Voltage Regulation of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Output Using a PWM-Controlled DC-DC Boost Converter: Design, Simulation, and Experimental Validation

This paper’s key contribution is a complete, reproducible fuel cell–boost converter test platform — combining a custom EasyEDA-designed PCB, an Arduino-based 25 kHz PWM control scheme, and cross-validation across theoretical, LTspice simulation, and hardware results. It experimentally demonstrates open-loop voltage regulation of a low, load-variable PEM fuel cell output (3.3–6.8 V) up to 17.57 V, achieving 85% peak efficiency at D = 0.7. Notably, it identifies where non-idealities (R_DS(on) losses, diode drop, ESR) dominate — an efficiency plateau beyond D = 0.5 — providing a practical benchmark platform for future closed-loop and wide-bandgap converter research.