Modeling of multi-physics transients in PEM fuel cells using equivalent circuits for consistent representation of electric, pneumatic, and thermal quantities

Abstract Digital simulators of electric networks have been indispensable tools for engineers and researchers engaged in the analysis and design of electric power and energy systems. With the increasing interest to extend electric energy toward multi-energy systems covering multiple energy carriers, there arises a need to also extend the capabilities of today’s simulators. Such an extension is proposed here in the form of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) model that covers the multi-physics transients involved in the flows of the electric current, hydrogen and other gases, and the enthalpy. The modeling makes use of given analogies to allow for a uniform representation of electric, pneumatic, and thermal transients based on electric circuit equivalents. It is shown how these models representing different transients are coupled as part of a PEM fuel cell system. Validation and application are carried out to verify the value of the modeling. The investigations are performed with an electric network simulator of type EMTP (Electromagnetic Transients Program) and so substantiate the possibility of using the latter for studying multi-energy systems.