Nonlinear modeling of PEMFC based on neural networks identification

Abstract

The proton exchange membrane generation technology is highly efficient and clean, and is considered as the most hopeful “green” power technology. The operating principles of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system involve thermodynamics, electrochemistry, hydrodynamics and mass transfer theory, which comprise a complex nonlinear system, for which it is difficult to establish a mathematical model. This paper first simply analyzes the necessity of the PEMFC generation technology, then introduces the generating principle from four aspects: electrode, single cell, stack, system; and then uses the approach and self-study ability of artificial neural network to build the model of nonlinear system, and adapts the Levenberg-Marquardt BP (LMBP) to build the electric characteristic model of PEMFC. The model uses experimental data as training specimens, on the condition the system is provided enough hydrogen. Considering the flow velocity of air (or oxygen) and the cell operational temperature as inputs, the cell voltage and current density as the outputs and establishing the electric characteristic model of PEMFC according to the different cell temperatures. The voltage-current output curves of model has some guidance effect for improving the cell performance, and provide basic data for optimizing cell performance that have practical significance.