Linear and Nonlinear Control Strategies for the Pemfc Using a Distributed Parameter Model

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells present a large number of difficulties for controller design, such as severe nonlinear dynamics, sign change in gain of the plant and possible starvation of the reactants. In this paper, we have presented an approach for circumventing these types of problems. The proper selection of manipulated variables, using an RGA analysis, circumvents the problem of sign change in gain. In this case, we have used the inlet molar flow rates of hydrogen and coolant as the manipulated variables to control the average power density and solid temperature. For overcoming the severe nonlinear dynamics of the PEMFC, we have designed and implemented a nonlinear internal model controller for the PEMFC. The simulation results show that the settling time for NIMC is small as compared with a linear IMC based PID control scheme.