Abstract:
This research presents a 4-phase paralleled step-up converter for fuel cell generator.
In high power applications, the interleaving technique for paralleling input of the converter
system has been studied for many years. The modified 4-phase interleaved fuel cell
converter is studied for higher voltage conversion ratio. By virtue of paralleling the
converters, the input current can be shared among the phases, so that high reliability and
efficiency in power electronic systems can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to improve
the system characteristics such as maintenance, repair, fault tolerance, and low heat
dissipation. The average-current-control in continuous conduction mode for the proposed
converter is analyzed in details.
To authenticate the control system, a small-scale test bench was implemented in
laboratory in Thai-French Innovation Institute. The prototype fuel cell converter of 1.2-kW
connected with a NexaTM fuel cell (1.2-kW 46 A) developed by Ballard Power System
Company is implemented for high-voltage applications. Experimental results of the power
converter authenticate the excellent performance. The power converter can boost a low dc
fuel cell voltage of 32.4 V up to a dc bus voltage of 200 V.
For research publications, two IEEE conference papers has been published and one
international journal paper (2011 Impact factor = 2.216) has been published.