Fuel Cells applied in Vehicles (FCV’s)

Abstract

Today, there is an increase in energy and power generation demand. Fuel cells have been widely recognized as one of the most promising green technologies to meet power generation demands. With the creation of Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), this can help to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutions which are emitted by the Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs).

In this project, the fuel cell applied vehicles were investigated. In this investigation, the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) were found to be most suitable type of fuel cells for Fuel Cell powered vehicles (FCVs). The PEMFC equivalent circuit can be designed and developed by PowerSIM (PSIM) software program. The components, converter/inverter, controller and electric motors for FCVs were discussed in this report.

The purpose of this report is to investigate and design the power converter system which includes a DC-DC boost converter, DC-AC 3-phase bridge inverter and traction motors. As the project is a simple model of the fuel cell system, all parts of the system are implemented in basic design. In this project, DC-DC boost converter is used to boost from low output voltage of fuel cell system to high dc voltage which is then convert into three-phase AC outputs connected to an induction or brushless dc motor. The details in schematic design and simulation results by using PSIM software give a better understanding and overview of the topic.