A Neural Network-Based Four Phases Interleaved Boost Converter for Fuel Cell System Applications

El Manaa Barhoumi, Ikram Ben Belgacem, Abla Khiareddine, Manaf Zghaibeh and Iskander Tlili
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El Manaa Barhoumi: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Dhofar University, Salalah 211, Oman
Ikram Ben Belgacem: Laboratoire de Génie Mécanique, Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5019, Tunisia
Abla Khiareddine: Research Unit on Study of Industrial Systems and Renewable Energy (ESIER), Université de Monastir, National Engineering School of Monastir, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5019, Tunisia
Manaf Zghaibeh: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Dhofar University, Salalah 211, Oman
Iskander Tlili: Energy and Thermal Systems Laboratory, National Engineering School of Monastir, Street Ibn El Jazzar, Monastir 5019, Tunisia

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: This paper presents a simple strategy for controlling an interleaved boost converter that is used to reduce the current fluctuations in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, with high impact on the fuel cell lifetime. To keep the output voltage at the desired reference value under the strong fluctuations of the fuel flow rate, fuel supply pressure, and temperature, a neural network controller is developed and implemented using Matlab-Simulink (R2012b, MathWorks limited, London, UK). The advantage of this controller resides in its simplicity, where limited number of tests are carried out using Matlab-Simulink to construct it. To investigate the robustness of the proposed converter and the neural network controller, strong variations of the fuel flow rate, fuel supply pressure, temperature and air supply pressure are applied to both the fuel cell and the neural network controller of the converter. The simulation results show the effectiveness and the robustness of the both the proposed controller and converter to control the load voltage and minimize the current and voltage ripples. As a result of that, fuel cell current oscillations are considerably reduced on the one hand, while on the other hand, the load voltage is stabilized during transient variations of the fuel cell inputs.

Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cell; four phases interleaved boost converter; neural network controller (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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