Optimum Energy Management of PEM Fuel Cell Systems Based on Model Predictive Control

Abstract

This work presents an optimum energy management framework, which is developed for integrated Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems. The objective is to address in a centralized manner the control issues that arise during the operation of the fuel cell (FC) system and to monitor and evaluate the system's performance at real time. More specifically the operation objectives are to deliver the demanded power while operating at a safe region, avoiding starvation, and concurrently minimize the fuel consumption at stable temperature conditions. To achieve these objectives a novel Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy is developed and demonstrated. A semiempirical experimentally validated model is used which is able to capture the dynamic behaviour of the PEMFC. Furthermore, the MPC strategy was integrated in an industrial-grade automation system to demonstrate its applicability in realistic environment. The proposed framework relies on a novel nonlinear MPC (NMPC) formulation that uses a dynamic optimization method that recasts the multivariable control problem into a nonlinear programming problem using a warm-start initialization method and a search space reduction technique which is based on a piecewise affine approximation of the variable's feasible space. The behaviour of the MPC framework is experimentally verified through the online deployment to a small-scale fully automated PEMFC unit. During the experimental scenarios the PEMFC system demonstrated excellent response in terms of computational effort and accuracy with respect to the control objectives.

Water Activity Control in PEMFC Electrical Energy System

“…For water management to work properly, this type of control must move the fuel cell from flooding and drought case [26].…”

Adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy and its fast implementation of energy management for fuel cell electric vehicles

“…Optimization-based methods can obtain global optimal results, which helps study the energy saving potential of vehicles. 20 However, the cost of pursuing optimality of the results using these methods is a heavy computational burden. 21 In addition, the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) has been an efficient EMS for FCEVs.…”

“…In Reference [19], Pontryagin's minimum principle (PMP) is utilized to solve the cost function converted from hydrogen and electric energy consumption to optimize fuel economy of driving FCEVs. Optimization‐based methods can obtain global optimal results, which helps study the energy saving potential of vehicles 20 . However, the cost of pursuing optimality of the results using these methods is a heavy computational burden 21 .…”