Active disturbance rejection temperature control of open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract Open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is promising in small-scale power generation due to its compact channel that integrates air supply and coolant flow. The operational temperature is significant for the safety and efficiency, but the temperature control is challenging due to the various uncertainties resulted from model inaccuracy and unexpected disturbances. To this end, the uncertainties and disturbances are lumped as a unified item, which is then augmented as an extended state to the original system. The extended uncertain state is estimated via the real-time input-output data and then compensated by active disturbance rejection control (ADRC). A series of linear models are identified via step response tests, showing the strong nonlinearity. Besides, PI and ADRC controllers are respectively designed based on the nominal linear model. The performance guarantee of ADRC is theoretically proved under uncertainty. Extensive simulations of the proposed models demonstrate the uncertainty compensation ability of ADRC. Finally, practical tests on a 300 W PEMFC experimental bench show that the proposed ADRC method has the obvious advantage over the conventional PI controller in both tracking and regulation performances.