Tracking the maximum efficiency point for the FC system based on extremum seeking scheme to control the air flow

• The Maximum Efficiency Point (MEP) is tracked based on air flow rate.
• The proposed Extremum Seeking (ES) control assures high performances.
• About 10 kW/s search speed and 99.99% stationary accuracy can be obtained.
• The energy efficiency increases with 3–12%, according to the power losses.
• The control strategy is robust based on self-optimizing ES scheme proposed.

An advanced control of the air compressor for the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) system is proposed in this paper based on Extremum Seeking (ES) control scheme. The FC net power is mainly depended on the air and hydrogen flow rate and pressure, and heat and water management. This paper proposes to compute the optimal value for the air flow rate based on the advanced ES control scheme in order to maximize the FC net power. In this way, the Maximum Efficiency Point (MEP) will be tracked in real time, with about 10 kW/s search speed and a stationary accuracy of 0.99. Thus, energy efficiency will be close to the maximum value that can be obtained for a given PEMFC stack and compressor group under dynamic load. It is shown that the MEP tracking allows an increasing of the FC net power with 3–12%, depending on the percentage of the FC power supplied to the compressor and the level of the load power. Simulations shows that the performances mentioned above are effective.