A predictive voltage controller for stabilizing single fuel cell convertor

Abstract

Serious and challengeable role in markets of low power supplies for cellular phones and other small portable devices is expected for single fuel cell in future. Single fuel cell voltage level is extremely low in comparison with its output current. According to the extremely low level of the voltage, a suitable dc/dc boost converter must be used for increasing the voltage. In this paper, a model for a single fuel cell is presented and the effect of external load variation and changing of reactant pressure on cell performance is investigated. Moreover, a predictive voltage controller for boost convertor of PEM fuel cell is presented, simulated and validated using MATLAB/Simulink. The results show a constant regulated voltage with admissible startup versus variations of converter reactant pressure and external load that has not achieved in pervious works. Considerable improvement in efficiency of fuel cell converter is gained compare to extremely low level of reactant pressure. It hopes to improve the efficiency and performance of the converter via more precise elements in future.