Converter For Fuel Cell Applications Research Articles

A New Proposed Triple Active Bridge Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

This paper deals with a new proposed three port converter structure dedicated for two-input source hybrid systems especially for fuel cell applications. This converter is made up of three-phase triple active bridges which are galvanically isolated by means of three single phase high frequency transformers. The present converter integrates a fuel cell as the primary power source with a battery that stores energy, harnessing the unique benefits of both sources to deliver reliable power to a DC load through a single power conversion stage. In order to control the power flow between the ports, a phase shift control technique has been carried out to generate the control signals of the load and battery side bridges in reference with those of the fuel cell bridge. A detailed analysis of the proposed converter has been presented in this paper. A novel proposed energy management algorithm has been developed. This algorithm provides a robust solution for managing and distributing power flow between the converter's ports, ensuring an optimal balance of power delivery. The algorithm has been rigorously validated through simulations and experimental test, using Dspace 1104 board.

An MPPT Controller with a Modified Four-Leg Interleaved DC/DC Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

A fuel cell system can produce electricity and water more efficiently while emitting near-zero emissions. Internal constraints and operating parameters such as hydrogen, temperature, humidity levels, and oxygen gas partial pressures trigger a nonlinear power characteristic in a typical fuel cell stack, resulting in reduced overall system efficiency. Consequently, it's critical to get the most power out of the fuel cell stack while minimizing fuel use. This study examines and proposes a radial basis function network (RBFN) based maximum power point tracking technique (MPPT) for a 6-kW proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system. The proposed MPPT algorithm modulates the duty cycle of the modified four-leg interleaved DC/DC boost converter (MFLIBC) to extricate the maximum power from the fuel cell system. To validate the execution of the proposed controller, the outcome is related to the various MPPT control strategies such as PID & Mamdani fuzzy inference systems. Finally, it was observed that the proposed RBFN controller has achieved an enhanced efficiency of 83.2 % relative to the PID and fuzzy logic controllers of 75.5 % and 77.4 % respectively. The efficiency of the proposed configuration is analysed using the MATLAB/Simulink platform.

Modeling, Control and Simulation of a High-Current DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

In this paper, a high-current two-stage DC-DC converter fed by a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is studied. The converter consists of two three-phase full-bridge inverters connected through three AC coupled inductors. The mathematical models of both converter and PEMFC are first presented, and a control scheme that ensures a high power factor at the AC stage and a regulated voltage at the DC load is then implemented. The performance of the proposed control system is verified through digital simulations.

Optimized Design of Multi-Channel Resonant Converter for Fuel Cell Application

Optimized Design of Multi-Channel Resonant Converter for Fuel Cell Application

A Two-Degree-of-Freedom PID Integral Super-Twisting Controller Based on Atom Search Optimizer Applied to DC-DC Interleaved Converters for Fuel Cell Applications

This paper focuses on the real-time implementation of an optimal high-performance control applied to an interleaved nonisolated DC/DC converter designed for fuel cell applications. Three-phase interleaved boost converters are utilized to minimize input current undulation, increase efficiency, and provide a high output voltage in order to ensure the performance of the FC stack. The proposed control strategy contains an outer loop that generates the reference current based on a two-degree-of-freedom PID controller. This controller provides a robust setpoint tracking and disturbance rejection, which improves the system’s response and efficiency. A fast inner regulation loop based on a super-twisting integral sliding mode (STISM) algorithm is developed to achieve a fixed converter output voltage, equitable phase current sharing, and fast regulation against load disturbances in failure operation. The STISM algorithm exhibits a rapid convergence property of the sliding mode and effectively avoids the chattering phenomena frequently observed in conventional sliding modes. The proposed controller’s gains are determined using the atom search optimization algorithm, which ensures exceptional reliability and a high degree of robustness and stability of the controllers under a variety of operational conditions. This method is inspired from the behavior of atoms and their electrons during the excitation process leading to a one-of-a-kind optimization technique which contributes to the controller’s reliability. Using Matlab-Simulink simulation tools, the efficacy and performance of the designed control have first been evaluated and assessed and compared with other optimization algorithms, and then with a dual loop based on a PID controller. Then, they have been verified by real-time hardware implementation on a 1.2 KW prototype FC converter driven by the dSPACE-1104 card under a variety of tests. The suggested approach offers impressive experimental results in dynamic and steady states.

A Comprehensive Review and Analytical Comparison of Non-Isolated DC-DC Converters for Fuel Cell Applications

The use of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic, wind, and fuel cells is becoming increasingly prevalent due to a combination of environmental concerns and technological advancements, as well as decreasing production costs. Power electronics DC-DC converters play a key role in various applications, including hybrid energy systems, hybrid vehicles, aerospace, satellite systems, and portable electronic devices. These converters are used to convert power from renewable sources to meet the demands of the load, improving the dynamic and steady-state performance of green generation systems. This study presents a comparison of the most commonly used non-isolated DC-DC converters for fuel cell applications. The important factors considered in the comparison include voltage gain ratio, voltage switch stress, voltage ripple, efficiency, cost, and ease of implementation. Based on the comparison results, the converters have been grouped according to voltage level applications, with low voltage applications being best served by converters such as DBC, DuBC, TLBC, 2-IBC, 1st M-IBC, PSOL, SEPIC, and 1st M-SEPIC owing to their lower cost, smaller size, and reduced switch stress. Medium voltage applications are best suited to converters such as TBC, 1st M-TLBC, 2nd M-TLBC, 4-IBC, 1st M-IBC, 2nd M-IBC, 1st M-PSOL, 2nd M-PSOL, 1st M-SEPIC, and 2nd M-SEPIC, which offer higher efficiency. Finally, high voltage applications are best served by converters such as TBC, 1st M-TBC, 2nd M-IBC, 3rd M-IBC, 3rd M-PSOL, 4th M-PSOL, 2nd M-SEPIC, 3rd M-SEPIC, and 4th M-SEPIC.

Active Disturbance Rejection Control of an Interleaved High Gain DC-DC Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

In this paper, a simplified and robust control strategy of an interleaved high gain DC/DC boost converter (IHGBC) is proposed in order to enhance DC bus voltage regulation in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications. The fluctuation of the energy source voltage and external load, and the change in system parameters lead to the instability of output voltage. Based on the creation of an average state space model of the DC/DC boost converter, the proposed controller is designed based on a linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC), which has an external voltage loop and an internal current loop to meet the output voltage requirements under parameters uncertainties and disturbances. The effectiveness of the proposed approach strategy and its superiority were examined under different operating conditions and scenarios. Simulation and experiment results showed the efficiency and robustness of the suggested approach and the great effectiveness in the reference tracking and disturbance rejection.

Buck-Boost DC-DC Converters for Fuel Cell Applications in DC Microgrids—State-of-the-Art

The use of fuel cells in DC microgrids has been receiving a lot of attention from researchers and industry since both technologies can deliver clean energy with little to no environmental impact. To effectively integrate fuel cells in DC microgrids, a power converter that can equate the fuel cell’s voltage with the DC microgrid’s reference voltage is required. Based on the typical output voltages of fuel cells, buck-boost topologies are commonly used in this type of application. A variety of DC-DC buck-boost topologies, showing distinctive merits and drawbacks, are available in the literature. Therefore, this paper compiles, compares and describes different DC-DC buck-boost topologies that have been introduced in the literature over the past few years. Additionally, some design considerations are addressed, and future work is proposed.

A Comprehensive Review of the Quadratic High Gain DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Application

A Comprehensive Review of the Quadratic High Gain DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Application

Enhanced Robust Control of a DC–DC Converter for Fuel Cell Application Based on High-Order Extended State Observer

In this article, to better deal with the unknown time-varying disturbance, an enhanced robust controller based on high-order extended state observer (ESO) is proposed for a dc-dc floating interleaved boost converter in fuel cell application. Within the proposed controller, the disturbance is estimated in real time using high-order ESO and then canceled in the control law. Theoretical analysis is carried out to evaluate the controller performance of different order ESO. It is shown that compared with that of the conventional ESO-based controller, the antidisturbance ability of the proposed controller with high-order ESO is enhanced significantly. The proposed controller does not require extra sensors. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is demonstrated by both simulation and experimental results.

Modelling and Simulation of Dual Active Bridge DC–DC Converters for Fuel Cell Applications

Modelling and Simulation of Dual Active Bridge DC–DC Converters for Fuel Cell Applications

Study of an Isolated DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

This paper presents the analysis and design of a dual active bridge DC-DC converter for fuel cell applications. The zero voltage switching operating condition of such converter is analyzed to select an appropriate turn ratio of the high frequency transformer for a high efficiency operation. The ratio between the output voltage to the fuel cell voltage should be close to the transformer turn ratio to guarantee the zero voltage switching regimes at a light load. The prototype converter was designed to be suitable for the input voltage of 40 to 65 V and output voltage of 360 to 400 V with the transformer turn ratio of 7.33. The converter was tested with a 48 V DC power supply and with a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack. The maximum power of 700 W was delivered and the efficiency was better than 94% for the whole load range.

Modelling and Simulation of Current Fed Interleaved Isolated DC-DC Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

In this a paper, a current fed, interleaved, high gain, DC-DC converter is proposed for fuel cell applications. The converter also provides electrical isolation between the load and the source by using a transformer. The input features two current fed, full bridge inverters in parallel while the output features two full bridge diode rectifiers in series. By using this topology, the high input current is shared between the two inverters. These enables the use of lower current rating semiconductor devices, reduces switching stresses and reduces the size of magnetic components. It also results in reducing the input current ripple and the output voltage ripple.

Design, Simulation and Hardware Implementation of a Multi Device Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

This paper presents the analysis and implementation of a two-phase Multi Device Interleaved Boost Converter (MDIBC). Among the various DC-DC topologies, Multi device Interleaved converter is considered as a better solution for fuel cell hybrid vehicles as it reduces the input current ripple, output voltage ripple and the size of passive components. Detailed analysis has been done to investigate the benefits of Multi device Interleaved boost converter by comparing it with the conventional Interleaved boost converter topology. Moreover, in this paper, power loss analysis (switching loss, conduction loss, inductor loss) of the proposed converter has been performed. Simulation study of Multi device interleaved converter has been studied using MATLAB/SIMULINK. Hardware prototype is built to validate the results. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijpeds.v4i3.5883

Design and Implementation of Soft Switched High Gain Current Fed Full Bridge DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

This paper proposes the analysis and design of new current fed full bridge high gain isolated dc-dc converter for fuel cell application. The proposed converter uses voltage multiplier cells on the secondary side. The objective of the proposed converter is to generate DC link voltage for three phase grid from fuel cell. Current fed Converter reduces the input current ripple at the fuel cell input. The converter utilizes the energy stored in the transformer leakage and parasitic capacitance to maintain zero-current-switching (ZCS) over wide range. Soft switching permits higher switching frequency operation, reducing the size, weight and cost of the magnetic components and improve the converter efficiency. A new design method of half-wave Cockcroft–Walton Voltage Multiplier (H-W C-W VM) that lays on the calculation of the optimal number of stages, which is necessary to produce the desired output voltage with the minimum total capacitance value, is also presented. The operating frequency of the converter is 100kHz. The Analysis, simulation and experimental results of the proposed converter are presented. The proposed converter with three stage voltage multiplier is simulated for two different cases full load and half load conditions and the results were analysed. The hardware model for an input voltage of 30V and input current of 5 Amps was designed, the output from the inverter is 40V and output from the voltage multiplier of three stages is 240V and 0.6 Amps.

High Gain Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

High Gain Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

High Gain Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

High Gain Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

High Gain Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

Fuel cell is one of the promising technologies for distributed generation. For designing high efficiency fuel cell power systems, a suitable DC-DC converter is required. Among the various topologies, interleaved converters using switched capacitor are considered as a better solution for fuel cell systems due to high conversion efficiency. The objective of the paper is to design and implement a high gain interleaved converter using switched capacitors for fuel cell systems. In the proposed interleaved converter, the front end inductors are magnetically cross-coupled to improve the electrical performance and reduce the weight and size. Also, switched capacitors are used to improve the voltage gain of the converter. The proposed converter has been performed. Simulation study of interleaved converter using switched capacitors interfaced with fuel cells has been studied using Matlab/Simulink. A prototype has been developed to verify the simulation results.

Extended Range ZVS Active-Clamped Current-Fed Full-Bridge Isolated DC/DC Converter for Fuel Cell Applications: Analysis, Design, and Experimental Results

This paper presents analysis and design of zero-voltage switching (ZVS) active-clamped current-fed full-bridge isolated dc/dc converter for fuel cell applications. The designed converter maintains ZVS of all switches from full load down to very light load condition over wide input voltage variation. Detailed operation, analysis, design, simulation, and experimental results for the proposed design are presented. The additional auxiliary active clamping circuit absorbs the turn-off voltage spike limiting the peak voltage across the devices allowing the selection and use of low-voltage devices with low on-state resistance. In addition, it also assists in achieving ZVS of semiconductor devices. The converter utilizes the energy stored in the transformer leakage inductance aided by its magnetizing inductance to maintain ZVS. ZVS range depends upon the design, in particular the ratio of leakage and magnetizing inductances of the transformer. Rectifier diodes operate with zero-current switching. An experimental converter prototype rated at 500 W has been designed, built, and tested in the laboratory to verify the analysis, design, and performance for wide variations in input voltage and load.

A Novel ZVS Bidirectional DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

In this paper a new bidirectional dc-dc converter for a fuel cell system is proposed that has a current tripler rectifier in its low voltage side. The converter is based on a ZVS half bridge topology with current tripler rectifier at the secondary side of transformer. The asymmetrical PWM is used in the converter to achieve ZVS of power switches and to regulate the output voltage at the desired value. The proposed converter has the advantages of high efficiency, high power density and simple circuit configuration. The operation principle and system analysis are described and discussed. Finally, the simulation results for the proposed converter are provided to verify the theoretical analysis.