Optimal Starting of IM Energized by PEM Fuel Cells Stack without Energy Storage Devices

This article introduces a novel attempt to optimally run a three-phase induction motor (3ph-IM) supplied from a proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) stack. Particularly, a well-matured type of PEMFCs stack, called NedStack PS6 6 kW, is utilized to feed a 5.5 kW 3ph-IM through an AC drive without any storage elements (batteries or supercapacitors). A new metaheuristic algorithm (MHA), called circle search algorithm (CSA), is applied to feed the motor with optimal applied voltages and frequencies to start the motor with minimum energy supplied from the PEMFCs regardless of the load torque. A fitness function of two terms is used, the first term is the integral time absolute error (ITAE) between the 3ph-IM synchronous speed and the actual speed, and the second term is the output energy from the PEMFCs. Moreover, a CSA-based methodology is integrated to optimally operate the 3ph-IM at different desired speeds regardless of the loading scenarios with the same fitness function. The captured numerical outcomes affirm the robustness of the proposed methodology to effectively operate the 3ph-IM without any storage device.