Clean  energy technologies like photovoltaics (PV) and fuel cells are vital for a sustainable future, but optimizing their performance is crucial. One way of optimizing those technologies is to maximize the energy extraction via Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy, which ensures that these devices operate at their highest possible power at certain state. MPPT is widely used in PV cells to maximize energy conversion from sunlight. However, its application in fuel cells, particularly Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs), is less straightforward. Through examining critical performance metrics, this study compares the effectiveness of MPPT in both technologies, shedding light on their operational efficiencies and unique challenges.

Researchers have conducted a critical analysis of the MPPT strategy in PV and fuel cells, using key performance metrics to evaluate and compare these two energy technologies. The study, led by Dr. Zuhair Alyousef from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals and Professor Oscar Crisalle from the University of Florida, was published in the journal Energy Reports.

Dr. Alyousef and Professor Crisalle performed detailed analyses to investigate the effectiveness of MPPT algorithms in PV cells and DMFCs, a good representative of the hydrogen fuel cells family. They aimed to establish a comparative and contrasting study of the performance of these technologies under Maximum Power Point (MPP) conditions for various operational scenarios. The study addresses critical variables affecting electrical power in these devices, including temperature, solar irradiance (for PV cells), and methanol concentration (for DMFCs).

 Through the analysis, the researchers confirmed that PV cells maintain good voltage quality at MPP, retaining most of the open-circuit voltage. Conversely, the study shows that DMFC performance deteriorates significantly at MPP, losing a substantial portion of the open-circuit voltage. The fill factor analysis also supported these findings, with PV cells achieving a high fill factor, while DMFCs displayed much lower values.

“PV cells demonstrate high voltages, large fill factors, and maximum solar-to-power conversion efficiency at MPP regimes,” said Dr. Alyousef. “However, fuel cells display different behaviors, showing significant voltage losses and lower fill factors at MPP zones.”

The study revealed that temperature has a profound effect on the performance of both PV cells and DMFCs. PV cells exhibited better performance at lower temperatures, while DMFCs showed improved performance with increasing temperature due to enhanced reaction kinetics. However, DMFCs face challenges such as cathode flooding at higher currents, where most of the pore spaces in the liquid distribution layer are occupied with water, leading to performance degradation.

Solar irradiance significantly impacts the performance of PV cells, with higher irradiance levels leading to increased power output. For DMFCs, methanol concentration plays a crucial role, with higher concentrations resulting in higher voltages. However, the optimal concentration must be carefully balanced to prevent methanol crossover losses.

The study’s findings underscore the need for optimized operational conditions for both technologies to maximize their efficiency. Dr. Alyousef and Professor Crisalle provided several recommendations for further advancement and investigation of MPPT in PV and fuel cells, emphasizing the importance of addressing specific challenges associated with each technology. The comprehensive analysis presented in this study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of MPPT algorithms in different energy technologies and highlights the unique challenges and opportunities associated with each.

Journal Reference

Alyousef, Z., & Crisalle, O. D. (2023). Critical analysis for evaluating maximum power point tracking strategy in photovoltaics and fuel cells using key performance metrics. Energy Reports, 10, 4692-4703. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.11.009