Model‐Based Sensitivity Analysis and Design of Coordination Control Algorithm for Air Supply Subsystem of a 140 kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack With Experimental Validation

ABSTRACT Effective control of air supply subsystem is key to performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. This paper proposes a sensitivity analysis‐based coordination control algorithm for air supply subsystem of a 140 kW fuel cell stack. Sensitivity of mass flow and pressure to throttle angle and rotation speed of air compressor is analyzed based on dynamic model of the subsystem. A feedforward and feedback‐based coordination control algorithm is constructed based on individual algorithm deduced from sensitivity analysis. Rules are given for determination of parameters of feedback controller. Qualitative analysis of the control algorithm with appropriate limit on actuators shows that air pressure and mass flow can be limited to an acceptable domain around target point. Experiment on air supply subsystem for a 140 kW fuel cell stack validates that relative error of air pressure and mass flow is all controlled within ±1% at rated current of 697 A in steady state. Overshoot of mass flow and pressure is 1.6% and 1.2%, respectively, for load change from 88 to 697 A and undershoot of them −1.4% and −1.1%, respectively, from 697 to 88 A. Dynamic trajectory of mass flow and pressure validates the qualitative analysis.