Considering the influence of slow response characteristic of a high-power proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) on a grid-connected system adequately, a 150 kW PEMFC grid-connected system, including a PEMFC power unit based on a Ballard Stack Modules-FCvelocity™ HD6 is developed in this study. Moreover, then an active control strategy with vector-proportion integration controller is proposed to regulate the cascade system actively and improve the performance of compensating low-order harmonics. The comparisons with conventional active/reactive power (PQ) control are carried out to verify the validity of the proposed method under different conditional tests. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can not only track the grid power demand quickly, but also prevent the unsteady phenomena which are aroused by PQ control method from the relatively slow response of high-power PEMFC power unit. Furthermore, the total harmonic distortion of grid-connected current is measured by means of the criterion of IEEE Std1547-2003 and the result of fast Fourier transform analysis testifies that the proposed strategy can decrease the total harmonic content of currents better. Therefore, this proposed method will be an optional effective technique for the design of advanced high-power PEMFC grid-connected control system.

References

1. 1)
  - 21. Hu, J., He, Y., Xu, L., et al: ‘Improved control of DFIG systems during network unbalance using PI–R current regulators’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., 2009, 56, (2), pp. 439–451.
2. 2)
  - 17. Sun, J., Kolmanovsky, I.V.: ‘Load governor for fuel cell oxygen starvation protection: a robust nonlinear reference governor approach’, IEEE Trans. Control Syst. Technol., 2005, 13, (6), pp. 911–920 (doi: 10.1109/TCST.2005.854323).
3. 3)
  - 1. Niknam, T., Meymand, H.Z., Mojarrad, H.D., Aghaei, J.: ‘Multi-objective daily operation management of distribution network considering fuel cell power plants’, IET Renew. Power Gener., 2011, 5, (5), pp. 356–367 (doi: 10.1049/iet-rpg.2010.0190).
4. 4)
  - 14. Thammasiriroj, W., Chunkag, V., Phattanasak, M., et al: ‘Nonlinear single-loop control of the parallel converters for a fuel cell power source used in DC grid applications’, J. Electr. Power Energy Syst., 2015, 65, (1), pp. 41–45 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2014.09.025).
5. 5)
  - 7. Li, Q., Chen, W., Li, Y., Liu, S., Huang, J.: ‘Energy management strategy for fuel cell/battery/ultracapacitor hybrid vehicle based on fuzzy logic’, J. Electr. Power Energy Syst., 2012, 43, (1), pp. 514–525 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2012.06.026).
6. 6)
  - 18. Li, Q., Chen, W., Liu, Z., Guo, A., Liu, S.: ‘Control of proton exchange membrane fuel cell system breathing based on maximum net power control strategy’, J. Power Sources, 2013, 214, (1), pp. 212–218 (doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.04.067).
7. 7)
  - 12. Chen, W., Han, Y., Li, Q., et al: ‘Design of proton exchange membrane fuel cell grid-connected system based on resonant current controller’, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2014, 39, (26), pp. 14402–14410 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.02.103).
8. 8)
  - 23. Na, W.K., Gou, B.: ‘Feedback-linearization-based nonlinear control for PEM fuel cells’, IEEE Trans. Energy Convers., 2008, 23, (1), pp. 179–190 (doi: 10.1109/TEC.2007.914160).
9. 9)
  - 19. Zhou, G., Xu, J., Jin, Y.: ‘Elimination of subharmonic oscillation of digital-average-current controlled switching DC-DC converters’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., 2010, 57, (8), pp. 2904–2907 (doi: 10.1109/TIE.2009.2035996).
10. 10)
  - 2. Wang, M.H., Tsai, H.H.: ‘Fuel cell fault forecasting system using grey and extension theories’, IET Renew. Power Gener., 2012, 6, (6), pp. 373–380 (doi: 10.1049/iet-rpg.2012.0147).
11. 11)
  - 8. Thounthong, P., Real, S., Davat, B.: ‘Control strategy of fuel cell and super capacitors association for a distributed generation system’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., 2007, 54, (6), pp. 3225–3233 (doi: 10.1109/TIE.2007.896477).
12. 12)
  - 6. Liu, Z.X., Zhang, H.Y., Wang, C., Mao, Z.Q.: ‘Numerical simulation for rib and channel position effect on PEMFC performances’, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2010, 35, (7), pp. 2802–2806 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.05.020).
13. 13)
  - 11. Hawke, J.T., Krishnamoorthy, H.S., Enjeti, P.N.: ‘A family of new multiport power-sharing converter topologies for large grid-connected fuel cells’, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., 2014, 2, (4), pp. 962–971.
14. 14)
  - 4. Jia, J., Wang, G., Cham, Y.T., Wang, Y., Han, M.: ‘Electrical characteristic study of a hybrid PEMFC and ultracapacitor system’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., 2010, 57, (6), pp. 1945–1953 (doi: 10.1109/TIE.2009.2022066).
15. 15)
  - 5. Han, M., Chan, S.H., Jiang, S.P.: ‘Development of carbon-filled gas diffusion layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cells’, J. Power Sources, 2006, 159, (2), pp. 1005–1014 (doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.12.003).
16. 16)
  - 26. Suh, K.-W., Stefanopoulou, A.G.: ‘Performance limitations of air flow control in power-autonomous fuel cell systems’, IEEE Trans. Control Syst. Technol., 2007, 15, (3), pp. 464–473 (doi: 10.1109/TCST.2007.894640).
17. 17)
  - 9. Marquezini, D.D., Ramos, D.B., Machado, R.Q., Farret, F.A.: ‘Interaction between proton exchange membrane fuel cells and power converters for AC integration’, IET Renew. Power Gener., 2008, 2, (3), pp. 151–161 (doi: 10.1049/iet-rpg:20070057).
18. 18)
  - 22. Schumacher, J.O., Gemmar, P., Denne, M., et al: ‘Control of miniature proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on fuzzy logic’, J. Power Sources, 2004, 129, (2), pp. 143–151 (doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.10.010).
19. 19)
  - 13. Yang, Y., Luo, X., Dai, C., et al: ‘Dynamic modeling and dynamic responses of grid-connected fuel cell’, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2014, 39, (26), pp. 14296–14305 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.05.026).
20. 20)
  - 15. Zhang, L., Xu, D., Shen, G., et al: ‘A high step-up DC to DC converter under alternating phase shift control for fuel cell power system’, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., 2015, 30, (3), pp. 1694–1703 (doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2014.2320290).
21. 21)
  - 20. Yuan, X., Merk, W., Stemmler, H., et al: ‘Stationary-frame generalized integrators for current control of active power filters with zero steady-state error for current harmonics of concern under unbalanced and distorted operating conditions’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., 2002, 38, (2), pp. 523–532 (doi: 10.1109/28.993175).
22. 22)
  - 16. Pukrushpan, J.T., Stefanopoulou, A.G., Peng, H.: ‘Control of fuel cell breathing’, IEEE Trans. Control Syst., 2004, 24, (2), pp. 30–46 (doi: 10.1109/MCS.2004.1275430).
23. 23)
  - 27. Li, Q., Chen, W., Wang, Y., et al: ‘Parameter identification for PEM fuel cell mechanism model based on effective informed adaptive particle swarm optimization’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., 2011, 58, (6), pp. 2410–2419 (doi: 10.1109/TIE.2010.2060456).
24. 24)
  - 3. Li, Q., Chen, W., Liu, Z., Huang, J., Ma, L.: ‘Net power control based on linear matrix inequality for proton exchange membrane fuel cell system’, IEEE Trans. Energy Convers., 2014, 19, (1), pp. 1–8 (doi: 10.1109/TEC.2013.2292954).
25. 25)
  - 28. Lascu, C., Asiminoaei, L., Boldea, I., et al: ‘Frequency response analysis of current controllers for selective harmonic compensation in active power filters’, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., 2009, 56, (2), pp. 337–347 (doi: 10.1109/TED.2008.2010605).
26. 26)
  - 24. Li, Q., Chen, W., Liu, Z., et al: ‘Nonlinear multivariable modeling of locomotive proton exchange membrane fuel cell system’, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2014, 39, (1), pp. 13777–13786 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.211).
27. 27)
  - 25. Arce, A., del Real, A.J., Bordons, C., Ramirez, D.R.: ‘Real-time implementation of a constrained MPC for efficient airflow control in a PEM fuel cell’, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., 2010, 57, (6), pp. 1892–1905 (doi: 10.1109/TIE.2009.2029524).
28. 28)
  - 10. Sergi, F., Brunaccini, G., Stassi, A., et al: ‘PEM fuel cells analysis for grid connected applications’, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 2011, 36, (17), pp. 10908–10916 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.05.161).

Active control strategy based on vector-proportion integration controller for proton exchange membrane fuel cell grid-connected system

References

Related content