A DC-DC converter-based PEM fuel cell system emulator

The Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is being investigated as an alternate power source for various applications as transportation and emergency power supplies. Fuel cell systems are characterized by high costs and complex auxiliary devices. For this reason, a fuel cell emulator can be used as a suitable and economic alternative to a real one for developing and testing a fuel cell power conditioning system. The fuel cell emulator must be able to reproduce the FC nonlinear output voltage-current characteristic. This paper proposes then a possible solution to emulate a PEMFC system by using a DC-DC converter. The fuel cell system, including all its auxiliaries and related control systems, is emulated by a full-bridge converter experimentally achieved and controlled in the DSP2812 environment. The converter-based system allows the behavior of any fuel cell to be easily emulated and can be used in laboratory as a low-cost system for design and experimental purposes since only a DC-DC control modification is necessary.