Modeling and
Control of Fuel Cell Systems
Department of
Mechanical Engineering
University of
Michigan
Recent
improvements in membrane material, fuel processing, and hydrogen storage
enabled fuel cell (FC) power to move from the laboratory to experimental
vehicles and commercial power
units.
Although steady-state FC behavior is considered the normal operating mode;
start-up, shut-down, and sudden load changes are characteristic and ubiquitous
to all power producing devices. During these critical periods, the viability,
efficiency, and robustness of the FC systems depend on monitoring and
controlling their unique transient behavior.
In
this talk we introduce the critical control problems in Proton Exchange
Membrane (PEM) FC operation and present a nonlinear dynamic model that was
developed for control, estimation, and diagnostics. We then present a few
results on the air flow control design of a high pressure direct hydrogen FC
for an automotive application. A highlight of this work is the delineation of
the tradeoff between fast oxygen
(air) reactant supply that ensures long FC life and transient fuel cell
net power response during rapid current (load) demands. We conclude the talk
with an overview of the equipment and testing facility of the recently
developed Fuel Cell Control Laboratory in North Campus.
Friday, September 20,
2002
3:30 – 4:30
p.m.