This paper presents a systematic approach to the multivariable robust control of a hybrid fuel cell gas turbine plant. The hybrid configuration under investigation comprises a physical simulation of a 300 kW fuel cell coupled to a 120 kW auxiliary power unit single spool gas turbine. The facility provides for the testing and simulation of different fuel cell models that in turn help identify the key issues encountered in the transient operation of such systems. An empirical model of the facility consisting of a simulated fuel cell cathode volume and balance of plant components is derived via frequency response data. Through the modulation of various airflow bypass valves within the hybrid configuration, Bode plots are used to derive key input/output interactions in transfer function format. A multivariate system is then built from individual transfer functions, creating a matrix that serves as the nominal plant in an H-infinity robust control algorithm. The controller’s main objective is to track and maintain hybrid operational constraints in the fuel cell’s cathode airflow and the turbo machinery states of temperature and speed under transient disturbances. This algorithm is then tested on a SIMULINK/MATLAB platform for various perturbations of load and fuel cell heat effluence.
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August 2010
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Multivariable Robust Control of a Simulated Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Plant
Alex Tsai,
Alex Tsai
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University
, Engineering Sciences Building, Evansdale Dr., Room G-70, Morgantown, WV 26506-6106
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Larry Banta,
Larry Banta
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University
, Engineering Sciences Building, Evansdale Dr., Room G-70, Morgantown, WV 26506-6106
Search for other works by this author on:
David Tucker,
David Tucker
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880
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Randall Gemmen
Randall Gemmen
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880
Search for other works by this author on:
Alex Tsai
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University
, Engineering Sciences Building, Evansdale Dr., Room G-70, Morgantown, WV 26506-6106
Larry Banta
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University
, Engineering Sciences Building, Evansdale Dr., Room G-70, Morgantown, WV 26506-6106
David Tucker
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880
Randall Gemmen
U.S. Department of Energy,
National Energy Technology Laboratory
, 3610 Collins Ferry Rd., PO Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Aug 2010, 7(4): 041008 (9 pages)
Published Online: April 7, 2010
Article history
Received:
June 23, 2008
Revised:
March 21, 2009
Online:
April 7, 2010
Published:
April 7, 2010
Citation
Tsai, A., Banta, L., Tucker, D., and Gemmen, R. (April 7, 2010). "Multivariable Robust Control of a Simulated Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Gas Turbine Plant." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. August 2010; 7(4): 041008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000628
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