Integrating PEM fuel cell control with building heating systems: A comprehensive thermal and control model analysis

Abstract

In the paper, a model of a heated building using a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell is presented. This work introduces a novel and more comprehensive depiction of the thermal processes occurring within a fuel cell under transient conditions. The developed PEM fuel cell model was synergistically incorporated with a thermodynamic model of a build-ing. The resulting mathematical framework provides insights into the building's performance concerning fluctuating am-bient temperatures and the heating system powered by the PEM cell. The developed mathematical model delineates the interplay between the building's thermodynamics and the fuel cell in the context of the devised heating control system featuring an indirect heat distribution mechanism.