Modeling and simulation of electrical generation systems based on PEM fuel cell-boost converter using a closed loop PI controller

Abstract

This paper presents dynamic modeling and control of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The system consists of a DC–DC Boost converter, DC–DC regulator, and DC load. The goal of the research is the construction of an emulator of the PEM Fuel Cell stack, that of a device having the same behavior as the real system, and evaluates performances of a stand-alone power system. Since the fuel cell produces DC output voltage that is unregulated. PWM (pulse width modulated) DC–DC converters are assumed to operate in continuous-conduction mode and the PI compensator in the feedback path is designed with voltage-mode control to convert the unregulated voltage into a desired voltage level, during different load variations. The results show the output voltages of the studied PEMFC connected with PWM DC–DC converters during a DC load change are stable. A PEMFC system is modeled using Matlab/Simulink and is interfaced with the mathematical model of fuel cell and various waveforms are presented in the paper.