A Dynamic Model of a PEM Fuel Cell System

J.M. Lee, B.H. Cho*

Fuel Cell Vehicle Team, Hyundai Motor Company & Kia Motors Corp. 449-912, 104 Mabuk-Dong, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyunggi-Do, Korea *Department of Electrical Engineering, Seoul National University San 56-1, Silim-dong, Seoul, 151-742, Korea E-mail: jmoonyi@gmail.com
Abstract- The steady states and dynamics of a fuel cell system are influenced by both operating conditions and the frequency characteristics of electrochemical reactions in a cell. A dynamic model of a practical fuel cell system, based on an analytical theory and empirical data, is proposed. The model consists of three parts, such as an open circuit voltage model including fuel flow and reaction in channels, an equivalent circuit model caused by voltage losses of electrochemical reactions in a cell, and an air compressor model (a fuel supply model among auxiliary systems in a fuel cell system). It will be useful to design the power system and control strategy and to analyze the system dynamics in a fuel cell power system. The model is verified by experiments of 1kW PEM FC system. The dynamics of its OCV(open circuit voltage) by fuel flow effect, and the frequency characteristics of reaction dynamics in a cell are verified by experiments.

I.

INTRODUCTION

A FUEL cell system is one of the environmentally friendly alternative power systems to conventional fossil power systems. The steady states and dynamic behaviors of a fuel cell stack have been important concerns in order to use it as a power source for the power conditioning devices and other nonlinear type loads. A PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell has three dynamic characteristics. The first is an OCV(open circuit voltage) dynamics determined by the partial pressure of reactants inside a fuel cell related to the dynamics of fuel flow in channels and auxiliary devices such as an air compressor, hydrogen regulator, hydrogen recycler, and humidifier. The second is a frequency characteristics determined by electrode reaction rates, ionic transport in a membrane and GDL, and water concentration which affects an ionic conductivity. The third is thermodynamics. Electrochemical based models described in [1]~[3] include the mass flow dynamics in channels, ionic transport phenomena, water and thermal management. It is helpful to understand physical and chemical phenomena in a fuel cell, but difficult to describe the frequency characteristics because the flow rate of fuels reacted in the reaction is numerically calculated from the fuel cell current using electrochemical principles. Impedance based circuit models described in [4]~[7] are simple and well represented for a frequency response to the fuel cell current which is easily measured and identified from empirical data. However, the OCV dynamics is not included because it assumes that the partial pressure of reactants in a fuel cell is constant. The system models described in [8]~[9] describe the OCV dynamics by the effect of fuel flow because

the dynamics of auxiliary devices are included, but do not present the frequency characteristics, because they are based on electrochemical models. This paper develops a model including the first OCV dynamics by the dynamics of auxiliary devices and second frequency characteristics. The OCV dynamics is described as dependent sources by a partial pressure of reactants including fuel fluid dynamics of an air compressor and fuel flow in channels. The frequency characteristics is described as an equivalent circuit model for the effect of the series resistance, charge transfer and double layer resulting from reaction rate, ionic transport and water concentration. The configuration of a practical fuel cell system model in this paper is introduced as three parts like the air compressor model, the OCV model by fuel flow in channels, and the model of the series resistance, charge transfer and double layer. The static characteristics of a fuel cell system, the influence of the dynamics of fuel supply on the dynamics of the fuel cell system, and the frequency characteristics are shown by experiments.
VENT Humidifier

Compressor

Fuel Cell PS Stack

Dust Filter

Dryer

MFM

PS

PS Purge Valve

H2 Tank

PR

MFM : Mass Flow Meter BPR : Back pressure Regulator PS : Pressure Sensor PR : Pressure Regulator HS : Humid Sensor

H2 Recycler

Fig. 1. A practical fuel cell system configuration

II.

FUEL CELL SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND MODELING

A practical fuel cell system shown in Fig. 1 consists of air compressor, humidifier, hydrogen tank, valves, H2 recycler, and the stack. In this paper, it is assumed that the temperature in a stack is constant, because the time constant of thermal

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dynamics is very slow and the temperature can be well controlled by its cooling system. It is assumed that the input humidity in cathode channel is constant because the change in the air humidity of the humidifier is slow. It is assumed that the H2 pressure regulator and recycler are ideal because the method of supplying H2 is to keep an input pressure of anode channel constant by a pressure regulator, and H2 recycler plays the role of making the dynamics of H2 flow and reaction better. A. Air Compressor Model The dynamics of an air compressor consists of the compressor air flow and the electromechanical behavior of the motor. The air compressor model has been modeled in [8],[10][11]. However, dynamic equations are nonlinear and its parameters are difficult to identify in [8], [11]. In this paper, the model linearization and the systems order are determined by the DC motor model and static compressor model [10]. By method of identification through a step response test, its parameters are easily obtained. The system transfer function model of the output flow rate and pressure versus the command signal is shown in Fig.2. The consumed power of the compressor can be calculated by the output pressure and air flow rate in the compressor model.
G2 ( s ) =

Van , H 2 = log ( pan , H 2 ) kan (TFC 298.15)

Vca ,O2 = log ( pca ,O2 ) kca (TFC 298.15)

(2) (3)

where Vch ,re is the OCV of reactant

kch is the OCV constant of channel
TFC is the temperature of fuel cell

The reactant redistribution and proton transport in a cell are described by complex partial differential equations or lumped model having many parameters [1~3]. In this paper, reactant flow dynamics are linearized, assumed that the output pressure in a cathode is constant and the pressure change is small, and the input pressure of H2 in an anode are constant. The equations are described as follow: dpch,re in react out (4) = Ach,re (Wch,re Wch,re Wch ,re ) dt out out (5) Wch ,re = kch ,re ( pch ,re pch ,re )

pch ,re =

Ach ,re ( s + Ach , re kch , re ) + Ach ,re kch ,re

in react Wch ,re Wch , re

(6)

( s + Ach ,re kch ,re )

out pch ,re

where pch,re is the pressure of reactant in channel ,

x Wch ,re is the air flow rate,

2 p ,n

pcp = p in ca

2 s 2 + 2 p p ,n s + p ,n

kch ,re is the flow contant

in Wcp = Wca

vcm
Wair _ ref
+

K C(s) = i s

2 w, n G1 ( s ) = 2 2 s + 2 w w, n s + w, n

Rre TFC Vch Rre is the gas constant of reactant Vch is the volume of channel Ach,re =

Fig. 2. Air compressor model

in where Wcp = Wca is the air flow rate of the compressor in pcp = pca is the output pressure of the compressor

re is O2 or H2, ch is ca or an (cathode or anode) The OCV model by fuel flow in channels are shown in Fig. 3. The reaction rate of H2, and O2 is determined by the fuel cell current.
in pan, H 2

and n is the damping ratio and the natural frequency

K i is the integral gain vcm is the command signal
react Wan,H 2

The control of the compressor is implemented by the feed forward controller of the fuel cell current and feedback with an integral controller. OCV Model by Fuel Flow in Channels The voltage model of a fuel cell has been presented by Nernst equation and voltage drops which are activation overpotential, ohmic overpotential, and concentration overpotential. The Nernst equation and activation overpotential are affected by the partial pressure of the reactants and water saturation pressure [8]. In this paper, the OCV by the partial pressure of H2 and O2 is described as follows:
OCV = Van , H 2 + Vca ,O2 + Voc

iFC

n M H2
2F

Aan, H 2
( s + Aan, H 2 k an )

reacted pan, H 2

pan, H 2

+ -

Van ,H 2

n M O2
4F

react Wca ,O2

Aca,O2
( s + Aca,O2 kca )
in Wca,O2

pca ,O2

B.

+ -

Vca ,O2

OCV

Van, H 2 = lo g ( pan, H 2 ) k an (TFC 298.15) Vca ,O2 = lo g ( pca ,O2 ) k ca (TFC 298.15)

+ -

VOC

Fig. 3. The OCV model by fuel flow and reaction in channels

where M x is the gas molar mass

F is the Faraday nummber n is the nummber of fuel cell stack

(1)

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C. Model of Series Resistance, Charge Transfer and Double Layer A fuel cell has the similar electrochemical impedance characteristics as a battery. The model of series resistance, charge transfer and double layer from reaction rate, ionic transport and water concentration is described as the equivalent circuit model shown in Fig. 4.
Cdl
iFC
n M H2 2F
react Wan ,H 2

Cdl

Rs
in pan, H 2

Aan, H 2 (s + Aan, H 2 k an )

reacted pan, H 2

pan , H 2

+ -

Van ,H 2

Rs
3.57 10 8 nFC I FC
n M O2 4F
react Wca ,O2

Aca,O2 (s + Aca ,O2 kca )

in Wca,O2

pca,O2

Wcp ,ref

+ -

Vca ,O2

OCV

+ -

Rct

C (s) =

Ki s

vcm

2 s 2 + 2 n s + n

n2

+ -

Compressor model

Fig. 6. Proposed fuel cell dynamic model Fig. 4. Model of series resistance, charge transfer and double layer
Step Current Test when Wair = constant 50 Voltage Current Voltage (V) and Current (A) 40

III.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND MODEL VALIDATION

30

20

In order to understand the static and dynamic behavior of a fuel cell system and to validate the proposed model, three experiments such as the static V-I characteristic curve test, step current tests, and frequency response tests are conducted. Conditions of supplying the air flow and H2 are such that the air compressor is controlled as the stoichiometry 2 of the reactant air flow required by the average current of a fuel cell and the input pressure of the H2 remains 1.3 bar. 1kW PEM fuel cell stack is used for experiments. A. Static V-I Characteristics Curve Test The V-I characteristic curve experiment is conducted and the proposed model is simulated for comparison as shown in Fig. 7. There is a small difference between the experiment data and the simulated data at a low current, because of the nonlinear behaviors of a fuel cell. The proposed model describes the static behavior of the fuel cell system well. B. Step Current Test The dynamic response of the air compressor is slower than the change of electric loads (current). Fig. 8 (a), and (b) show the influence of the response time of the air compressor on the change in the fuel cell voltage. Slow flow means that the compressor control speed is slower than that in normal state. The slow dynamics of the air compressor and fuel flow causes the voltage drops. This voltage drops must be compensated by a secondary energy source such as battery or supercapacitor, and will determine its capacity. Fig. 8 (c) shows that the experimental results are almost equal to those of the proposed model. C. Frequency response Test A fuel cell system is connected to the power electronics circuits or electric loads which contain the ripple current with various frequencies. The ripple current tolerable to a fuel cell

10

0.1

0.2 0.3 time (sec)

0.4

0.5

Fig. 5. Step current test when Wair = const.

where Rs is the series resistance

Cdl is the double layer capacitance Rct is the charge transfer resistance

Its parameters are obtained from the step current test shown in Fig. 5, on condition that the fuel supply flow rate is constant and the step current changes from 0A to 20A at 0 second, but their identification should be compensated by subtracting the OCV dynamics from the results including the OCV dynamics caused by fuel flow in channels. The complete model of a practical fuel cell system proposed in this paper is shown in Fig. 6. It presents the OCV from fuel flow dynamic effect and the frequency characteristics.

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Rct

VOC

is important to design the power system and control strategy. In order to understand the frequency characteristics of its output current, the experiments are conducted. In Fig. 9 (a), (b), and (c), the triangle current with 1, 10, and 100 Hz is loaded into a fuel cell system.

In the frequency response test, the same ripple currents with different frequencies cause the different ripple voltages of the fuel cell.

40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26

Fuel Cell V-I curve.

45 40 Current (A) and Volt (V) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 1

Step Current Test - normal flow

Model Voltage

Fuel cell voltage(V)

Experimental Voltage

Current

10

15

20 25 Current (A)

30

35

40

2 time (sec)

Fig. 7. V-I characteristics curve of the fuel cell

(c) the experiment and simulation result Fig. 8. Step current Test
40 Fuel cell voltage(V) and current(A) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 10 Frequency response test - 1Hz

40 Fuel Cell Voltage (V) and Current (A) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 1

Step Currnet Test

Experimental Voltage

Model Voltage

Current

2 time (sec)

10.5

11

11.5

12 12.5 time (sec)

13

13.5

14

(a) voltage and current of the fuel cell

70 60 Air flow rate (LPM) 50 40 30 20 10 Slow flow Normal flow Step Currnet Test
Fuel cell voltage(V) and current(A) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 10

(a) 1Hz ripple current

Frequency response test - 10Hz

2 time (sec)

10.1

10.2 10.3 time (sec)

10.4

10.5

(b) Air flow rate

(b) 10Hz ripple current

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Frequency response test - 100Hz 40 Fuel cell voltage(V) and current(A) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 10.6 10.62 10.64 10.66 time (sec) 10.68 10.7

ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by the ERC program of MOST/KOSEF (Grant NO. R11-2002-102-00000-0) and by New & Renewable Energy R&D program (2005-N-FC12-P01) under the Korea Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE). REFERENCES
[1] J.C. Amphlett, R.F. Mann, B.A. Reppley, P.R. Roberge, and A. Rodrigues, A model predicting transient responses of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Journal of Power Sources 61 pp. 183-188, 1996. [2] Y. Shan, and S.Y. Choe, A high dynamic PEM fuel cell model with temperature effects, Journal of power sources 145 pp-30-39, 2005. [3] X. Xue, J. Tang, A. Smirnova, R. England, N. Sammes, System level lumped-parameter dynamic modeling of PEM fuel cell, Journal of Power Sources 133 pp.188-204, 2004. [4] P.J.H. Wingelaar, J.L. Duarte, and M.A.M Hedrix, Dynamic Characteristic of PEM Fuel Cells, IEEE PESC, pp1635-1641, 2005. [5] J. Garnier, M.C. Pera, D. Hissel, D. Candusso, N. Glandut, Dynamic PEM fuel cell modeling for automotive applications, IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, Vol. 5 pp 3284-3288, Oct. 2003. [6] M. J. Correa, F.A. Farret, V.A. Popov, and M.G. Simoes, Sensitivity Analysis of the Modeling Parameters Used in Simulation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, IEEE trans. on Energy Conversion, Vol.20, No.1, pp.211-218. March 2005. [7] X. Kong, A.M. Khambadkone, and S.K. Thum, A Hybrid Model with Combined Steady-state and Dynamic Characteristics of PEMFC Fuel Cell Stack, IAS Annual Meeting, Vol.3, pp.1618-1625. Oct. 2005. [8] J.T. Pukrushpan, H. Peng, A.G. Stefanopoulou, Simulation and analysis of transient fuel cell system performance based on a dynamic reactant flow model, Proceedings of ASME IMECE, 2002. [9] M.Y. Sharkh, A. Rahman, M.S. Alam, A.A. Sakla, P.C. Byrne, and T. Thomas, Analysis of Active and Reactive Power Control of a StandAlone PEM Fuel Cell Power Plant, IEEE trans.on Power System, Vol.19 No.4, pp.2022-2028, 2004. [10] John P. Bird, Model of the Air System Transients in a Fuel Cell Vehicle, B.S Thesis, Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 2002. [11] Gravdahl. J.T and Egeland. O A Moore-Greitzer axial compressor model with spool dynamics Decision and Control, 1997., Proceedings of the 36th IEEE Conference on vol 5, pp 4714-4719, 10-12 Dec. 1997.

Experimental Voltage Model Voltage

Current

(c) 100Hz ripple current Fig. 9. Frequency response characteristics test

IV.

CONCLUSION

This paper proposes the model of a practical fuel cell system including the air compressor model, the OCV model including fuel flow in channels, and the equivalent circuit model. A practical 1kW PEM FC stack is implemented and used for experiments. Experiments show that the OCV dynamics by the effect of fuel dynamics and the frequency characteristics influence the dynamics of the fuel cell. This model will be useful to design the power system and control strategy in a fuel cell power system.

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