Model of an 8-kW Fuel Cell Based Power Unit for Operation Monitoring, Optimization and Control Testing

Fuel cells with polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM FC) are a clean technology for the production of electricity, which is recently becoming the subject of intense research. Its most important advantages are high efficiency, low operating temperature and high power density, while the high price, limited reliability and durability are the notable shortcomings. The improvement in these parameters can be achieved by the proper dimensioning of all components in the system and designing its controls for a particular application. To facilitate this process, a model of the entire unit has been built, consisting of a FC stack and important supporting components. The modeled main sub-processes within the stack are the electrochemical process and the energy balance. The supporting subsystems, so called balance of plant (BoP) components, comprise the cooling system model, the blower and the air-flow model. Additionally, a model for estimation of the BoP components' power consumption is integrated. The paper presents the models of the above-listed systems and their characteristics. The evaluation is done upon the comparison of model outputs against measurements carried out on commercial PEM FC system. The results are commented with focus to intended model use.