Optimized fuzzy proportional integral controller for improving output power stability of active hydrogen recovery 10-kW PEM fuel cell system

In conventional PEM fuel cell systems with active hydrogen recovery, a significant drop in the output power occurs during hydrogen purging. In the present study, this problem is addressed through oxygen and hydrogen flow control strategies based on a proportional integral (PI) controller, fuzzy PI controller, and optimized fuzzy PI controller, respectively. When the optimized fuzzy PI controller is applied to the hydrogen supply side, the output power increases to 9112 W, corresponding to an improvement of 16.82%. In addition, when the controller is applied to both the hydrogen supply side and the oxygen supply side, representing an efficiency improvement of 15.62%. Overall, the results show that the proposed fuzzy PI controller improves both the stability and the fuel efficiency of the considered 10-kW PEM fuel cell system.