Adaptive Power Distribution Method Considering Lifespan Synchronization of Multi-Stack Fuel Cell Power Systems

To extend the lifespan of multi-stack fuel cell power systems (MS-FCPS) and ensure that the overall aging of each stack remains consistent during operation, an adaptive power distribution method considering life convergence is proposed for MS-FCPS. During the operation of MS-FCPS, the output power of fuel cells dynamically changes with different operating conditions, leading to inconsistent aging of each stack. Therefore, the State of Health (SOH) is proposed as a quantitative indicator to represent the aging degree of the fuel cell stacks during operation. Additionally, a semi-empirical model of the fuel cell is used to simulate the impact of aging on stack performance. Finally, a simulation experiment built with MATLAB compares the adaptive power distribution method with the average power distribution method and the chain power distribution method. The results show that this method can coordinate the output of each fuel cell, making the health state of each stack tend to be consistent, thereby extending the system’s lifespan.