Experimental model for a DMC-based control applied to a PEM fuel cell

This paper addresses the control of an experimental PEM fuel cell system. The fuel cell station is composed by an ElectroChem ® 7-cell stack with Nafion 115 ® membrane electrodes assemblies (MEAs) and the auxiliary equipment. The control problem is focussed on the air supply in the cathode. The main objectives are to regulate the stack voltage and the cathode oxygen excess ratio. The manipulated variables are the compressor motor voltage and the command current of a proportional valve located at the cathode outlet. A linear and dynamic model at a given operational point is obtained via step tests, which is used in the context of a centralized multivariable Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC).