Design of Two Coupled Fuzzy Controllers for a Planar Direct Internal Reforming Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

ABSTRACT In this paper, a fuzzy‐based control system for the operation of a planar direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell (DIR‐SOFC) model is proposed. Two coupled fuzzy controllers are designed to control the inlet fuel and air flowrates in order to satisfy requirements for power demand, cell outlet voltage, and temperature. Suitable membership functions for fuzzification and defuzzification are selected as well as rational base rules defined. For inlet air flowrate control, two different approaches are developed. Each of them works together with the fuel controller. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of both control systems, but a comparison of the results demonstrates that feedback of the change of the cell outlet temperature improves control. Both the dynamic modeling of the planar DIR‐SOFC and the design of the fuzzy control system are realized using the MATLAB/Simulink environment.