Efficiency-Based Modeling of Aeronautical Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems for Integrated Simulation Framework Applications

Paolo Aliberti, Marco Minneci, Marco Sorrentino (), Fabrizio Cuomo and Carmine Musto
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Paolo Aliberti: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Marco Minneci: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Marco Sorrentino: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Fabrizio Cuomo: Leonardo Aircraft, Aircraft Systems, Viale dell’Aeronautica, 80038 Pomigliano d’Arco, NA, Italy
Carmine Musto: Leonardo Aircraft, Aircraft Systems, Viale dell’Aeronautica, 80038 Pomigliano d’Arco, NA, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-29

Abstract: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell system (PEMFCS)-based battery-hybridized turboprop regional aircraft emerge as a promising solution to the urgency of reducing the environmental impact of such airplanes. The development of integrated simulation frameworks consisting of versatile and easily adaptable models and control strategies is deemed highly strategic to guarantee proper component sizing and in-flight, onboard energy management. This need is here addressed via a novel efficiency-driven PEMFCS model and a degradation-aware battery-PEMFCS unit specification-independent control algorithm. The proposed model simplifies stack voltage and current estimation while maintaining accuracy so as to support, in conjunction with the afore-introduced versatile control strategy, the development of architectures appropriate for subsequent fully integrated (i.e., at the entire aircraft design level) simulation frameworks. The model also allows assessing the balance of plant impact on the fuel cell system’s net power, as well as the heat generated by the stack and related cooling demand. Finally, the multi-stack configuration meeting the DC bus line 270 V constraint, as currently assumed by the aviation industry, is determined.

Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cell system; hybrid regional aircraft; model-based design and energy management; electrical variables simulation; balance of plant’s absorption calculation; cooling load estimation; multi-stack configuration (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: 2025
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