Multi-port power converter for segmented PEM fuel cell in transport application

Abstract

To fulfill the transport applications, either for traction or on-board auxiliaries systems, a power generator based on fuel cell needs significant power. For this purpose, long fuel cell stacks either mono or multi-stack systems are already implemented as technological solutions. Long stacks may though be affected by spatial discrepancies (fluidics, temperature) causing possible failures. The latter often occur on localized stack sections. A corrective action has to be taken to quickly restore the fuel cell state-of-health. As an alternative to fluidic action, segmented electrical action is explored in this paper. First, an "All or Nothing" solution achieved with electrical bypass circuits is analyzed: it proved simple to implement but restrictive to exploit. Consequently, a "gradual" action is proposed by using the power electronics converter associated to the fuel cell. Hence, the present work investigates the approach consisting in individually driving the electric power delivered by each segment of a long Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell stack. Each segment is controlled independently according to its state of health. To achieve this objective, the article provides an extended multi-criteria analysis of several power converter topologies. The converter topology has to be in agreement with transportation specifications: simple, compact, having a high efficiency and should be adapted to manage fuel cell degraded modes. Among several studied topologies, resonant isolated boost stands out as a candidate topology. The related multi-port architecture and algorithm structure are analyzed by numerical simulations, taking into account degraded modes and technology considerations.

A passivity-based controller for coordination of converters in a fuel cell system

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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Road Vehicles: State of the Art and Perspectives

“…Second, the rated traction power deriving from mass, speed and road slope is achieved combining the right number of basic FCS. This has the fourfold advantage of lowering the global cost, enhancing the driving cycle efficiency [67], ensuring continuity of service by operating in degraded mode [68,69], and finally increasing service life by spreading wear and tear over the various sub-systems [70].…”

A Review of Fuel Cell Powertrains for Long-Haul Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Technology, Hydrogen, Energy and Thermal Management Solutions

“…By effective distribution of load among one or more FC stacks, the operating efficiency of the complete FCS can be improved over a broader range of power demand while also enhancing cold start ability and, importantly, lowering cooling efforts through intelligent stack loss/temperature control and stack derating [320,321]. FC Multi-stack operation also offers functional safety under degraded modes and in case of stack failure [322,323]. Integrated thermal and energy management strategies could also be considered by further expanding the added degree of freedom from inter-stack FCS control towards finding the right balance between minimising cumulative powertrain losses and cooling system consumption.…”