Abstract
Power systems using renewable energy sources have emerged as a sustainable solution for decarbonizing the energy
sector. Implementing such systems requires integrating them with an efficient storage medium to improve their reliability
and flexibility. This work explores the modeling and parameterization of a fuel cell system, with the purpose of coupling
it with a metal hydride-based hydrogen storage reservoir. An electrical and thermal 0D simulation model for a 1.6 kW
air-cooled proton exchange fuel cell stack is developed to investigate its performance, heat transfer and temperature
development. The model validation and simulation are done by testing it with four different steady-state power demand
scenarios. Experimental results show an efficient thermal coupling between the fuel cell stack and the metal-hydride
system. Simulations and experimental results show an excellent agreement. The developed modeling approach is also
appliccable to the design of different gas-to-power configurations and sizes, for the design of fuel cell–metal hydride
storage systems.
