High‐Fidelity Integrated Simulation Platform for PEMFC–Battery Hybrid Marine Propulsion and Thermal Management

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has strengthened regulations on ship emissions, increasing interest in eco‐friendly marine propulsion systems. Among these, the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a promising alternative for small ships. This study aims to develop a system‐level high‐fidelity integrated fuel cell–battery hybrid small ship model and evaluate the performance of different power management strategies, focusing on energy efficiency and thermal management. A comprehensive model was developed using Matlab/Simulink and Matlab/Simscape, integrating a PEMFC stack, high‐voltage battery, power conversion units, motor, and thermal management system (TMS). Two power management systems (PMSs), rule‐based and fuzzy‐based, were implemented and analyzed under realistic operational profiles, including trim angle effects. Simulation results showed that the fuzzy‐based PMS reduced hydrogen consumption by 8.6%, improved overall energy efficiency by 17.8%, decreased overshoot by 21.6%, and shortened settling time by 121 s compared to the rule‐based PMS. TMS energy consumption was also reduced due to precise control of coolant pumps and valves. Qualitatively, the fuzzy‐based PMS stabilized battery state of charge (SOC) and mitigated fuel cell overload, demonstrating improved operational stability during dynamic ship operation.