Modelling and control of proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been considered as one of the most promising energy sources due to its many desirable properties, including high power density, low operating temperature and fast start-up. However, significant technical challenges exist before PEMFC can be commercialized. Among them, the modelling and control of PEMFC have been recognized as the most critical technical issues. This is because PEMFC's inherent nonlinearities, time-varying characteristics and tight operating constraints inevitably give rise to great challenges for system modelling and control. The objective of this thesis is then accurate modelling and efficient control of PEMFC. To accomplish these goals, new modelling and control methods are developed and validated.

First, a new empirical model of PEMFC is developed by mapping performance outputs as a function of various operating conditions through regression analysis of support vector machine (SVM). Further, the empirical modelling approach is integrated with the mechanistic modelling method to develop a combined model of PEMFC, which consists of an empirical submodel for the reference voltage and a mechanistic submodel for the correction voltage. Simulation results demonstrate that these models have desirable properties, including good accuracy, fast response and low computational burden. These characteristics lay the solid foundation for the development of control strategies.

Then, various control strategies are developed, including model predictive control (MPC) for regulating PEMFC outputs to the desired value, extreme seeking control (ESC) for tracking the maximum efficiency point and linearized-model-based control for PEMFC thermal management. Simulation results demonstrate that each of the control strategies achieves the control objective that it is supposed to accomplish.

Finally, a full picture of future hydrogen economy in China is given, including drivers for transition to the hydrogen economy, energy resources and their potential role in future hydrogen production, government's policy and support for the research of hydrogen and fuel cell technology.