Single-stage vehicular fuel cell system with harmonic elimination capability to suppress distortion effects of electric vehicle parking lots

In this study, Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) are implemented to reduce the negative impacts caused by electric vehicle parking lots connected to the electricity grid. The main objective of the current study is to propose a dual-function control method for grid integration of vehicular fuel cells located in FCVs to reduce the harmonic pollution emitted to the grid by other electric vehicles and connected charging stations. The proposed control method is tested on a single-stage grid connection and is provided directly via inverter without using an additional converter, in contrast to the traditional two-stage structure. A dual-function single-stage vehicular fuel cell system is designed and operated to verify the reduction of harmonic distortion problems caused by grid-connected electric vehicles in the charging process. With the proposed structure, in addition to harmonic elimination, the system contributes to the reduction of energy consumption by supplying power to the grid/electric vehicles. In the system, the vehicular fuel cell, which feeds electric vehicle parking lots ranging from 4 kW to 12.1 kW, is designed to have a maximum power of 24.57 kW. Distortion values varying between 5.76 % and 23.01 % are reduced up to 0.45 % and 1.52 % with the ability to eliminate the harmonics. •Design of single-stage vehicular PEM fuel cell connected to the grid.•Dual functional control capability including energy management and harmonic reduction.•Effects of electric vehicle parking lots in charging process.•Elimination of additional dc-dc converter interface in single-stage system.