Coordinated control approach for hydrogen vehicle gas supply and thermal management subsystems based on hybrid control framework

The high efficiency and stability of the electrochemical reactions within a vehicle's proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack are underpinned by the coordinated operation of the supply and thermal management subsystems. The former precisely regulates the pressure and flow rate of hydrogen and air, while the latter maintains the stack within an optimal temperature range (typically 338.15–358.15 K). The inherent nonlinearity and strong coupling between the subsystems pose a significant control challenge, necessitating a highly robust controller to meet the stringent performance criteria of automotive applications. This study introduces a novel strategy featuring a hybrid control architecture to address the coupled dynamics of the supply and thermal management subsystems. The supply system is governed by a robust controller that ensures rapid finite-time convergence, while a linear optimal controller is designed for thermal regulation. The results confirm that this approach significantly boosts system efficiency and stability, thereby guaranteeing the durable operation of the stack under complex loading scenarios.