System and method for adaptive rehydration of PEM fuel cells with dual architecture, for multirotor aerial platforms

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for adaptive rehydration of air-cooled PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cells, particularly meant for multirotor-type unmanned aerial platforms, equipped with hybrid fuel cell-battery propulsion systems. According to the invention, the system includes at least two PEM cells (FC1, FC2) connected, through power converters (C1, C2), to a common DC bus (50), an electrochemical energy storage system (B), an energy management module (EMS), a single external rehydration unit (RBU), selectively connected to any of the cells by means of a controlled switching assembly (M), the energy management module (EMS) being configured to detect the dehydration state of the membrane of one of the cells, to temporarily disconnect the selected cell from the bus (50) and to activate the rehydration unit (RBU) to induce a controlled rehydration current, while the external load supply is maintained by the other cell and the system battery. The solution allows an alternative rehydration of the cells without interrupting the platform operation, contributing to increasing the electrochemical stability, energy efficiency and life span of the PEM cells in multirotor aerial applications.