A simple PEM fuel cell emulator using electrical circuit model

This paper presents the development of a simple emulator for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This emulator is built based on the dynamic model of PEM fuel cells using electrical circuits. The electrical circuit model has been modeled in Matlab Simulink environments. The double-layer charging effect characteristic inside the fuel cell is included in the models. The steady-state and transient response of the model is investigated. Emulator performance is validated using experimental data from a 500-W commercial PEM fuel-cell stack. The emulator could be used in PEM fuel-cell control related studies.