Modeling and Control of Fuel Cells: Distributed Generation Applications

The emerging fuel cell (FC) technology is growing rapidly in its applications from small-scale portable electronics to large-scale power generation. This book gives students, engineers, and scientists a solid understanding of the FC dynamic modeling and controller design to adapt FCs to particular applications in distributed power generation.

The book begins with a fascinating introduction to the subject, including a brief history of the U.S. electric utility formation and restructuring. Next, it provides coverage of power deregulation and distributed generation (DG), DG types, fuel cell DGs, and the hydrogen economy. Building on that foundation, it covers:

• Principle operations of fuel cells

• Dynamic modeling and simulation of PEM and solid-oxide fuel cells

• Principle operations and modeling of electrolyzers

• Power electronic interfacing circuits for fuel cell applications

• Control of grid-connected and stand-alone fuel cell power generation systems

• Hybrid fuel cell–based energy system case studies

• Present challenges and the future of fuel cells

MATLAB/SIMULINK-based models and their applications are available via a companion Web site. Modeling and Control of Fuel Cells is an excellent reference book for students and professionals in electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering and scientists working in the FC area.