Dynamic Power Sharing and DC-Bus Stability in PEM Fuel Cell–Battery Marine Microgrids Using PI Control
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijce.3462Keywords:
Marine DC microgrid, Fuel cell–battery hybrid system, PI-based energy management, Hydrogen propulsion, Low-emission vesselsAbstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and performance of a classical proportional–integral (PI)-based energy management strategy for a fuel cell–battery hybrid marine DC microgrid. The work aims to determine whether deterministic and low-complexity control can ensure stable, robust, and certification-ready operation for low-emission marine propulsion systems under realistic mission conditions.
Methodology: A hybrid marine DC microgrid composed of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell and a lithium-ion battery energy storage system is developed and coordinated through a multi-loop PI-based energy management system. The battery operates as a grid-forming unit responsible for DC-bus voltage regulation, while the fuel cell supplies the steady-state propulsion and auxiliary power demand under ramp-rate constraints. System performance is assessed through a one-hour mission-based simulation representative of coastal vessel operation, focusing on DC-bus voltage stability, power sharing behavior, battery state-of-charge evolution, fuel cell tracking performance, hydrogen consumption, and instantaneous power mismatch.
Findings: The simulation results demonstrate stable DC-bus voltage regulation within ±5% of the nominal value throughout the mission. Battery state of charge remains within the predefined operating range of 20%–80%, indicating controlled battery utilization and avoidance of deep cycling. The fuel cell supplies approximately 90% of the total energy demand, while the battery absorbs short-duration load transients and limits fuel cell exposure to rapid power variations. Power mismatch remains bounded and short-lived, confirming effective coordination between system components under dynamic operating conditions.
Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: This study provides quantitative evidence that a properly structured PI-based energy management strategy can achieve reliable and low-emission operation in a megawatt-scale fuel cell–battery marine DC microgrid without reliance on computationally intensive optimization or artificial intelligence techniques. The findings reinforce the relevance of classical control methods for marine power systems, offering a transparent, robust, and certification-friendly solution for industry practitioners and supporting policymakers in the development of practical decarbonization pathways for the maritime sector.
Downloads
References
1. IMO, IMO adopts initial strategy to reduce GHG emissions from ships, International Maritime Organization, 2018.
2. IMO, Fourth IMO GHG Study 2020, International Maritime Organization, 2020.
3. H. Xing, C. Stuart, S. Spence, and H. Chen, “Fuel cell power systems for maritime applications: Progress and perspectives,” Sustainability, vol. 13, 1213, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031213
4. R. D. Geertsma et al., “Design and control of hybrid power and propulsion systems for smart ships: A review,” Applied Energy, vol. 194, pp. 30–54, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.02.060
5. J. M. Andújar and F. Segura, “Fuel cells: History and updating,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 13, pp. 2309–2322, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.03.015
6. Kirubakaran et al., “A review on fuel cell technologies and power electronic interface,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 2430–2440, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.04.004
7. H. Choi et al., “Development and demonstration of PEM fuel-cell–battery hybrid system for propulsion of tourist boat,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 41, no. 5, pp. 3591–3599, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.12.186
8. K. M. Bagherabadi et al., “System-level modeling of marine power plant with PEMFC system and battery,” International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, vol. 14, 100487, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnaoe.2022.100487
9. P. Xie et al., “A two-layer energy management system for a hybrid electrical passenger ship with multi-PEM fuel cell stack,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 50, pp. 1005–1019, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.297
10. J. I. Lee et al., “Analysis of solid oxide fuel cell hybrid power system in marine application for CO₂ reduction,” Energy Reports, vol. 9, pp. 3072–3081, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.01.123
11. W. Yu et al., “Evaluation on the energy efficiency and emissions reduction of a short-route hybrid sightseeing ship,” Ocean Engineering, vol. 162, pp. 34–42, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.05.016
12. Kravos et al., “Thermodynamically consistent reduced electrochemical model for PEM fuel cell,” Journal of Power Sources, vol. 454, 227930, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227930
13. L. Barelli et al., “Dynamic modeling of a hybrid propulsion system for tourist boat,” Energies, vol. 11, 2592, 2018. https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102592
14. B. L. Biert et al., “A review of fuel cell systems for maritime applications,” Journal of Power Sources, vol. 327, pp. 345–364, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.07.007
15. J. Penga et al., “Analysis of hybrid ship machinery system with PEM fuel cells and battery pack,” Applied Sciences, vol. 14, 2878, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072878
16. N. Shakeri et al., “Modeling and stability analysis of fuel cell-based marine hybrid power systems,” IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 5075–5091, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/TTE.2023.3325579
17. C. Dall’Armi et al., “Hybrid PEM fuel cell power plants fuelled by hydrogen for shipping,” Energies, vol. 16, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16042022
18. G. Elkafas et al., “Fuel cell systems for maritime: Review of research and applications,” Processes, vol. 11, 97, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11010097
19. J. Larminie and A. Dicks, Fuel Cell Systems Explained, 3rd ed., Wiley, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118878330
20. P. Ghimire et al., “Dynamic modeling and control of marine DC hybrid power system,” IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/TTE.2020.3023896
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Hussam Adel Banawi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
