Modeling and Simulation of Hybrid Battery – Fuel Cell Energy System for UAVs

In this study, a hybrid power system combining a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with a lithium-ion battery is designed and modeled to address the fuel cell's slow transient response in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. A rule-based energy management system (EMS) is developed to maintain a stable 48 V DC bus by strategically activating the battery during start-up and sudden changes in load. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid system effectively ensures bus voltage stability, protects the fuel cell from damaging transient stresses, and ultimately enhances its operational lifetime, providing a robust power solution for mission-critical UAVs.