Current-fed inverter topologies and control strategy applied to modular power fuel cells in transportation applications

The present work presents the full-bridge current-fed inverter as power conditioning interface for a twin-stack modular fuel cell system. This topology is more rarely encountered for fuel cells in comparison to voltage source converters, or classical boost. It is also well suited since the fuel cell has current source behaviour and is usually current controlled. Using the phase-shifted Pulse Width Modulation control, the modular converter can draw power from the stacks to the load individually and simultaneously. Moreover, it enables fuel cell modules to operate at different load points and permits to optimize the system efficiency as well as working under degraded mode in transportation.