Sliding mode – Extended state observer control strategy to improve energy transfer of PEMFC connected DC-DC boost converter system

This study presents a novel control strategy called sliding mode – extended state observer (SM-ESO) for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) connected DC-DC boost converter system. The SM-ESO combines the advantages of an active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC), which allows for the estimation and compensation of uncertain disturbances, and the fast response of the sliding mode controller (SMC). The control strategy aims to regulate the duty cycle of pulse-width modulation (PWM) to control the output voltage of the system. The proposed voltage control strategy is evaluated under various operating conditions, including changes in current and system parameters. The results demonstrate that the SM-ESO controller effectively maintains the system voltage at the desired setpoint, with maximum overshoot and settling time below 1 % and 80 ms, respectively. Furthermore, the SM-ESO controller outperforms traditional ADRC and PID controllers across all performance indicators. Specifically, it achieves a significant reduction in overshoot (53.74 % and 85.31 %), adjusting time (16.36 % and 70.7 %), and ripple (24.92 % and 65.25 %), compared to the ADRC and PID controllers, respectively. By accurately estimating and compensating for uncertainties and disturbances, the SM-ESO controller ensures precise voltage regulation and enhances overall system stability. These results contribute to the advancement of control strategies for PEMFC systems, bringing improvements in energy efficiency and system performance.