Fuel　cell　air　compressor　is　a　key　enabler　of　hydrogen-based　renewable　energy　systems　as　it　improves　air　supply　efficiency　and　stability.　This　paper　first　simplifies　the　gas　flow　equations,　compares　ideal　gas　path　elements　with　circuit　elements,　and　converts　the　air　compressor　system　transfer　function　into　an　interpretable　control-oriented　energy-circuit-based　model,　and　derives　the　transfer　matrix　relating　flow　and　pressure　at　any　position　to　the　initial　position　using　Laplace　transforms.　The　reconstructed　model　then　converts　the　complex　frequency　domain　system　transfer　functions　into　the　time-domain　form,　generating　a　control-oriented　energy-circuit-based　model　for　the　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　air　compressor　system　to　describe　the　dynamical　and　dimensional　features.　Under　the　current　step　condition,　the　energy-circuit-based　air　compressor　system　model　achieves　less　than　5　%　mean　relative　error　(MRE)　in　intake　manifold　pressure　and　flow.　The　model-based　pressure　distribution　has　a　root-mean-squared　error　(RMSE)　and　an　MRE　of　26.5　Pa　and　0.01246　%　compared　to　finite　element　results.　Additionally,　the　energy-circuit-based　air　compressor　system　model　with　surge　constraints　has　been　used　to　develop　the　model　predictive　controller　which　has　been　further　tested　under　typical　simulation　conditions.　The　proposed　control　strategy　demonstrates　enhanced　transient　response　and　enables　the　determination　of　pressure　distribution　along　the　pipeline.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd