energy performance of a fuel cell hybrid system for rail vehicle propulsion

Abstract This paper focuses on the energy analysis of a rail vehicle in a real drive-cycle. The system includes a fuel cell, serving as the main engine, an energy storage system, composed of battery and supercapacitor, two DC/DC converters, both necessary for the connection with the electric motor, a regenerative brake, able to recover energy in deceleration, and a control system. This hybrid system is obtained through a deep study of the available solutions which include the use of one or more energy sources to the selected drive cycle. Afterwards, the system sizing was made in order to achieve the expected performance with the most appropriate power levels, without oversizing or undersizing the powertrain. The components were selected on the market after appropriate calculations according to the task that each energy source performs. After the identification of the components of the entire system, it is possible to perform an energy analysis. The fuel cell power is kept as constant as possible and it supplies the total energy demand; the battery provides the power variations at low frequencies while the supercapacitor provides those at high frequencies. The parameters analysed are: the current, the voltage and the power supplied from each energy source, the efficiency and the consumption of hydrogen for the fuel cell, the state of charge and the equivalent hydrogen consumption for the energy storage system

DESIGNING A SWITCH FOR LIGHTER LOADS WITH BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

The APS control can be used to lessen the current force on switches see how to avoid load as the traditional interleaving control can be used to help keep better performance in heavy load. This paper looks into a manuscript pulse width modulation (PWM) plan for 2-phase interleaved boost ripper tools with current multiplier for fuel cell power system by mixing alternating phase shift (APS) control and traditional interleaving PWM control. The boundary condition for swapping between APS and traditional interleaving PWM control comes. In line with the aforementioned analysis, a complete power range control mixing APS and traditional interleaving control is suggested. Loss breakdown analysis can also be given look around the efficiency from the ripper tools. Finally, it's verified by experimental results. The efficiency from the ripper tools with IGBT and fast recovery diode in CCM is greater than that in BCM. In CCM, the efficiency from the ripper tools with fast recovery diode is just .37% under by using SiC diode

Recent Technologies and Control Methods for Electric Power Systems in More Electric Aircrafts: A Review

This paper is aimed at discussing the current trends in the design of Electric Power Systems (EPS) architectures which are intended to be implemented in More Electric Aircrafts (MEAs). Various EPS architectures such as HVAC, HVDC, hybrid HVAC/HVDC etc are studied and compared. Various control techniques which are implemented in order to control the EPS are also reviewed and they are compared on the basis of power quality, ease of installation and maintenance, possibility of future expansion of EPS, need of active power filters and so on. On the basis of the evaluation of various EPS architectures, the need of fuel cell installation in the EPS to be used for MEAs is explained and various ways to incorporate the fuel cell in the said EPS are discussed. Further the need of DC to DC converters in the power grid of a MEA is discussed and various possible choices for the topologies of DC to DC converters are compared on the basis of the parameters such as efficiency, transient response, reliability, electromagnetic emissions, size, weight and so on. Moreover, various controllers such as PI controller, PID controller, Sliding Mode Controller etc which can be used for a closed loop control of DC to DC converters are discussed

On-line Parameter Estimation of the Polarization Curve of a Fuel Cell with Guaranteed Convergence Properties: Theoretical and Experimental Results

In this paper, we address the problem of online parameter estimation of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) polarization curve, that is the static relation between the voltage and the current of the PEMFC. The task of designing this estimator -- even off-line -- is complicated by the fact that the uncertain parameters enter the curve in a highly nonlinear fashion, namely in the form of nonseparable nonlinearities. We consider several scenarios for the model of the polarization curve, starting from the standard full model and including several popular simplifications to this complicated mathematical function. In all cases, we derive separable regression equations -- either linearly or nonlinearly parameterized -- which are instrumental for the implementation of the parameter estimators. We concentrate our attention on on-line estimation schemes for which, under suitable excitation conditions, global parameter convergence is ensured. Due to these global convergence properties, the estimators are robust to unavoidable additive noise and structural uncertainty. Moreover, their on-line nature endows the schemes with the ability to track (slow) parameter variations, that occur during the operation of the PEMFC. These two features -- unavailable in time-consuming off-line data-fitting procedures -- make the proposed estimators helpful for on-line time-saving characterization of a given PEMFC, and the implementation of fault-detection procedures and model-based adaptive control strategies. Simulation and experimental results that validate the theoretical claims are presented.Comment: 16 pages, 18 figures, requires IEEEtran.cls 2015/08/26 version V1.8

Pregled znanstvenih napredaka u učinskoj elektronici usmjerenih ka osiguravanju efikasnog rada i dužeg životnog vijeka PEMgorivih ćelija

This article focuses on the main issues that affect the lifetime and performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The short lifespans of these fuel cells represent a barrier to their massive commercialization and usage in mobile and stationary applications. As fuel cell is a very complex system, a lot of knowledge of different areas is required, such as chemistry, electricity and mechanics, in order to completely understand its operation and all the problems that can occur during it. It is for this reason that an interdisciplinary approach needs to be taken when designing fuel-cell energy systems. This paper focuses on identifying and solving those issues that negatively affect the lifetime and performance of fuel cells. It is hoped that this article would be a valuable aid for power electronics’ researchers and engineers for better understanding the presented issues and a useful guide for solving them with the use of proper power electronic-devices. Initially, the basic operation and structure of a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell is explained. Three main issues that can occur during operation of a mobile or stationary fuel cell energy system are pointed out and discussed in details, on the basis of the state-of-the-art on fuel cell technology. These issues are poor water management, reactant gas starvation and fuel cell current ripple. This article provides answers as to why they occur, how they affect the fuel cell, how they can be mitigated, and what are the future trends within this research field.Članak se osvrće na ključna pitanja koja utječu na vrijeme rada i performanse gorivih ćelija s polimernom membranom kao elektrolitom. Kratak životni vijek gorivih ćelija takve vrste prepreka je njihovoj komercijalizaciji i masovnoj upotrebi u mobilnim i stacionarnim stanicama. Budući da su gorive ćelije komplicirani sustavi potrebno je znanje iz raznih područja kemije, elektrotehnike i mehanike da bi se u potpunosti mogao razumjeti njihov način rada i problemi koji se događaju. Upravo je zbog toga multidisciplinarni pristup nužnost pri razvoju sustava koji koriste gorive ćelije. Ovaj je članak usmjeren prema identifikaciji i rješavanju onih problema koji negativno utječu na životni vijek i performanse gorivih ćelija. Autori se nadaju da će se članak pokazati kao korisna pomoć i vodič istraživačima i inženjerima u domeni učinske elektronike pri susretu s navedenim problemima. Objašnjen je način rada i struktura gorive ćelije s polimernom membranom kao elektrolitom. Izložena su, i diskutirana do u detalje, tri glavna problema sa stajališta trenutačnih spoznaja u području učinske elektronike. Ti problemi su: loše upravljanje vodom, nestanak reaktantnog plina i strujni trzaji u gorivim ćelijama. Objašnjeno je zašto se ovi problemi događaju, kako utječu na gorivu ćeliju, kako ih se može spriječiti i koje su buduće perspektive istraživanja

High step up DC-DC converter topology for PV systems and electric vehicles

This thesis presents new high step-up DC-DC converters for photovoltaic and electric vehicle applications. An asymmetric flyback-forward DC-DC converter is proposed for the PV system controlled by the MPPT algorithm. The second converter is a modular switched-capacitor DC-DC converter, it has the capability to operate with transistor and capacitor open-circuit faults in every module. The results from simulations and tests of the asymmetric DC-DC converters have suggested that the proposed converter has a 5% to 10% voltage gain ratio increased to the symmetric structures among 100W – 300W power (such as [3]) range while maintaining efficiency of 89%-93% when input voltage is in the range of 25 – 30 V. they also indicated that the softswitching technique has been achieved, which significantly reduce the power loss by 1.7%, which exceeds the same topology of the proposed converter without the softswitching technique. Moreover, the converters can maintain rated outputs under main transistor open circuit fault situation or capacitor open circuit faults. The simulation and test results of the proposed modularized switched-capacitor DC-DC converters indicate that the proposed converter has the potential of extension, it can be embedded with infinite module in simulation results, however, during experiment. The sign open circuit fault to the transistors and capacitors would have low impact to the proposed converters, only the current ripple on the input source would increase around 25% for 4-module switched-capacitor DC-DC converters. The developed converters can be applied to many applications where DC-DC voltage conversion is alighted. In addition to PVs and EVs. Since they can ride through some electrical faults in the devices, the developed converter will have economic implications to improve the system efficiency and reliability

High voltage ratio DC-DC converter for fuel cell applications

Ce travail concerne l’étude, le dimensionnement et la réalisation d’un convertisseur continu-continu, associé à une source de type pile à combustible. Pour l’application envisagée, ce convertisseur a un rapport de transformation élevé voisin de 12. De plus l’ondulation de courant est limitée à 1% du courant moyen maximal. La mise en cascade de deux convertisseurs a été retenue pour obtenir un rapport de transformation élevé. Le premier étage est un Boost entrelacé associé à un filtre d’entrée de type L-C, qui permettent de réduire fortement l’ondulation du courant de source. Le second étage est un Boost à trois niveaux qui permet de diminuer les contraintes en tension sur les interrupteurs, et de réduire ainsi les pertes du convertisseur. La commande du convertisseur est ensuite définie en se basant sur l’utilisation d’un régulateur non linéaire. La gestion globale du système est effectuée par la régulation de la tension intermédiaire et de la puissance transitée à la charge en utilisant les principes des commandes « plates ». Enfin un banc de tests à puissance réduite (3 kW) a été réalisé, afin de valider le fonctionnement du convertisseur et les régulations proposéesThis work deals with the study, design and building of a DC-DC converter, which is associated with a fuel cell source. According to the application, this converter should have a high voltage ratio which is about 12, and it is able to limit the ripple current of source below 1% of the maximum average current. A cascaded structure composed by two converters has been chosen and allows obtaining a high voltage ratio. The first stage is an interleaved Boost associated with a L-C input filter, to reduce ripple of the current delivered by the source. The second stage is a three-level Boost which reduces the voltage stress of the switches, thereby reducing losses of the converter. The control of the converter is defined basing on the use of a non-linear regulator. Thanks to use the flatness control, the global control is realized through the regulation of the intermediate voltage and of the power transited to the load. Finally, a small power test converter (3 kW) has been realized, in order to validate the converter operation and the proposed contro

High Voltage Ratio DC–DC Converter for Fuel-Cell Applications

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