Design and Modeling of PEM Fuel Cell Using PWM Based Interleaved Boost Converter

Fuel cells are a family of technologies that generate electricity through electrochemical process rather than combustion. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell will continuously produce electricity as along as fuel is supplied and the catalyst remains active. Fuel cells provide major environmental, energy and economic benefits that advance critical national goals. Fuel cell generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction in which oxygen and a hydrogen rich fuel combines to form water. Fuel cell types are generally classified according to the nature of the electrolyte they use. This paper deals with the modeling of PEMFC which uses water-based, acidic polymer membrane as its electrolyte, with platinum-based electrodes. Due to relatively low temperatures and the use of precious metal based electrodes, this cell must operate on pure hydrogen. PEMFC are currently the leading technology for light duty vehicles and material handling vehicles. To reduce the current and voltage ripples, a simulation was done in MATLAB by modeling a fuel cell and then interfacing it with an PWM based interleaved boost converter. To design a high efficient fuel cell we require a suitable DC-DC converter. Among the leading topologies, PWM based interleaved boost converter (IBC) is taken as the best solution for high efficient fuel cells which increases the electrical performance and less bulky when compared to the other conventional boost converters. Simulation study for the PWM based IBC interfaced with PEM fuel cells has been studied using MATLAB /SIMULINK