Modeling and Simulation of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stacks in MATLAB/SIMULINK Under Conditions Variations

The Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) technology is the fastest growing technology. Nowadays, the latter is widely chosen as renewable energy source. Fuel cells are expensive to manufacture. Hence, modelling and simulation of its behavior are necessary in the aim to optimize its performance. In this work, we are focused on the PEMFC stack electric characteristic study. The concerned PEMFC stack produces a power of 100KW. The PEMFC stack are investigated by connecting a specific number of fuel cells in series. At the aim of accomplishing this step, a detailed model is investigated. It is developed based on the equivalent electric circuit of the PFMFC. A most significant one is adopted. Based on the PEMFC power, the number of PEMFC cells and the whole area of the PEMFC stack are suitably computed. The developed equivalent circuit model integrates the fundamental parameters of each sub-cell on the one hand. On the other hand, it involves the impact of temperature, oxygen partial pressure, hydrogen partial pressure and membrane water content. To demonstrate the performance of the used model, a simulation work using Matlab/Simulink tools is carried out. In fact, the PEMFC stack conceived equations are implemented in the form of masked blocs by using the subsystem concept in Matlab/Simulink environment. The electrical characteristics of the PEMFC stack behavior against temperature, oxygen partial pressure, hydrogen partial pressure and membrane water content are investigated. Most significant results are given and discussed.