Control-oriented model for an automotive PEM fuel cell system with imbedded 1+1D membrane water transport

Fuel-cell driven vehicles have become the focal point of research and development in all automotive and academic research institutions. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell system which seems to be the forerunner for traction applications, poses a significant challenge for modelling and control design due to a highly nonlinear behavior attributed to the complex interaction of the fluid, thermal, electro-chemical and mechanical mechanisms. Efficient control of the system is required to meet drivability requirements and maintain stack health. In this paper, a nonlinear model exhibiting the important dynamics and behavior of such a system is presented. The fuel cell model is based on static maps obtained from a higher order 1&1D model. Compressible fluid flow equations, conservation of mass and energy principles and data from experiments conducted on a test bench are used to model the fuel cell system.