To improve the stability and efficiency of hybrid propulsion systems for ships, a power distribution strategy based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) threshold for multi-stack fuel cell systems is proposed.

For the hybrid power source system composed of multiple fuel cell stacks and batteries, a fuzzy logic energy management strategy based on the PSO algorithm was designed. By flexibly adjusting the number of fuel cell stacks and their individual output power based on the propulsion system load power and the battery state of charge (SOC), the control threshold of the system was optimized using PSO.

Matlab/Simulink simulation results show that this energy management strategy can quickly meet complex and changing load power requirements, and improve the system efficiency of the hybrid power source. Compared with traditional energy management strategies, the hydrogen consumption of the fuzzy logic-based and PSO threshold-based energy management strategies decreased by 18.96% and 31.48%, respectively.

This intelligent energy management strategy is applicable to multi-stack fuel cell systems in hybrid propulsion ships, and can effectively improve the system efficiency of hybrid power sources and reduce hydrogen consumption.