High frequency power converter for PEFC generator architecture based on a multi stacks association for transportation applications

This paper presents the study and experimental validation of a high frequency (HF) power converter used in a powertrain composed of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) generator based on a multi-stack association and dedicated to transportation applications. As a first approach, the architecture of the system presented in this paper has been limited to two fuel cell stacks. An original power converter structure using a HF transformer (HFT) has been chosen. This structure has the main advantage of compactness and is well adapted to the testing of fuel cell generators either in normal or degraded mode (partial failure of one stack); which correspond to real transport operating conditions. Simulation results of the power system are presented and discussed. First experimental results for a normal PEFC working mode are presented and analyzed in this paper including the experimental determination of the power converter efficiency