PEMFC state and parameter estimation through a high-gain based adaptive observer.

Andreu Cecilia, Maria Serra, Ramon Costa-Castelló https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2020.12.1639 This work presents the design of an adaptive observer to estimate the cathode catalytic layer’s water content of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and some of the parameters related to its water dynamics. However, in general, existing adaptive observer algorithms require a certain relative degree condition which is not satisfied in the concerned fuel cell system. This conflict is solved by modifying the adaptive observer strategy with an auxiliary signal that does satisfy the relative degree condition. This signal is estimated through a high-gain observer. The viability of the presented observer is validated through numerical simulations.