Efficient Operation of the Hybrid Power System Using an Optimal Fueling Strategy and Control of the Fuel Cell Power Based on the Required Power Tracking Algorithm

• Main Authors: Nicu Bizon, Phatiphat Thounthong, Damien Guilbert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: hybrid power system; nano-grid; fuel cell; fuel economy; power tracking; optimization
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/22/9690

In this paper, four fuel economy strategies using power tracking control of the fuel cell boost converter and fuel cell optimization through the control of the fueling regulators were analyzed. The performance and safe operation in conditions of load disturbances and variations of renewable energy were considered. A benchmark strategy was used as a well-known strategy, which was based on the static feed-forward control of the fueling regulators. One of the four strategies is new and was based on switching the optimization reference to air and fuel regulators based on a threshold of the required power from the fuel cell system. The advantages of using the power tracking control and the optimization based on two variables instead of one are highlighted in sizing the battery capacity and its lifetime, and obtaining fuel economy respectively. The percentages of fuel economy for the analyzed strategies compared to the reference strategy are between 2.83% and 4.36%, and between 7.69% and 12.94%, in the case of a dynamic load cycle with an average of 5 kW and 2.5 kW, respectively.