Improving dynamic response of PEMFC using SMES and bidirectional DC/DC converter

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of renewable energy systems, especially fuel cells, has become very widespread in various applications. Some of their most important applications include using electric vehicles and local off-grid power systems. One of the challenges with the fuel cells is the slow dynamic response to load power changes. In fact, when the load power changes suddenly, the fuel cell supplies it with a time delay, and this can cause disturbances in the performance of the loads. In this research, a new control method for a bidirectional DC/DC converter equipped with a superconducting magnetic energy storage system (SMES) is presented to exchange the stored energy with the proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) in a high response dynamic to overcome the slow dynamic of the fuel cell feeding load. The appropriate validation of the proposed system is verified by simulation in the MATLAB SIMULINK environment. The results illustrate that the slow-response of PEMFC is improved appropriately.