PEM fuel cell green energy generation — SMC efficiency optimization

Abstract

This paper presents a robust Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The aim of this work is to keep the PEMFC working at its maximum operating power point in presence of inputs and load variations. However, due to the low output voltage of the PEMFC, DC/DC boost converter is used to obtain regulated high voltage DC. Therefore, the SMC is proposed to fix the fuel cell current by driving the boost converter connected between the fuel cell and the load. Stability of the closed loop system is analytically proved. The proposed SMC is validated by simulation studies in MATLAB/Simulink and results are discussed. Fast dynamic system response and robustness against load and input voltage variations are obtained.