Modeling and Analysis of Renewable PEM Fuel Cell System

This study aims to analyze a renewable proton exchange membrane PEM fuel cell system, by dividing it into four subsystems (PEM fuel cells as the main power source, PEM electrolyser as hydrogen producer, photovoltaic modules as the renewable source that supplies the electrolyser, and hydrogen tank). Then, a mathematical model of each subsystem is simulated in MATLAB to get the operational curves, which are used to design a 1 kW fuel cell system starting with calculating the amount of hydrogen needed by the fuel cells to work continuously, then the size of the water electrolyser used to produce this hydrogen, and the energy needed for electrolysis process. Then, estimating the enough power of the PV modules to provide this energy, according to the solar irradiance in Damascus city, and finally determine the size of hydrogen tank used to store the extra necessary hydrogen to keep fuel cells supply uninterrupted power among the whole year. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.