Current-based MPC for operating-safety analysis of a reduced-order solid oxide fuel cell system

Abstract

One of the key issues for integrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems, which is a high-temperature power-generation plant, is the cooperative control of safe operating during load tracking. As the operating safety, especially the fuel exhaustion rejection and thermal management, are the key challenging for long-time implementation during load following. To this end, these above problems are studied in this dissertation from the aspects of thermo-electrical modeling, operating-safety analysis and controller development. This paper mainly focus on the cooperative control of the issues such as temperature constrains, fuel exhaustion rejection and external load tracing. Based on the reduced order model, a current-based model predictive controller (MPC) is proposed, and the transient performance associated with simultaneous dynamic operating-safety performance and current rate are addressed. Simulation results show the competition of the control design by demonstrating the fast load following ability while maintaining the safe operation. Namely the control strategy of fast load following is on the premise of operating safety under normal working conditions. All these control analysis results in this work can provide an important reference on the solutions of thermo-electrical control for SOFC system.