• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2022

This study proposes a design method of fuel cell DC/DC converter using in 5-ton forklift. For efficient hydrogen usage, targeted fuel cell system recirculates discarded hydrogen after fuel cell reaction. Recirculating hydrogen contains much impurities that reduces output power, increasing pressure that can damage the internal fuel cell reaction system. The proposed DC/DC converter effectively converts fuel cell power considering the voltage drop rate to reflect the recirculating hydrogen. Then, frequency control method is used to regulate the current ripple amount for battery and fuel cell hybrid configuration. Proposed power converter system design and control methods are verified in a practical fuel cell system that implements recirculating hydrogen.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

This paper explains a DMFC-Lithium Battery hybrid system applied to a forklift. A conventional Lead Acid battery forklift has several problems: long charging times, short operation times, and frequent battery replacements. As a result, hydrogen-powered forklifts are replacing Lead acid battery-powered forklifts due to their shorter refueling time and longer operation times. However, in doing so, we are confronted with the problem of a high hydrogen refueling infrastructure. A Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC), on the other hand, is an eco-friendly generator that directly converts the chemical energy of methanol into electricity. In general, DMFC is regarded as a small power generator under kW power. In this paper, a DMFC-Battery hybrid system is applied to a 1.5 ton forklift by increasing the power output of the DMFC stack and utilizing the high charge-discharge characteristics of a lithium battery.