Non-linear state space model and control strategy for pem fuel cell systems

Abstract

This paper presents a non linear state space model and a linear control system for a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell. The dynamics modeled are the temperature of the stack and the air flow compressor, and their main feature is the reproduction of the oxygen excess ratio behavior. The linear control system is a linear quadratic state feedback regulator and a Kalman filter, where the control objective is to avoid oxygen starvation and to minimize fuel consumption, through the tracking of an optimal load power profile. The Kalman filter is designed in order to obtain information from some non-measurable states.