Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: Perspective of Dynamic Modeling and Control

This paper presents a review of state-of-the-art solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), from perspective of dynamic modeling and model-based control. First, the current status of SOFC development is provided. Then the main components of the SOFC along with their governing transport equations are discussed. These two sections provide basic introduction to the SOFC. Following the sequence of power generation and energy losses mechanism of SOFC, the section of dynamic modeling is started from overview of energy generation, followed by discussion of energy losses, and concluded by analyzing the dynamics that affect energy generation and losses. The section of dynamic modeling is closed by considering the model validation problem and other related problems in the modeling aspect. Once dynamic models are available, the paper continues its journey to the SOFC control problems. It is started from a general description of the control problems in SOFC, continued with an overview of the existing control strategies, and followed by a sample nonlinear MPC solution. This section is concluded by discussion of some of the challenges in SOFC control problems.