FPGA-Based Extremum Seeking Control to Maximize the Hydrogen Productivity Rate of a MEC

Abstract

In this article it is presented an FPGA-based extremum seeking control that is used to maximize the hydrogen productivity rate in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) using the dilution rate as a control action. This extremum seeking control is based in the hydrogen productivity gradient and does not need a mathematical model. To achieve a positive energy balance, such optimization algorithm is implemented in an FPGA using a fixed point representation. By a closed loop simulation test and performance analysis of the FPGA-based extremum seeking control, it is demonstrated that FPGAs are the best implementation choice.