Research Project

MESPEM: Desarrollo de sistemas de control para la mejora de la eficiencia y la vida útil en sistemas basados en pilas de combustible PEM

Type

National Project

Start Date

01/01/2012

End Date

30/06/2015

Project Code

DPI2011-25649

Project illustration

Staff

Project Description

New technologies based on clean and sustainable energy sources are of major concern. Systems based on hydrogen and fuel cells are given increasing interest for electricity generation. However, different scientific and technological issues need to be overcome to make the technology
viable. The main challenges are to reduce the cost and to improve longevity, efficiency and reliability of these systems.
MESPEM project is focused on the automatic control of systems based on Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The project aims to make innovative contributions to control oriented and distributed modelling, dynamic observation, diagnosis and nonlinear control of PEM fuel cells. The project also addresses the control of open cathode and high temperature PEM fuel cells as well as the control of low temperature ethanol reformers for the production of hydrogen. Finally, the project considers the integration of PEM fuel cells in hybrid power generation systems and the supervisory control strategies necessary for the power management in such systems.
Experimental validation of the models and controllers developed is considered a fundamental task of the project.
Therefore, the final objective of the project is to design, implement and validate control strategies for PEM fuel cell based systems that optimize the overall energy efficiency and at the same time take into account power quality, durability, reliability and safety.

Project Publications

Journal Publications

  • T. Jahnke, G. Futter, A. Latz, T. Malkow, G. Papakonstantinou, G. Tsotridis, P. Schott, M. Gérard, M. Quinaud, M. Quiroga, A.A. Franco, K. Malek, F. Calle-Vallejo, R. Ferreira de Morais, T. Kerber, P. Sautet, D. Loffreda, S. Strahl, M. Serra, P. Polverino, C. Pianese, M. Mayur, W. Bessler and C. Kompis. Performance and degradation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: State of the art in modeling from atomistic to system scale. Journal of Power Sources, 304(1): 207-233, 2016.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J. Moré, P.F. Puleston, C. Kunusch and M. Allué. Development and implementation of a supervisor strategy and sliding mode control setup for fuel-cell-based hybrid generation systems. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 30(1): 218-225, 2015.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.D. Rojas, C. Kunusch, C. Ocampo-Martínez and V. Puig. Control-Oriented Thermal Modeling Methodology for Water-Cooled PEM Fuel-Cell-Based Systems. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 62(8): 5146-5154, 2015.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, C. Ocampo-Martínez and M. Serra. Nonlinear predictive control for the concentrations profile regulation under unknown reaction disturbances in a fuel cell anode gas channel. Journal of Power Sources, 282: 129-139, 2015.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, A.P. Husar and M. Serra. Nonlinear distributed parameter observer design for fuel cell systems. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 40(34): 11322-11332, 2015.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • F. Castaños and C. Kunusch. Dither-less extremum seeking for hydrogen minimization in PEM fuel cells. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 62(8): 5218-5226, 2015.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • F. Bianchi, C. Ocampo-Martínez, C. Kunusch and R. Sánchez-Peña. Fault-tolerant unfalsified control for PEM fuel cell systems. IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 30(1): 307-315, 2015.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, A.P. Husar and J. Riera. Experimental study of hydrogen purge effects on performance and efficiency of an open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell system. Journal of Power Sources, 248: 474–482, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • F. Bianchi, C. Kunusch, C. Ocampo-Martínez and R. Sánchez-Peña. A gain-scheduled LPV control for oxygen stoichiometry regulation in PEM fuel cell systems. IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, 22(5): 1837-1844, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, N. Gasamans, J. Llorca and A.P. Husar. Experimental analysis of a degraded open-cathode PEM fuel cell stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(10): 5378–5387, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, A.P. Husar, P.F. Puleston and J. Riera. Performance improvement by temperature control of an open-cathode PEM fuel cell system. Fuel Cells, 14(6): 466-478, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M.L. Sarmiento-Carnevali, M. Serra and C. Batlle. Distributed parameter model simulation tool for PEM fuel cells. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(8): 4044–4052, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, A.P. Husar and A.A. Franco. Electrode structure effects on the performance of open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A multiscale modeling approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(18): 9752-9767, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • D. Bezmalinovic, S. Strahl, V. Roda and A.P. Husar. Water transport study in high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(20): 10627–10640, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • F. Barreras, A. Lozano, V. Roda, J. Barroso and J. Martín. Optimal design and operational tests of a high-temperature PEM fuel cell for a combined heat and power unit. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 39(10): 5388–5398, 2014.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • V. García, M. Serra, J. Llorca and J. Riera. Design of linear controllers applied to an ethanol steam reformer for PEM fuel cell applications. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 38(18): 7640-7646, 2013.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • R. Koch, E. López, Núria J. Divins , M. Allué, A. Jossen, J. Riera and J. Llorca. Ethanol catalytic membrane reformer for direct PEM FC feeding. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 38(14): 5605-5615, 2013.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • D. Bezmalinovic, I. Tolj and F. Barbir. Techno-economic analysis of PEM fuel cells role in photovoltaic-based systems for the remote base stations. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 38(1): 417-425, 2013.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • C. Kunusch, P.F. Puleston, M.Á. Mayosky and L. Fridman. Experimental results applying second order sliding mode control to a PEM fuel cell based system. Control Engineering Practice, 21(5): 719–726, 2013.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • A.P. Husar, S. Strahl and J. Riera. Experimental characterization methodology for the identification of voltage losses of PEMFC: applied to an open cathode stack. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 37(8): 7309-7315, 2012.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • D. Recio, C. Ocampo-Martínez and M. Serra. Design of optimization-based controllers applied to an ethanol steam reformer for hydrogen production. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 37(15): 11141-11156, 2012.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

Conference Publications

  • J.A. Luna, A.P. Husar, M. Serra, S. Jemei and N. Yousfi. Nonlinear model predictive control methodology for efficiency and durability improvement in a fuel cell power system, 21st World Hydrogen Energy Conference, 2016, Zaragoza, pp. 1-2.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M. Torchio, C. Ocampo-Martínez, L. Magni, M. Serra, R. Braatz and D. Raimondo. Fast model predictive control for hydrogen outflow regulation in ethanol steam reformers, 2016 American Control Conference, 2016, Boston, MA, pp. 5044-5049.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, E. Usai, A.P. Husar and M. Serra. Distributed parameter nonlinear state observer with unmatched disturbance estimation for PEMFC systems, 2015 International Conference on Fundamentals & Development of Fuel Cells, 2015, Toulouse, pp. 8.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, E. Usai, A.P. Husar and M. Serra. State estimation in fuel cell systems: A sliding mode approach, 5th Iberian Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries, 2015, Tenerife.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • A.P. Husar, G. D’Elia and V. Roda. Experimental decoupling of single cell polarization losses, 5th Iberian Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries, 2015, Tenerife.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, A.P. Husar, J. Riera and R. Costa. Control de temperatura en pilas de combustible tipo PEM de cátodo abierto, XXXV Jornadas de Automática, 2014, Valencia, Spain.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, A.P. Husar and J. Riera. 2D transient modeling of hydrogen purge and temperature effects on the performance of PEM fuel cells, 11th Symposium on Fuel Cell and Battery Modeling and Experimental Validation, 2014, Winterthur, Switzerland, pp. 53.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M. Mayur, S. Strahl, A.P. Husar and W. Bessler. A two-dimensional multi-physics approach of transient PEMFC modeling in a virtual fuel cell car, 11th Symposium on Fuel Cell and Battery Modeling and Experimental Validation, 2014, Winterthur, Switzerland, pp. 61.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M.L. Sarmiento-Carnevali, C. Batlle, I. Massana and M. Serra. Order reduction of a distributed parameter PEM fuel cell anode gas channel model, 2014 European Hydrogen Energy Conference, 2014, Seville, Spain, pp. 265-272.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, C. Ocampo-Martínez and M. Serra. Nonlinear predictive control for the concentrations profile regulation in a PEM fuel cell anode gas channel, 13th European Control Conference, 2014, Strasbourg, France, pp. 1807-1812.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M.L. Sarmiento-Carnevali, C. Batlle, M. Serra and I. Massana. Distributed parameter PEMFC model order reduction, 1st Iberoamerican Congress on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, 2014, Bellaterra, Spain.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, A.P. Husar and M. Serra. State observers design for PEMFC systems, 1st Iberoamerican Congress on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, 2014, Bellaterra, Spain.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • C. Kunusch. Online identification of time varying parameters in PEM fuel cells, 5th International Conference on Fundamentals & Development of Fuel Cells, 2013, Karlsruhe, Germany.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, M. Perrier, A.P. Husar, J. Riera and M. Serra. Performance improvement by temperature control of an open-cathode PEM fuel cell system, 5th International Conference on Fundamentals & Development of Fuel Cells, 2013, Karlsruhe, Germany.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • V. Roda, P.F. Puleston and J.J. More. Thermal dynamic modelling for a high-temperature PEM fuel cell, 4th Iberian Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries, 2013, Estoril, Portugal.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, N. Gasamans, J. Llorca and A.P. Husar. Experimental analysis of a degraded open-cathode PEM fuel cell stack, 4th Iberian Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries, 2013, Estoril, Portugal.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • C. Evangelista, P.F. Puleston and C. Kunusch. Estudio de la viabilidad del algoritmo super-twisting de ganancias variables para el control de pilas de combustible PEM, 2013 Reunión de Trabajo en Procesamiento de la Información y Control, 2013, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.D. Rojas, C. Ocampo-Martínez and C. Kunusch. Thermal modelling approach and model predictive control of a water-cooled PEM fuel cell system, 39th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 2013, Vienna, Austria, pp. 3806-3811.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M.L. Sarmiento-Carnevali, M. Serra and C. Batlle. Analysis of conventionally controlled PEMFC based on a distributed parameter model, 4th Iberian Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries, 2013, Estoril, Portugal.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • F. Bianchi, C. Kunusch, C. Ocampo-Martínez and R. Sánchez Peña. On the implementation of gain-scheduled LPV control for oxygen stoichiometry regulation in PEM fuel cells, 52nd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, 2013, Florence, pp. 990-995.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J.A. Luna, C. Batlle, C. Kunusch, J. Riera, M.L. Sarmiento-Carnevali and M. Serra. Observation of the internal states of a PEMFC anode gas channel, XXXIV Jornadas de Automática, 2013, Terrassa, Spain.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • A. Dòria, P.F. Puleston and C. Kunusch. Control of an active rectifier with an inductive-capacitive-inductive filter using a twisting based algorithm, 39th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 2013, Vienna, Austria, pp. 3416-3421.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • C. Kunusch, J. Moreno and M. Angulo. Identification and observation in the anode line of PEM fuel cell stacks, 52nd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, 2013, Florence, pp. 1665-1670.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • C. Kunusch and F. Castaños. Extremum seeking algorithms for minimal hydrogen consumption in PEM fuel cells, 2013 American Control Conference, 2013, Washington DC, pp. 1144-1149.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • C. Kunusch and F. Castaños. On the implementation of an adaptive extremum seeking algorithm for hydrogen minimization in PEM fuel cell based systems, 12th European Control Conference, 2013, Zurich, Switzerland, pp. 2501-2506, IEEE.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • D. Feroldi, M. Allué, J. Riera, M. Serra and M. Basualdo. Experimental model for a DMC-based control applied to a PEM fuel cell, 20th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation, 2012, Barcelona, IEEE.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • S. Strahl, A.P. Husar and J. Riera. Study of hydrogen purge effects on performance and efficiency of a PEM fuel cell system, V Congreso Nacional de Pilas de Combustible, 2012, Madrid, Spain, pp. 4, APPICE.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • J. Moré, P.F. Puleston, C. Kunusch and J. Riera. Diseño e implementación de un control supervisor para sistemas híbridos de generación basado en pilas de combustible, XXIII Congreso Argentino de Control Automático, 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina, AADECA.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • D. Bezmalinovic and A.P. Husar. Water transport study in high temperature fuel cell stack, V Congreso Nacional de Pilas de Combustible, 2012, Madrid, Spain, APPICE.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M.L. Sarmiento-Carnevali, M. Serra and C. Batlle. Distributed parameter model simulation tool for PEM fuel cells, V Congreso Nacional de Pilas de Combustible, 2012, Madrid, Spain, APPICE.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

  • M. Primucci, M. Serra and J. Riera. Diagnosis tools for PEMFC using humidification interruption tests, V Congreso Nacional de Pilas de Combustible, 2012, Madrid, Spain, APPICE.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info pdf PDF

Other Publications

  • C. Kunusch, P.F. Puleston and M.Á. Mayosky. Sliding-Mode Control of PEM Fuel Cells. Volume 20 of Advances in Industrial Control. Springer UK, 2012.

    Open/Close abstract Abstract Info Info