Implementation of high step-up power converter for fuel cell application with hybrid MPPT controller

V Prashanth; Shaik Rafikiran; C H Hussaian Basha; Jinka Anil Kumar; C Dhanamjayulu; Hossam Kotb; Ali ELrashidi

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-53763-0

Implementation of high step-up power converter for fuel cell application with hybrid MPPT controller

Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 9;14(1):3342. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53763-0.

Authors

V Prashanth¹, Shaik Rafikiran², C H Hussaian Basha¹, Jinka Anil Kumar¹, C Dhanamjayulu³, Hossam Kotb⁴, Ali ELrashidi^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ NITTE Meenakshi Institute of Technology (Autonomous), Banglore, India.
² Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering (Autonomous), Tirupati, AP, India.
³ School of Electrical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. dhanamjayulu.c@vit.ac.in.
⁴ Department of Electrical Power and Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21544, Egypt.
⁵ Electrical Engineering Department, University of Business and Technology, Ar Rawdah, 23435, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. a.elrashidi@ubt.edu.sa.
⁶ Engineering Mathematics Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21544, Egypt. a.elrashidi@ubt.edu.sa.

Abstract

As of now, there are multiple types of renewable energy sources available in nature which are hydro, wind, tidal, and solar. Among all of that the solar energy source is used in many applications because of its features are low maitainence cost, less human power for handling, a clean source, more availability in nature, and reduced carbon emissions. However, the disadvantages of solar networks are continuously depending on the weather conditions, high complexity of the solar energy storage, and lots of installation place is required. So, in this work, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stack (PEMFS) is utilized for supplying the power to the local consumers. The merits of this fuel stack are high power density, ability to work at very less temperature values, efficient heat maintenance, and water management. Also, this fuel stack gives a quick startup response. The only demerit of PEMFS is excessive current production, plus very less output voltage. To optimize the current supply of the fuel stack, a Wide Input Operation Single Switch Boost Converter (WIOSSBC) circuit is placed across the fuel stack output to improve the load voltage profile. The advantages of the WIOSSBC are less current ripples, uniform voltage supply, plus good voltage conversion ratio. Another issue of the fuel stack is nonlinear power production. To linearize the issue of fuel stack, the Grey Wolf Algorithm Dependent Fuzzy Logic Methodology (GWADFLM) is introduced in this article for maintaining the operating point of the fuel cell near to Maximum Power Point (MPP) place. The entire system is investigated by utilizing the MATLAB software.

Keywords: Boost DC-DC circuit; Conversion of voltage; Duty cycle; Fast tracing speed; Few oscillations of voltage; Good dynamic response; Plus more efficiency.