Hardware in the loop simulation test platform of fuel cell backup system

Based on an analysis of voltage mechanistic model, a real-time simulation model of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell backup system is developed, and verified by the measurable experiment data. The method of online parameters identification for the model is also improved. Based on the software LabVIEW/VeriStand real-time environment and the PXI Express hardware system, the PEM fuel cell system controller hardware in the loop (HIL) simulation plat-form is established. Controller simulation test results showed the accuracy of HIL simulation platform. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell has broad application prospects, based on its clean, efficient advantages, but at present its reliability and durability are the key barriers for its commercialization. The reliability and durability can be improved through a lot of system test for improvement of auxiliary system matching and control strategy, which however causes the high cost, and has the risk of damaging the fuel cell stack and auxiliary system. Hardware in the loop (HIL) real-time simulation platform can simulate the system extreme conditions, rapidly detect control strategy, forming a cheap capability of testing PEM fuel cell auxiliary system and rapid control strategy optimization. To the best of our knowledge, we found that the main methods of HIL simulation test platform were combined simulation models based on Matlab/Simulink software with x-PC(1-2) or dSPACE real-time(3) hardware system. But, communication between x - PC real-time system and tested ECU needs to design signal processing hardware; dSPACE real-time system is more expensive, while PXI Express real-time system has a high speed computing capability, and is equipped with abundant I/O and signal processing units, etc. The Labview/VeriStand is a real- time test application software, convenient to import simulation model and control algorithm from the Simulink software environment. HIL simulation test needs a suitable system dynamic model, but the most of present PEM fuel cell mathematical models are based on mechanistic approaches (4) and empirical approaches (5-6). However mechanistic models generally require highly the knowledge of fuel cell stack internal parameters; empirical models are combined with mechanistic and empirical formulas (7), its voltage parameters are obtained by the experimental data, but the model parameters are not accurate for different fuel cell system. For different system of PEMFC, its mechanistic model and empirical model are obtained by parameter identification (8-9) based on experimental data. The specific definition of PEM fuel cell modeling parameters and the parameter identification process are rarely studied. Therefore, combining with stack voltage mechanistic formula, we established the PEM fuel cell backup system dynamic model, and showed specific measured input parameters definition and the model parameters identification. Based on the VeriStand real-time software and PXI Express hardware system, PEM fuel cell HIL simulation platform was developed and the PEMFC system hardware in the loop simulation test was implemented. Simulation test platform results showed the accuracy of HIL simulation model. It could perform various tests on verification of low-level software platform and high-level control algorithms.