonlinear control of chemical processes: a review , 1991 .

[5]  M. A. Henson,et al.  Critique of exact linearization strategies for process control , 1991 .

[6]  Pierre R. Roberge,et al.  Parametric modelling of the performance of a 5-kW proton-exchange membrane fuel cell stack , 1994 .

[7]  J. C. Amphlett.  Performance Modeling of the Ballard Mark IV Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell , 1995 .

[8]  J. C. Amphlett,et al.  Performance modeling of the Ballard Mark IV solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell. II: Empirical model development , 1995 .

[9]  Woong-Chul Yang,et al.  Control Challenges and Methodologies in Fuel Cell Vehicle Development , 1998 .

[10]  Richard Edwin Sonntag,et al.  Fundamentals of Thermodynamics , 1998 .

[11]  Pierre R. Roberge,et al.  Development and application of a generalised steady-state electrochemical model for a PEM fuel cell , 2000 .

[12]  James Larminie,et al.  Fuel Cell Systems Explained , 2000 .

[13]  Hongtan Liu,et al.  A parametric study of the cathode catalyst layer of PEM fuel cells using a pseudo-homogeneous model , 2001 .

[14]  Shengwei Mei,et al.  Nonlinear Control Systems and Power System Dynamics , 2001, The Springer International Series on Asian Studies in Computer and Information Science.

[15]  K. Agbossou,et al.  Dynamic behavior of a PEM fuel cell stack for stationary applications , 2001 .

[16]  M. Daneshdoost,et al.  A Simplified Dynamic Model of Grid-Connected Fuel-Cell Generators , 2001, IEEE Power Engineering Review.

[17]  L.N. Canha,et al.  An analysis of the dynamic performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells using an electrochemical model , 2001, IECON'01. 27th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (Cat. No.37243).

[18]  G. Maggio,et al.  Modeling polymer electrolyte fuel cells: an innovative approach , 2001 .

[19]  Xianguo Li,et al.  Mathematical modeling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells , 2001 .

[20]  João M. Lemos,et al.  Reduced complexity adaptive nonlinear control of a distributed collector solar field , 2002 .

[21]  Anna G. Stefanopoulou,et al.  Modeling and control for PEM fuel cell stack system , 2002, Proceedings of the 2002 American Control Conference (IEEE Cat. No.CH37301).

[22]  Marcelo Simoes,et al.  Neural optimal control of PEM-fuel cells with parametric CMAC networks , 2003, 38th IAS Annual Meeting on Conference Record of the Industry Applications Conference, 2003..

[23]  R. Gemmen.  Analysis for the Effect of Inverter Ripple Current on Fuel Cell Operating Condition , 2001, Heat Transfer: Volume 4 — Combustion and Energy Systems.

[24]  P. Famouri,et al.  Electrochemical circuit model of a PEM fuel cell , 2003, 2003 IEEE Power Engineering Society General Meeting (IEEE Cat. No.03CH37491).

[25]  B. Diong,et al.  An improved small-signal model of the dynamic behavior of PEM fuel cells , 2003, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[26]  Anna G. Stefanopoulou,et al.  Control of Fuel Cell Power Systems: Principles, Modeling, Analysis and Feedback Design , 2004 .

[27]  M.Y. El-Sharkh,et al.  Analysis of active and reactive power control of a stand-alone PEM fuel cell power plant , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems.

[28]  Ilya V. Kolmanovsky,et al.  Load governor for fuel cell oxygen starvation protection: a robust nonlinear reference governor approach , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology.

[29]  A.G. Stefanopoulou,et al.  Control of fuel cell breathing , 2004, IEEE Control Systems.

[30]  Ali Feliachi,et al.  Fuzzy logic control of fuel cell for stand-alone and grid connection , 2004 .

[31]  Frano Barbir,et al.  PEM Fuel Cells: Theory and Practice , 2012 .

[32]  Mohammad Tariq Iqbal,et al.  Dynamic Modelling and Simulation of a Fuel Cell Generator , 2005 .

[33]  M.H. Nehrir,et al.  Dynamic models and model validation for PEM fuel cells using electrical circuits , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[34]  Joaquín Aguado,et al.  Controllability analysis of decentralised linear controllers for polymeric fuel cells , 2005 .

[35]  Mohammad Tariq Iqbal,et al.  Modelling and Analysis of Electro‐chemical, Thermal, and Reactant Flow Dynamics for a PEM Fuel Cell System , 2005 .