Dynamic Emulation of a PEM Electrolyzer by Time Constant Based Exponential Model

The main objective of this paper is to develop a dynamic emulator of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer (EL) through an equivalent electrical model. Experimental investigations have highlighted the capacitive effect of EL when subjecting to dynamic current profiles, which so far has not been reported in the literature. Thanks to a thorough experimental study, the electrical domain of a PEM EL composed of 3 cells has been modeled under dynamic operating conditions. The dynamic emulator is based on an equivalent electrical scheme that takes into consideration the dynamic behavior of the EL in cases of sudden variation in the supply current. The model parameters were identified for a suitable current interval to consider them as constant and then tested with experimental data. The obtained results through the developed dynamic emulator have demonstrated its ability to accurately replicate the dynamic behavior of a PEM EL

Abortion services and providers in Canada in 2019: results of a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Since 2016, abortion care has undergone several important changes, particularly related to the provision of medical abortion using mifepristone. We aimed to document characteristics of the abortion care workforce in Canada after the update of clinical practice guidelines of mifepristone use for medical abortion. METHODS: We conducted a national, web-based, anonymized, bilingual (English/French) survey. We collected demographics and clinical care characteristics of physicians and nurse practitioners who provided abortion care in 2019. Between July and December 2020, we distributed the survey through professional organizations, including The College of Family Physicians of Canada and The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. We present descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Overall, 465 respondents representing all 10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada completed the survey. Of these, 388 (83.4%), including 30 nurse practitioners, provided first-trimester medical abortion, of which 350 (99.4%) used mifepristone. Two hundred and nineteen (47.1%) respondents provided first-trimester surgical abortion, 109 (23.4%) provided second-trimester surgical abortion and 115 (24.7%) provided second- or third-trimester medical abortion. Half of respondents reported fewer than 5 years of experience with any abortion care. Respondents reported providing a total of 48 509 abortions in 2019, including 32 345 (66.7%) first-trimester surgical abortions and 13 429 (27.7%) first-trimester medical abortions. In Quebec, only 1918 (12.5%) of reported abortions were first-trimester medical abortions. Primary care providers provided 34 540 (71.2%) of the total abortions. First-trimester medical abortions represented 44.4% (n = 2334) of all abortions in rural areas, as opposed to 25.6% (n = 11 067) in urban areas. INTERPRETATION: The increased availability of medical abortion facilitates abortion access, especially in primary care and rural settings, and where surgical abortion is not available. Rejuvenation of the workforce is a critical contributor to equitable access to abortion services

Tolérance aux défauts et optimisation des convertisseurs DC/DC pour véhicules électriques à pile à combustible

Over the last years, reliability and continuity of service of powertrains have become major challenge so that the fuel cell electric vehicles (CFEV) can access to the mass automotive market. Indeed, the presence of faults in powertrains can lead up to malfunctions in the vehicle and consequently reduce its performances compared with conventional vehicles. In the case of electrical faults, powertrains of FCEV have to include fault tolerant topology and/or control for the different DC/DC and DC/AC converters. Within the framework of this research work, the study is focused on DC/DC converter combined with a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The DC/DC converter must respond to challenging issues in FCEV applications such as: low weight and small volume, high energy efficiency, fuel cell current ripple reduction and reliability. Basing on a thorough bibliographical study on non-isolated and isolated DC/DC converter topologies, an interleaved DC/DC boost converter has been chosen, meeting the FCEV requirements.The purpose of this thesis has then consisted in sizing and controlling the chosen fault-tolerant DC/DC converter topology for FCEVs. Algorithms for degraded mode management of this converter have been developed and implemented experimentally. As such, the interaction between PEMFC and interleaved DC/DC boost converter has been investigated. A theoretical approach, simulation and experimental results have been carried out to complete this work.Ces dernières années, la fiabilité et la continuité de service des chaînes de traction sont devenus des défis majeurs afin que les véhicules électriques puissent accéder au marché grand public de l’automobile. En effet, la présence de défauts dans les chaînes de traction peut conduire à des dysfonctionnements dans les véhicules et ainsi réduire ses performances par rapport aux véhicules conventionnels. Dans l’hypothèse où des défauts électriques se produisaient, les chaînes de traction des véhicules électriques à pile à combustible devraient inclure des topologies et/ou contrôles tolérants aux défauts pour les différents convertisseurs DC/DC et DC/AC. Dans le cadre de ce travail de recherche, un focus est fait sur le convertisseur DC/DC associé à la pile à combustible de la chaine de traction. Ce dernier doit répondre aux problématiques majeures des applications véhicule électrique à pile à combustible à savoir : faible masse et petit volume, haute efficacité énergétique, réduction de l’ondulation de courant d’entrée et fiabilité. A la base d’une recherche bibliographique poussée sur les structures non-isolées et isolées appropriées pour des applications PàC, une topologie de convertisseur DC/DC entrelacé a été choisie permettant de respecter les contraintes des véhicules électriques à pile à combustible.Ce travail de thèse a ensuite consisté à dimensionner et contrôler la structure de convertisseur DC/DC tolérante aux défauts choisie pour les véhicules à PàC. Des algorithmes de gestion des modes dégradés de ce convertisseur ont été développés et implémentés expérimentalement. A ce titre, l’interaction PàC-convertisseur DC/DC a été étudiée. Une approche théorique, de simulation et expérimentale a été mise en oeuvre pour mener à bien ce travail

Fault tolerance and optimization of DC/DC converters for fuel cell electric vehicles

Ces dernières années, la fiabilité et la continuité de service des chaînes de traction sont devenus des défis majeurs afin que les véhicules électriques puissent accéder au marché grand public de l’automobile. En effet, la présence de défauts dans les chaînes de traction peut conduire à des dysfonctionnements dans les véhicules et ainsi réduire ses performances par rapport aux véhicules conventionnels. Dans l’hypothèse où des défauts électriques se produisaient, les chaînes de traction des véhicules électriques à pile à combustible devraient inclure des topologies et/ou contrôles tolérants aux défauts pour les différents convertisseurs DC/DC et DC/AC. Dans le cadre de ce travail de recherche, un focus est fait sur le convertisseur DC/DC associé à la pile à combustible de la chaine de traction. Ce dernier doit répondre aux problématiques majeures des applications véhicule électrique à pile à combustible à savoir : faible masse et petit volume, haute efficacité énergétique, réduction de l’ondulation de courant d’entrée et fiabilité. A la base d’une recherche bibliographique poussée sur les structures non-isolées et isolées appropriées pour des applications PàC, une topologie de convertisseur DC/DC entrelacé a été choisie permettant de respecter les contraintes des véhicules électriques à pile à combustible.Ce travail de thèse a ensuite consisté à dimensionner et contrôler la structure de convertisseur DC/DC tolérante aux défauts choisie pour les véhicules à PàC. Des algorithmes de gestion des modes dégradés de ce convertisseur ont été développés et implémentés expérimentalement. A ce titre, l’interaction PàC-convertisseur DC/DC a été étudiée. Une approche théorique, de simulation et expérimentale a été mise en oeuvre pour mener à bien ce travail.Over the last years, reliability and continuity of service of powertrains have become major challenge so that the fuel cell electric vehicles (CFEV) can access to the mass automotive market. Indeed, the presence of faults in powertrains can lead up to malfunctions in the vehicle and consequently reduce its performances compared with conventional vehicles. In the case of electrical faults, powertrains of FCEV have to include fault tolerant topology and/or control for the different DC/DC and DC/AC converters. Within the framework of this research work, the study is focused on DC/DC converter combined with a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The DC/DC converter must respond to challenging issues in FCEV applications such as: low weight and small volume, high energy efficiency, fuel cell current ripple reduction and reliability. Basing on a thorough bibliographical study on non-isolated and isolated DC/DC converter topologies, an interleaved DC/DC boost converter has been chosen, meeting the FCEV requirements.The purpose of this thesis has then consisted in sizing and controlling the chosen fault-tolerant DC/DC converter topology for FCEVs. Algorithms for degraded mode management of this converter have been developed and implemented experimentally. As such, the interaction between PEMFC and interleaved DC/DC boost converter has been investigated. A theoretical approach, simulation and experimental results have been carried out to complete this work

Validation expérimentale d’un modèle dynamique électrique d’un électrolyseur de type PEM pour des applications électronique de puissance

International audienc

Hydrogen as a Clean and Sustainable Energy Vector for Global Transition from Fossil-Based to Zero-Carbon

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising and attractive energy carrier to decarbonize the sectors responsible for global warming, such as electricity production, industry, and transportation. However, although hydrogen releases only water as a result of its reaction with oxygen through a fuel cell, the hydrogen production pathway is currently a challenging issue since hydrogen is produced mainly from thermochemical processes (natural gas reforming, coal gasification). On the other hand, hydrogen production through water electrolysis has attracted a lot of attention as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using low-carbon sources such as renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) and nuclear energy. In this context, by providing an environmentally-friendly fuel instead of the currently-used fuels (unleaded petrol, gasoline, kerosene), hydrogen can be used in various applications such as transportation (aircraft, boat, vehicle, and train), energy storage, industry, medicine, and power-to-gas. This article aims to provide an overview of the main hydrogen applications (including present and future) while examining funding and barriers to building a prosperous future for the nation by addressing all the critical challenges met in all energy sectors

Modeling, Degradation Study, Failures Diagnosis and Faulty Operating Management of Electrolyzers

Hydrogen is considered an effective solution to deliver or store energy [...

Optimal Hydrogen Production from Direct Coupled Variable Speed Wind Generator with a Stacked Interleaved Buck converter

International audienc