Fuel cell power regulation based-on differential flatness theory for high-power converter applications

This paper presents an innovative control law for a distributed dc generation supplied by fuel cell (FC) generator. Basically, an FC is always connected with a power electronic converter. This kind of system is non-linear behavior. Classically, to control the voltage, the current or the power in the converter, linearized technique is often used to study the stability and to select the controller parameters of the nonlinear converter. In this paper, a non-linear control algorithm based on the flatness property of the system is proposed. Flatness provides a convenient framework for meeting a number of performance specifications on the power converter. Utilizing the flatness property, one proposes simple solutions to the system performance and stabilization problems. Design controller parameters are autonomous of the operating point. To validate the proposed method, a prototype FC power converter (1.2-kW) is realized in laboratory. The proposed control law based on flatness property is implemented by digital estimation in dSPACE 1104 controller card. Experimental results with a polymer electrolyte membrane FC (PEMFC) of 1200 W, 46 A in a laboratory corroborate the excellent control scheme.