Model based design in the development of thermodynamic systems and their electronic control units

Fuel cells are supposed to be the future energy supplier in the automotive area The needed hydrogen is produced by a fuel processing system. Therefore gasoline or methanol has to be vaporized for the reforming process. A steam at a defined temperature without droplets is absolutely necessary for the succeeding components. A model-based design process to develop the electrically heated vaporizer is presented. The process supports design and optimization of the physical component (vaporizer), and considers the needs for the control system design. The final implementation onto an embedded target (MPC555) is also presented. Experiences and results applying the presented model-based design process are shown.