Temperature dynamics and control of a water-cooled fuel cell stack

It is a reality that future development in the energy sector is founded on the utilization of renewable and sustainable energy sources. These energy sources can empower to meet the double targets of diminishing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy supply. Fuel cells are one of the advanced clean energy technologies and have demonstrated their ability to be a decent substitute to address the above-mentioned concerns. They are viewed as reliable and efficient technologies to operate either tied or non-tied to the grid and power applications ranging from domestic, commercial to industrial. Among different fuel cell technologies, proton exchange membrane is the most attractive. Its connection to the utility grid requires that the power conditioning system serving as the interface between the stack and the grid operates accordingly. This study aims to model and control a power conditioning system for the grid-connection of a megawatt fuel cell stack. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54 MW/1400 V DC proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, a 1.3 MW/600 V three-level diode clamped inverter and an LCL filter which is designed to reduced harmonics and meet the standards such as IEEE 519 and IEC 61000-3-6. The power conditioning control scheme comprises voltage and current regulators to provide a good power factor and satisfy synchronization requirements with the grid. The frequency and phase are synchronized with those of the grid through a phase-locked-loop. The modelling and simulation are performed using Matlab/Simulink. The results show good performance of the proposed microgrid as well as the inverter design and control approach with a low total harmonic distortion of about 0.35% for the voltage and 0.19% for the current.

Download Full-text

Nonlinear Thermal Modelling and Control of a PEM Fuel Cell Stack

3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1115/fuelcell2005-74040 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Jason R. Kolodziej

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Control Method ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Control Technique ◽

Coolant Temperature ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Nonlinear Control Method ◽

And Control

The purpose of this paper is to present a nonlinear control method for accurately maintaining coolant temperature within a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack by controlling coolant flow rate. Due to the current sensitive nature of the membrane and a strict relative humidity requirement it is critical to precisely control the internal temperature of the fuel cell. First, an optimization-based parameter identification is applied to determine unknown coefficients to the nonlinear thermal model of the fuel cell stack. The stack is modelled according to a lumped parameter Continuous-flow Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) form. The paper then presents a nonlinear disturbance rejection control technique to accomplish the necessary temperature control. Experimental data from a 17-cell fuel cell stack is used for both the modelling and control portions of this work.

Download Full-text

Progress in the Development of a Low Cost 1MW SOFC Hybrid

Volume 7: Turbo Expo 2004 ◽

10.1115/gt2004-53350 ◽

2004 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gerry D. Agnew ◽

James Townsend ◽

Robert R. Moritz ◽

Michele Bozzolo ◽

Steve Berenyi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Cost Reduction ◽

Complete System ◽

Low Cost ◽

Detailed Design ◽

Cell Systems ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

And Control ◽

Plant Components

Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (RRFCS) is developing a low cost 1MW fuel cell hybrid system package, supported by a prototype demonstration of a 250kW module in 2006. This paper describes the detailed design process that has been carried out to produce the fuel cell stack, tailored turbo-machinery and other plant components for this hybrid. Progress in demonstrating components is described. Component interfacing, operability and control challenges have been assessed prior to assembly of the complete system and are reviewed. The baseline plant will be highly efficient compared to incumbent power generation technologies but is primarily optimised around cost-reduction. Evolution of the product will include opportunities for further increases in efficiency and power density. Opportunities for improvement are discussed.

Download Full-text

Proposal for Automation and Control of a PEM Fuel Cell Stack

Journal of Control Automation and Electrical Systems ◽

10.1007/s40313-017-0322-2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 493-501 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

F. Gonzatti ◽

M. Miotto ◽

F. A. Farret

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Automation And Control ◽

And Control

Download Full-text

Analysis of Flow Errors and Resulting Stoichiometry Uncertainties while Using a Fuel Cell Stack Test Station for Reactant Delivery and Control.

ECS Transactions ◽

10.1149/1.2729006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 241-252

Author(s):

Krzysztof A. Lewinski ◽

Andrzej P. Jaworski

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

And Control

Download Full-text

Modeling and control for PEM fuel cell stack system

Proceedings of the 2002 American Control Conference (IEEE Cat. No.CH37301) ◽

10.1109/acc.2002.1025268 ◽

2002 ◽

Cited By ~ 109

Author(s):

J.T. Pukrushpan ◽

A.G. Stefanopoulou ◽

Huei Peng

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Modeling And Control ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

And Control

Download Full-text

Control Oriented Discretized Cathode Control Volume Method for Improved PEM Fuel Cell Modeling

ASME 2015 13th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1115/fuelcell2015-49739 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Alexander J. Headley ◽

Dongmei Chen

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Spatial Information ◽

Control Volume ◽

Pem Fuel Cell ◽

Pem Fuel Cells ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Modeling Methodology ◽

Volume Method ◽

And Control

The humidity levels in PEM fuel cells has a profound effect on the performance. However, in large fuel cell stacks the relative humidity (RH) changes significantly along the length of the stack. This paper presents a control-oriented model with spatial considerations of the distribution of water vapor that can be used to properly predict and control the humidity levels in a PEM fuel cell stack. This model predicts the dynamic response of the stack in real-time by tracking energy and mass flows in four basic CVs. To provide spatial information of the stack conditions, the cathode CV was further subdivided into 6 sub-volumes. The model was validated with experiments conducted on a 28-cell, 2kW fuel cell stack. The validation results show that the multiple CV approach can accurately predict the stack RH and voltage, and is capable of predicting localized voltage losses. This new modeling methodology shows the importance of a distributed understanding of the RH profile, and provides a tool to create control algorithms for PEM fuel cells that consider the health of all the sections of the stack.

Download Full-text

Concept development and testing of the UK’s first hydrogen-hybrid train (HydroFLEX)

Railway Engineering Science ◽

10.1007/s40534-021-00256-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 248-257

Author(s):

Charles Calvert ◽

Jeff Allan ◽

Peter Amor ◽

Stuart Hillmansen ◽

Clive Roberts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Hydrogen Storage ◽

Concept Development ◽

Hydrogen Fuel Cells ◽

Propulsion Systems ◽

Fuel Cell Stack ◽

Multiple Unit ◽

The University ◽

And Control ◽

Substantial Change

AbstractIn October 2018, Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham announced the HydroFLEX project, to demonstrate a hydrogen-hybrid modified train at Rail Live 2019. The concept of modifying a Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit was developed, with equipment including a fuel cell stack, traction battery, 24 V control system and hydrogen storage elements to be mounted inside one of the carriages. This was followed by procurement of a fuel cell stack, traction batteries, and control equipment, which was then installed inside the train, being fixed to the seat rails. One substantial change from the concept was the provision of considerably more hydrogen storage than the minimum necessary, providing the train with more potential to be further modified to allow for higher speed mainline testing. After the Rail Live exhibition where HydroFLEX was demonstrated, numerous modifications were performed to increase the reliability and power of the HydroFLEX train, primarily concerned with modifying the base train logic, with the aim of a successful mainline test. Supporting this effort was a multitude of documentation concerning safety, operations, and approvals to gain approvals from the relevant approvals bodies. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using hydrogen fuel cells as an autonomous fuel for railway propulsion systems, which has the potential for full decarbonisation.

Download Full-text