Modified Sliding Mode-Based Control of a Three-Level Interleaved DC-DC Buck Converter for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

The purpose of this paper is to propose a three-level interleaved DC-DC buck converter with a modified sliding mode-based control complying with the performance requirements for a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer applications. The proposed and realized three-level interleaved DC-DC buck converter features an improved step-down ratio and low output current ripple. The design of modified sliding mode-based control and the experimental results of the studied system are presented and discussed. Thanks to the robustness of the controller, the electrolyzer current correctly follows its reference with respect to the uncertainty parameters. Moreover, the voltage balancing of the two capacitors at the converter's input side is taken into account by the control system.