An MCFC operation optimization strategy based on PID auto-tuning control

•The operation of molten carbonate fuel cells is challenging because of nonlinearity and complex dynamics.•The power output of MCFCs should be adjusted to meet the varying demand.•A PID auto-tuning controller design is proposed to optimize the operation of MCFC systems.•A mathematical model of the MCFC is developed and validated with commercial data.

Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) has been emerging as a promising renewable power system. It is still challenging to operate the MCFC to meet its varying demands because of its nonlinearity and complex dynamics. This paper proposes a novel MCFC operation framework based on PID auto-tuning control. A case study is presented to illustrate the applicability of the strategy with some comments.