Fuel Cell Simulator System

1. Fuel Cell Simulator System Martin Ordonez, Ing., M.Eng. Ph.D. Student Supervisors: Dr. M. T. Iqbal Dr. J. E. Quaicoe Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science St. John’s, NL, Canada A1B 3X5

2. Introduction • Fuel Cells (FC) • Why FC Simulators?

3. Organization • Direct Methanol FC (DMFC) and Electronic Load Description • Dynamic Behavior of a DMFC • Fast Dynamic Power Converter for FC Simulators • Stand Alone FC Simulator • A Novel FC Simulator Based on a Small Single FC • MUN FC Inverter Project New Developments • Summary

4. DMFC System Description Membrane Electrode Assembly Cross section of the DMFC Anode and Cathode Plates

5. DMFC System Description Cross section of the DMFC Actual DMFC

6. An Advanced Electronic Load for FC Systems DSP board top view Conceptual Schematic of the electronic load based on Digital Signal Processor (DSP) DSP board bottom view

7. An Advanced Electronic Load for FC Systems The advanced electronic load

8. DMFC Steady State Characteristic Curve FC Polarization Curve

9. Dynamic Behavior of a DMFC: Current Ripple DC+AC current test for 25Hz and 400Hz: v-i plot DC+AC current test for 25Hz and 400Hz: time domain plot

10. FC Electrical Equivalent Model FC equivalent electrical circuit FC polarization curve FC model mathematical representation

11. Fast Dynamic Power Converter for FC Simulators • Dynamic response requirements? • Fast dynamic response • Large signal frequency response: • Unity Gain • Negligible phase shift DC+AC current test for 25Hz and 400Hz: v-i plot

12. Power Converter Topology and Control Reversible Buck converter • Advantages: • Avoid discontinuous conduction mode • Fast capacitor discharge (reverse current) Normalized switching surfaces

13. Control Strategy: Inspection of the Ideal Transient

14. Control Strategy: Region of Convergence Natural Unloaded Switching Surface

15. Power Converter Prototype

16. Stand Alone Fuel Cell Simulator • Suitable for Laboratory operation • No computer • No communication cards • No licensed software • Small low cost system Conceptual block diagram of the system

17. FC Stack Emulation: 55 Single Cells in Series Response to a series of current steps : v-i plot and time domain plot

18. A Novel FC Simulator Based on a Small Single FC • Replacing FC model for a small single FC • Include membrane drying, catalyst poisoning, aging, etc. • Avoid results that depart from reality • Use of scale up rules

19. A Novel FC Simulator Based on a Small Single FC • Control Area Network (CAN) bus • PC based monitoring and analysis • Fast dynamic power converter for FC simulators • Three modes of operation FC Simulator Prototype

20. A Novel FC Simulator: Operating Principle FC simulator equivalent model 120Hz current Ripple Operation Number of cells in series: Electrode active area selection: Current Steps Change

21. A New Family Member: Ballard Nexa 1.2kW Fuel Cell Simulator Power Conditioning System Ballard Nexa 1.2kW

22. An Embedded Frequency Response Analyzer (EFRA) EFRA Prototype Ballard Nexa Frequency Response Embedded concept Ballard Nexa Impedance Plot

23. An Embedded Frequency Response Analyzer • Robust lock-in technique • On-line monitoring and characterization • Diagnosis • CAN bus communication Windows programming and download tool EFRA input signals

24. DC-DC Power Converter Prototype: Schematic Schematic of the power stage

25. DC-DC Power Converter Prototype: PCB Design Printed Circuit Board design

26. DC-DC Power Converter Prototype: Top View Power stage top view Power stage side view

27. DC-DC Power Converter Prototype: Bottom View Power stage bottom view: Capacitors bank and snubbers Power stage side view: Drivers

28. Summary • Advanced Electronic Load • Dynamic test of DMFC • Power converter and control design • Stand alone FC simulator • A novel FC simulator based on a single FC • MUN FC Inverter Project New Developments

29. Detailed Information M. Ordonez, M.T. Iqbal, and J.E. Quaicoe, “Selection of a Curved Switching Surface for Buck Converters,” Accepted for publication in IEEE Power Electronics Letters, Dec. 2005. M. Ordonez, M.O. Sonnaillon, M.T. Iqbal, J.E. Quaicoe, and F.J. Bonetto “An embedded DSP-based Frequency Response Analyzer for Fuel Cells Monitoring and Characterization,” IEEE Power Electronics Specialist Conference, IEEE PESC 06', Jeju (Korea), June 18-22, 2006. M. Ordonez, M.T. Iqbal, and J.E. Quaicoe “A Novel Fuel Cell Simulator,” IEEE Power Electronics Specialist Conference, IEEE PESC 05', Recife (Brazil), June 12-16, 2005. M. Ordonez, M.T. Iqbal, and J.E. Quaicoe “Development of a Fuel Cell Simulator Based on an Experimentally Derived Model,” Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, IEEE CCECE 05', Saskatoon (Canada), May 1-5, 2005. M. Ordonez, M.T. Iqbal, J.E. Quaicoe, and L.M. Lye “Modeling and Optimization of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Using Statistical Design of Experiment Methodology,” Accepted for publication in proceedings of IEEE Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, IEEE CCECE 06', Ottawa (Canada), May 7-10, 2006. M. Ordonez, “Fuel Cell Simulator System,” Master’s Thesis, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada, 2005.

30. Acknowledgments Dr. Peter Pickup Dr. Omar Yepez Mr. Fernando Ghiodi

31. Fuel Cell Simulator System Martin Ordonez, Ing. M.Eng. Supervisors: Dr. M. Tariq Iqbal Dr. John E. Quaicoe Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Memorial University of Newfoundland Questions?