MODELING OF FUEL CELLS- FOR POWER SYSTEM APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy in fuels into electrical energy directly This Thesis starts with study of characteristics of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane of fuel cell in Steady state. In this study a methodology is suggested to find the maximum power generated by a PEMFC. This thesis proposes to use the power generated by this fuel cell in a distribution network to reduce the network losses and improve voltage profile. A load flow method called Backward - Forward Sweep method has been used to check voltage profile and to find loss in the network. This method is more advantageous in DG placement cases whose details were discussed in the thesis. This thesis is based on a major assumption while placing a Distributed Generation. Because the power generated by Fuel Cell has DC characteristics and the network has AC Characteristics. This assumption Involved for operation of an inverter. This Fuel Cell power is simulated as Distributed Generation in an AC system assuming that the DC power is converted to AC using an inverter.