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Fuel Cell Stack Model for Real-Time Simulation of Grid-Connected Applications

Conference ·

Fuel cell stacks coupled with electrolyzers and hydrogen storage sites can be a promising category of distributed energy resources for both grid-connected and stand-alone power systems. However, because of high costs, at-scale hardware testing of fuel cell stacks for grid-connected applications is not economically viable at present. A model-based system that can accurately captures the steady-state and dynamic response of fuel cell stacks over long time periods (hours), is needed. This paper demonstrate a real-time electromagnetic transient model of a megawatt-scale, grid-connected proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, coupled with a mass-based hydrogen storage system. This model can emulate the electrical steady-state and dynamic response of grid-connected fuel cell stacks. We validate the model using the response of commercial hardware fuel cell stacks and analytical models in the literature - using a digital real-time simulator (RSCAD). The proposed real-time model is then used to simulate cases spanning different time horizons and to design controller-hardware-in-the-loop experiments to evaluate controllers for hydrogen stations.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Fuel Cell Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1959959
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5D00-83506; MainId:84279; UUID:9fa569a6-2e0e-484f-8cac-0ce5782cdf66; MainAdminID:68914
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at the 2022 North American Power Symposium (NAPS), 9-11 October 2022, Salt Lake City, Utah
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (7)

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Valuation and cost reduction of behind-the-meter hydrogen production in Hawaii journal July 2020
An Electrochemical-Based Fuel-Cell Model Suitable for Electrical Engineering Automation Approach journal October 2004
Dynamic Models and Model Validation for PEM Fuel Cells Using Electrical Circuits journal June 2005
Mathematical modeling of proton exchange membrane fuel cells journal December 2001