Performance of a PEM Fuel Cell Water Management System Using Static Output Feedback

Water management through anode water removal and cathode air inlet humidification is investigated in this paper. A state feedback controller is designed to meet both the steady state and transient requirements for water balance and pressure regulation. Performance of the controlled system with full- state feedback is analyzed, in particular when water content in the stack is measured by humidity sensors. In an attempt to eliminate the need for a state observer and to reduce the measurements required, static-output feedback is then explored. It is shown that comparable performance can be achieved under sub-saturated stack conditions with a static-output feedback using only anode side pressure and humidity measurements.