Prolong the stack life of PEM fuel cell system via higher order sliding mode control

Fuel cells are electrochemical generators where produce electrical energy from chemical reactants. It is why these are good candidates to provide clean energy generation. This paper presents a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) dynamic model of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Thereafter a nonlinear controller is designed using the proposed model to prolong the stack life of the PEM fuel cell. A major deviation between hydrogen and oxygen partial pressures can cause severe membrane damage in the fuel cell. During the control designation hydrogen and oxygen inlet flow rates are treated as control variables. Adjustment of hydrogen and oxygen pressures is appropriately defined as control objectives. A second-order sliding mode strategy is applied to the PEM fuel cell system. Details of the design of the control scheme are provided in the current work. A simulation procedure represents dynamic characteristics of the Fuel Cell. It shows the performance of the SOSM approach to PEMFC stack pressure control to provide robustness against uncertainties and disturbances.