IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v256y2026ipas0960148125016179.html

Minimum cell voltage clamping control of proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on intelligent methods

Author

Listed:
  • Qiu, Yuqi
  • Chen, Leyuan
  • Ren, Yong
  • Zhang, Caizhi
  • Li, Feiqiang
  • Zeng, Tao
  • Wang, Gucheng
  • Li, Yuansong

Abstract

The combination of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and renewable energy has the advantages of high efficiency, environmental protection, and stable energy supply. It is crucial to control the PEMFC output power to avoid excessively low cell voltage leading to performance degradation. To mitigate the above issues, clamping control is investigated including the optimal loading rate and minimum cell voltage (MCV) prediction in this study. First, an objective evaluation method (OEM) is proposed to analyze the optimal loading rate, namely the entropy weight TOPSIS method (EW-TOPSIS). Then, the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) is proposed to predict the MCV to ensure cell voltage with the set boundary value. The results show that the optimal loading methods are effective in mitigating excessively low voltage. Note that the EW-TOPSIS can reflect objectively the gap between the various loading rates. Moreover, LSSVM has a good prediction effect on cell voltage prediction, with the lowest prediction R2 being 0.999706, and the corresponding MSE is only 3.63817 × 10−5. The proposed method can provide a theoretical reference for preventing voltage from being too low and predicting cell voltage in advance.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiu, Yuqi & Chen, Leyuan & Ren, Yong & Zhang, Caizhi & Li, Feiqiang & Zeng, Tao & Wang, Gucheng & Li, Yuansong, 2026. "Minimum cell voltage clamping control of proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on intelligent methods," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pa:s0960148125016179
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123953
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125016179
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123953?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pei, Pucheng & Chen, Huicui, 2014. "Main factors affecting the lifetime of Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells in vehicle applications: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 60-75.
    2. Arsalis, Alexandros & Papanastasiou, Panos & Georghiou, George E., 2022. "A comparative review of lithium-ion battery and regenerative hydrogen fuel cell technologies for integration with photovoltaic applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 943-960.
    3. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Ma, Xiao & Zhang, Zhaohuan & Du, Haoyu & Wu, Zhixuan & Li, Zhe & Shuai, Shijin, 2025. "Review and analysis of thermal management for proton exchange membrane fuel cell hybrid power system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    4. Corbo, P. & Migliardini, F. & Veneri, O., 2009. "Dynamic behaviour of hydrogen fuel cells for automotive application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1955-1961.
    5. Yu, Xianxian & Luo, Xiaobing & Tu, Zhengkai, 2023. "Development of a compact high-power density air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack with ultrathin steel bipolar plates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    6. Zeng, Tao & Zhang, Caizhi & Zhou, Anjian & Wu, Qi & Deng, Chenghao & Chan, Siew Hwa & Chen, Jinrui & Foley, Aoife M., 2021. "Enhancing reactant mass transfer inside fuel cells to improve dynamic performance via intelligent hydrogen pressure control," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    7. Hu, Haowen & Ou, Kai & Yuan, Wei-Wei, 2023. "Fused multi-model predictive control with adaptive compensation for proton exchange membrane fuel cell air supply system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    8. Mezzi, Rania & Yousfi-Steiner, Nadia & Péra, Marie Cécile & Hissel, Daniel & Larger, Laurent, 2021. "An Echo State Network for fuel cell lifetime prediction under a dynamic micro-cogeneration load profile," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    9. Liu, Ze & Zhang, Baitao & Xu, Sichuan, 2022. "Research on air mass flow-pressure combined control and dynamic performance of fuel cell system for vehicles application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    10. Tang, Tao & Li, Baixue & Lu, Meng & Feng, Yin & Wang, Jinwei, 2025. "Synergistic geothermal energy and ammonia fuel cell utilization towards sustainable power, cooling, and freshwater production; An exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental, and technoeconomic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    11. Zhang, Caizhi & Zeng, Tao & Wu, Qi & Deng, Chenghao & Chan, Siew Hwa & Liu, Zhixiang, 2021. "Improved efficiency maximization strategy for vehicular dual-stack fuel cell system considering load state of sub-stacks through predictive soft-loading," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 929-944.
    12. Xu, Jiamin & Zhang, Caizhi & Wan, Zhongmin & Chen, Xi & Chan, Siew Hwa & Tu, Zhengkai, 2022. "Progress and perspectives of integrated thermal management systems in PEM fuel cell vehicles: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    13. Zhang, Tong & Wang, Peiqi & Chen, Huicui & Pei, Pucheng, 2018. "A review of automotive proton exchange membrane fuel cell degradation under start-stop operating condition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 249-262.
    14. Zeng, Tao & Xiao, Long & Chen, Jinrui & Li, Yu & Yang, Yi & Huang, Shulong & Deng, Chenghao & Zhang, Caizhi, 2023. "Feedforward-based decoupling control of air supply for vehicular fuel cell system: Methodology and experimental validation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    15. Kwan, Trevor Hocksun & Katsushi, Fujii & Shen, Yongting & Yin, Shunan & Zhang, Yongchao & Kase, Kiwamu & Yao, Qinghe, 2020. "Comprehensive review of integrating fuel cells to other energy systems for enhanced performance and enabling polygeneration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    16. Chen, Huicui & Liu, Zhao & Ye, Xichen & Yi, Liu & Xu, Sichen & Zhang, Tong, 2022. "Air flow and pressure optimization for air supply in proton exchange membrane fuel cell system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    17. Fu, Hao & Kong, Fang & Wu, Feng & Wu, Xiao & Shen, Jiong, 2025. "Dynamic modeling and comprehensive analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems with complete auxiliary system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sanghyun Yun & Jinwon Yun & Jaeyoung Han, 2023. "Development of a 470-Horsepower Fuel Cell–Battery Hybrid Xcient Dynamic Model Using Simscape TM," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Xia, Zhifeng & Chen, Huicui & Zhang, Ruirui & Weng, Qianyao & Zhang, Tong & Pei, Pucheng, 2023. "Behavior analysis of PEMFC with geometric configuration variation during multiple-step loading reduction process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    3. Chen, Dongfang & Pei, Pucheng & Meng, Yining & Ren, Peng & Li, Yuehua & Wang, Mingkai & Wang, Xizhong, 2022. "Novel extraction method of working condition spectrum for the lifetime prediction and energy management strategy evaluation of automotive fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    4. Zeng, Tao & Xiao, Long & Chen, Jinrui & Li, Yu & Yang, Yi & Huang, Shulong & Deng, Chenghao & Zhang, Caizhi, 2023. "Feedforward-based decoupling control of air supply for vehicular fuel cell system: Methodology and experimental validation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    5. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Ma, Xiao & Zhang, Zhaohuan & Du, Haoyu & Wu, Zhixuan & Li, Zhe & Shuai, Shijin, 2025. "Review and analysis of thermal management for proton exchange membrane fuel cell hybrid power system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    6. Pei, Yaowang & Chen, Fengxiang & Zhou, Su & Huo, Haibo & Ye, Huan, 2025. "Inlet gas flow, pressure and temperature control technology for PEMFC stack testing platforms," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    7. Hou, Junbo & Yang, Min & Ke, Changchun & Zhang, Junliang, 2020. "Control logics and strategies for air supply in PEM fuel cell engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    8. Komini Babu, S. & Spernjak, D. & Dillet, J. & Lamibrac, A. & Maranzana, G. & Didierjean, S. & Lottin, O. & Borup, R.L. & Mukundan, R., 2019. "Spatially resolved degradation during startup and shutdown in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    9. Song, Dafeng & Wu, Qingtao & Zeng, Xiaohua & Zhang, Xuanming & Qian, Qifeng & Yang, DongPo, 2024. "Feedback-linearization decoupling based coordinated control of air supply and thermal management for vehicular fuel cell system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    10. Pei, Pucheng & Meng, Yining & Chen, Dongfang & Ren, Peng & Wang, Mingkai & Wang, Xizhong, 2023. "Lifetime prediction method of proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on current degradation law," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    11. Pei, Pucheng & Jia, Xiaoning & Xu, Huachi & Li, Pengcheng & Wu, Ziyao & Li, Yuehua & Ren, Peng & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Shangwei, 2018. "The recovery mechanism of proton exchange membrane fuel cell in micro-current operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1-9.
    12. Deng, Zhihua & Miao, Bin & Cui, Yunjia & Chen, Jian & Pan, Zehua & Liu, Hao & Deendarlianto, Deendarlianto & Suwarno, Suwarno & Chan, Siew Hwa, 2025. "Towards high-performance fuel cell systems: Comprehensive review of methods for modeling, control, and optimization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    13. Yu, Xianxian & Liu, Yang & Tu, Zhengkai & Chan, Siew Hwa, 2023. "Endplate effect in an open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack: Phenomenon and resolution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    14. Vu, Hoang Nghia & Truong Le Tri, Dat & Nguyen, Huu Linh & Kim, Younghyeon & Yu, Sangseok, 2023. "Multifunctional bypass valve for water management and surge protection in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell supply-air system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    15. Yu, Yang & Yu, Qinghua & Luo, RunSen & Chen, Sheng & Yang, Jiebo & Yan, Fuwu, 2024. "Degradation and polarization curve prediction of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: An interpretable model perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    16. Krystof Foniok & Lubomira Drozdova & Lukas Prokop & Filip Krupa & Pavel Kedron & Vojtech Blazek, 2025. "Mechanisms and Modelling of Effects on the Degradation Processes of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-64, April.
    17. Yin, Cong & Yang, Haiyu & Gong, Xiufang & Cao, Jishen & Tang, Hao, 2025. "Experimental and numerical investigation of the reverse current evolution during the start-up of a fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PA).
    18. He, Wenbin & Liu, Ting & Ming, Wuyi & Li, Zongze & Du, Jinguang & Li, Xiaoke & Guo, Xudong & Sun, Peiyan, 2024. "Progress in prediction of remaining useful life of hydrogen fuel cells based on deep learning," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    19. Ke Song & Yimin Wang & Xiao Hu & Jing Cao, 2020. "Online Prediction of Vehicular Fuel Cell Residual Lifetime Based on Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-21, November.
    20. Zhiming Zhang & Sai Wu & Huimin Miao & Tong Zhang, 2022. "Numerical Investigation of Flow Channel Design and Tapered Slope Effects on PEM Fuel Cell Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pa:s0960148125016179. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.