Control logics and strategies for air supply in PEM fuel cell engines

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have been a long pursuit due to its high efficiency and environmental benign, and PEM fuel cell vehicles have already been commercialized and are being pushed on the market worldwide. One of key components, fuel cell compressors in the balance of plant, and the air supply were thoroughly reviewed in this paper. Following the governing laws and fundamental theory about compressors, the type and characteristics of various fuel cell compressors were summarized. Roots, screw, centrifugal compressors and some supercharger or turbocharger among most positive displacement and dynamic compressors were considered as the best options for the on board application. Their application by automotive manufacturers was briefly introduced. Due to the autonomous air supply in PEM fuel cell engine, various control logics and strategies for the air supply were extensively reviewed. The sole control including PID control, model predictive control, sliding mode control, fuzzy control, neural control, etc, and the hybrid or hierarchical structures of control like parenting, parallel, and combined structures were systematically discussed, which might shed light on the future research.