Modeling a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

Abstract

This paper deals with the optimization of electrical energy management in a hybrid vehicle (fuel cell / super-capacitor), in order to minimize the hydrogen consumption with the maintaining of the load state of the super -capacitor. In the first section of this paper, the used sources of energy, the modeling of the hybrid system, the choice of the type of electronic converters as well the dimensioning of these elements will be presented. Secondly, the energy management strategies which are based on algorithms that determine at each moment the sharing of the power demand between the two sources, will prove that the fuel cell presents the main source while the super capacitors module play the role of the auxiliary source. The quantitative study of vehicle fuel consumption is also presented according to cell number variation and the power provided by the secondary source. The numerical results obtained under the FORTRAN environment indicate that it is possible to achieve nearly optimal case energy management for the NEDC speed cycle. The reduction in the consumption of hydrogen allows the reduction of the size of the fuel cell and thus the costs of the energy production. The recovery of kinetic energy during braking saves hydrogen and increases the range of the vehicle. The load state (current/voltage) of the super-capacitor is well controlled, and it is worthy of note that it returns to the initial state at the end of the conduct cycle in all cases. The considered strategy shows a notable reduction of the consumption of hydrogen by the adoption of a good management strategy of the electrical energy in the hybrid system.
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