Simulation and optimization of a hydrogen storage tank for a prototype fuel-cell car by using genetic alorithms

Abstract

With the current world situation where pollutions are destroying our world, clean technologies are emerging fast and rapidly due to the demand for a better world. To meet this demand, the idea of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are introduced in order to reduce the pollutions by introducing the hydrogen as the energy source. Hydrogen fuel­ cell vehicles combine both fuel cell and hydrogen storage tank to generate the electricity for the vehicle. In this research, a simulation and optimization of hydrogen storage tank for a prototype fuel-cell car were conducted by using genetic algorithms. The mathematical equations of the car system were derived from hydrogen tank, fuel cell, amplifier and motor and simulated using SIMULINK. The hydrogen tank was optimized by minimizing the cost of hydrogen tank using the OPTIMIZE TOOL. By comparing the different values for diameter and height, the values obtained from the OPTIMIZE TOOL is effective and could estimate the minimum cost to develop the hydrogen tank. The results seem to be promising and could be further extended to real size of car, to realize the future car powered by hydrogen as a fuel.