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This paper presents a novel power flow control system for a remote military microgrid with hybrid energy storage. A combination of batteries and supercapacitors (SCs) is managed by the novel control system to increase the battery life by redirecting the higher frequency current that would have to flow in the battery if SCs were not present. This paper offers a practical solution to manage the SC current and ensure that the SCs are never overcharged or commanded to support the system when they are discharged to the lower operating limit chosen. The new controller allows the independent selection of the low-pass filter parameter and the number of SCs. By making the most out of these two degrees of freedom, we investigate different configurations, identifying the one achieving the highest cash flow for the overall system. Modeling, simulations, and experimental verification are presented and linked to the sensitivity analysis of the economics of the military microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new battery management system (BMS) for a series string of battery cells. The proposed control structure is based on the duality of the adaptive droop control theory used in dc micro-grid connected sources. An adaptive virtual admittance is used in this paper similar to the virtual resistance control structure used with dc micro-grid connected sources. The virtual admittance value is adjusted according to the associated state of charge for every connected battery cell. The presented BMS control structure yields higher reliability compared to the conventional ones due to its decentralization features and its communication-less ability. Thus, balanced power-sharing is realized among the connected battery cells during charging/discharging conditions. The stability of the proposed control is analyzed using the small signal model. The proposed BMS control structure is validated using simulation results and an experimental prototype for three connected battery cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the damping ability of point of common coupling (PCC) voltage feedforward is analyzed in order to improve the stability of current control, in which interference with an LCL filter of a battery energy storage system (BESS) and synchronous inductance of a diesel generator is considered in a stand-alone microgrid. A BESS can be charged by a diesel generator when the state of charge of the battery bank is significantly insufficient and where the BESS operates with constant current constant voltage control and the diesel generator provides constant voltage constant frequency control. In this case, large synchronous when the diesel generator is in a steady state may severely cause the instability of current control. The stability analysis should be required to guarantee the paralleled operation between BESS and diesel generator. An equivalent circuit model of the diesel generator is needed to perform these processes. To bring availability of analysis, this paper considers a simple equivalent circuit model considering synchronous inductance in the steady state, and it has very large inductance corresponding 1 per unit. The resonance issue is attenuated by the damping ability of PCC voltage feedforward where it is possible to improve the stability by appropriately adjusting the gain of the voltage feedforward. The effects of the synchronous inductance and the feedforward loop are analyzed in the s-domain and z-domain. The gain of the voltage feedforward is determined to be 0.2 and 0.4 based on stability analysis. To verify the validity of the damping effect of PCC voltage feedforward, a demonstration site is constructed and the stability is verified through simulation and experiment with a full model, and total harmonic distortion of current is improved to 2.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel power flow control strategy, combined with an economic analysis, for an energy management system (EMS) involving a hybrid energy storage. The EMS operates a remote microgrid and directs the power flow to either batteries or supercapacitors to increase the life of the batteries. This paper demonstrates how the use of supercapacitors increases the lifetime of the batteries and ultimately how it affects the economics of the system. The proposed EMS controller also compensates for the 120-Hz ripple on the dc bus. Modeling, simulations, and experimental verification are presented together with the procedure to perform the assessment of the battery lifetime, according to the tuning parameters of the controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mobile charging system (MCS) for electric vehicles (EVs) is presented in this paper. The proposed MCS has a 2-MWh energy storage capacity for charging five EVs simultaneously with 75-kW individual charging rates. The MCS would be rechargeable from the available power substations (three phase, 480 V) with 375-kW charging rate. The appropriate modular power interface is designed and implemented between the MCS, batteries of the EVs, and the power substations. Experimental validation is presented in this paper to demonstrate the system performance and effectiveness under rapid charging requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordinated development of charging points reveals to be crucial in supporting the envisaged diffusion of electric vehicles, along with their proper design to ensure smart and fast charging performances and economic advantages for drivers. The integration of charging points with local generation and storage can enhance this process. In this paper, the structure of a modular electric vehicle supply infrastructure is proposed. It is based on the integration of photovoltaic rooftops, energy storage and electric vehicle stations in a dc microgrid, enabling coordination and control as well as the functions of bidirectional charging and the possibility to provide grid services at connection point. The main features of the technical demonstrator are described, along with the targeted innovations for system manager and final user, and the possible control functions involving operation planning, real-time control, and ancillary service market inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a three-port three-phase current-fed dc–dc converter with high-frequency isolation and bidirectional power flow. Port I is fed by a battery bank, port II employs a set of photovoltaic modules, and port III is connected to a dc link. The topology uses three single-phase H-bridge cells in the primary side and a three-phase H-bridge converter in the secondary one. High-frequency isolation is ensured by three single-phase transformers connected in an open delta-wye configuration. The theoretical analysis is performed considering the fundamental component of the voltage across the transformers. Maximum power point tracking, the battery current, and the power flow between the primary and secondary sides are controlled by the use of variable duty cycle technique in the primary side and the use of phase-shift technique between the primary and secondary bridges. In order to validate the study, experimental results of the proposed system considering the dc rated voltages as 48 V/96 V/380 V for Ports I/II/III, respectively, and rated power of 3.5 kW are carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an operational cost-based approach for battery energy storage management. In this approach, the operation value is derived to optimally manage one battery application—photovoltaic (PV) capacity firming or PV smoothing. The proposed approach is an optimization framework that augments a PV smoothing algorithm where the battery is used to smooth the output of intermittent PV farm. The objective of the optimization framework is to provide maximum operational benefits for the battery. To this end, first, a formal method is developed that finds the operational benefits which is then demonstrated using a field verified electro-magnetic transient (EMTP) model of a real-world feeder. Second, the positive effect in the operation of the feeder is quantified in terms of monetary value. It is demonstrated that the knowledge of monetary value can provide better operational benefits of energy storage applications such as PV smoothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual active bridge (DAB) converter promises high power density. The highest power transfer can be achieved by phase shift modulation inside the zero-voltage switching boundaries. This paper analyzes the transients of DAB commutation. Although commutation has been previously analyzed for DAB with the linear turn-off snubbers, in today's industries, the output capacitors of the switches are utilized as the snubberless approach. The presence of these time-variant capacitors leads to nonlinear equations. This paper applies a piecewise linear model for analyzing the commutation of the ac-link current into the switches. The study is inspired by practical experiments, and the results are experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with the design of the power train for a hybrid electric motorcycle (HEM). The HEM power train is composed of an internal combustion engine coupled to a synchronous electric machine (EM). The EM is fed by a standard three-phase inverter connected to a high-voltage battery pack. Low weight and volume are the main requirements for HEMs, and the energy storage system (ESS) is the most critical part. Different kinds of ESSs are compared to choose the best solution balancing cost, volume, and weight. A methodology of investigation is proposed in order to recognize all the data necessary to find out the ESS. Moreover, the design choices adopted for the electric drive are reported. In order to predict EM, power converter, and battery pack performances, efficiency maps have been computed. The whole power train has been prototyped. Experimental tests of the HEM prototype on test bench and on a real racetrack are presented. All the experimental measurements highlight a significant performance enhancement of the new HEM with respect to the original one. The HEM acceleration time and top velocity have been improved without affecting too much the original motorcycle weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable power plants must comply with certain codes and requirements to be connected to the grid, being the ramp-rate compliance one of the most challenging requirements, especially for photovoltaic or wind energy generation plants. Battery-based energy storage systems represent a promising solution due to the fast dynamics of electrochemical storage systems, besides their scalability and flexibility. However, large-scale battery energy storage systems are still too expensive to be a mass market solution for the renewable energy resources integration. Thus, in order to make battery investment economically viable, the use of second life batteries is investigated in the paper. This paper proposes a method to determine the optimal sizing of a second life battery energy storage system (SLBESS). SLBESS performance is also validated and, as an ultimate step, the power exchanged with the batteries is calculated during one-year operation. The power profile obtained is further used to define the cycling patterns for laboratory testing of second life batteries and to study their ageing evolution when used for the power smoothing renewable integration application. Real photovoltaic energy generation data from a Spanish plant were used for the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the applicability of Peukert's law to supercapacitors with constant power loads and the application of this relationship in predicting the supercapacitor discharge time during a constant power discharge process. Originally developed for lead-acid batteries, Peukert's law states that the delivered charge increases when the discharge current decreases. This paper shows that Peukert's law applies to supercapacitors when the discharge power is above a certain threshold and does not apply anymore when the discharge power is sufficiently low. This pattern is due to the combined effects of three aspects of the supercapacitor physics: porous electrode structure, charge redistribution, and self-discharge. Based on the applicability study, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of Peukert's law in predicting the supercapacitor discharge time during a constant power discharge process by conducting extensive experiments using three supercapacitor samples with different rated capacitances from different manufacturers at various voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is the study of an optimal integration of a supercapacitor-based storage system and inductive power transfer system for the free-catenary operation of a tramway. Starting from the definition of the topology of inductive power transfer system, we propose and analyze a design procedure for the pads of the inductive power system. In the second part of the paper, an optimal integration strategy for the correct size of on-board supercapacitors and the power of the inductive energy transfer are proposed. The results obtained by means of numerical simulations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multioutput converters with single input source are currently studied as an alternative to conventional dc–dc topologies in order to improve power density in low-power multiload applications. This paper reviews three different ways in which a boost topology can be customized to supply multiple outputs. The first way uses a charge-sharing approach using individual switches to distribute inductor energy to different capacitors. The second method of creating a multiport converter (MPC) combines two converters with similar front end to generate two outputs using only one controlled switch. Using this method, a boost converter can be combined with single–ended primary–inductor converter (SEPIC), Cuk, and current source converter topologies. The third method uses time multiplexing of switches to produce two regulated ports and is referred to as switched-boost action. This method uses relatively less number of switches and allows regulation and control of all the outputs. Practical utility of switched-boost action based MPC is reported in this paper. This switched-boost MPC is applied to a renewable power converter system to interface a solar panel, a battery, and home loads to produce a 12-V and a 48-V bus. The 12-V bus is interfaced to battery and capable of optimally charging the battery in constant current–constant voltage (CC-CV) mode. The converter is demonstrated to operate with solar panel as it supplies a 12-V battery and a 48-V load bus. When the solar power is not available, the converter automatically goes into a mode in which the 12-V battery supplies the loads on the 48-V bus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are recently gaining traction in the power sector due to various challenges and opportunities they provide to utility operators. For electric utilities that incorporate demand side management (DSM) programs, EVs could become either a burden or an advantage depending on their charging control strategy and the signaling of the DSM program. This paper proposes a decentralized fuzzy-based controller to successfully integrate and coordinate the charging of EVs that ensures fair charging of EVs at different point of connections (POCs) in the distribution grid where voltage conditions might not be the same. The controller operates in an autonomous mode that reduces the monetary cost of the communication overhead and preserves bandwidth. The proposed controller takes into consideration the owner requirements in terms of energy needed and time to charge, the voltage at the POC with the grid, and the pricing signal coming from the utility. The controller is tested under different DSM programs that exist in the literature. This paper also proposes a new DSM program that is capable of benefiting from EVs as prosumers that can provide grid services. The controller's performance was validated through MATLAB simulations that showed the controller's ability to successfully coordinate the charging of EVs in a fair manner and achieve flat system peaks without any rebound effect. The controller was also successfully tested in the presence of voltage control units, such as capacitor banks, and in the presence of distributed generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of artificial neural networks in enhancing the accuracy of instantaneous power estimation of electric vehicles’ batteries. In electric vehicles, a battery is used as a main or complementary bidirectional power source. To optimize the energy management of the vehicle, the power sourced or sinked by the battery must be estimated in real time under any condition. The power of the battery is a function of many variables including the current, the state of charge, the ambient temperature, and the state of health. This paper evaluates some existing equivalent circuit models for estimating the instantaneous power of electric vehicles' batteries and proposes new artificial neural network-based models to enhance the power estimation accuracy. The experimental data obtained by performing standardized electric vehicle tests using a 3.6-V/16.5-Ah lithium-ion battery cell and a 12.8-V/150-Ah lithium-ion battery pack are presented and used for models' evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the configuration, design, and operation of multi-MW grid connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with practical test cases provided by a 10-MW field development. In order to improve the capacity factor, the PV system operates at its maximum power point during periods of lower irradiance, and the power output is limited to a rated value at high irradiance. The proposed configuration also incorporates a utility scale battery energy storage system (BESS) connected to the grid through an independent inverter and benefits of the experience gained with a 1-MW 2-MWh BESS large demonstrator. The BESS power smoothing and frequency regulation capabilities are illustrated though combined theoretical and experimental studies. The behavior of the grid connected PV and BESS combined system is studied using a modified IEEE 14 bus test system implemented in PSCAD/EMTDC. This paper also includes a sizing exercise for energy storage in order to provide dispatchable PV power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a modular push–pull PWM converter (MPC) for a battery energy storage system, which is intended for grid connections to medium- or high-voltage power systems. The converter per phase consists of a center-tapped transformer and two arms based on a cascade connection of multiple bidirectional PWM chopper-cells with floating dc capacitors. This paper discusses the operating performance and control method of the MPC, focusing on voltage balancing of all the floating dc capacitors. Moreover, a comparison is made between the MPC and a modular multilevel converter (MMC), under an assumption that both are used as the same battery energy storage system. The validity of the operating performance and control method is confirmed by both computer simulation using the “PSCAD/EMTDC” software package and experiment using a three-phase, 200-V, 5-kW downscaled model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a sizing method is proposed for photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs) for buildings with demand side management capability. Three objective functions (OF) are defined, describing the self-sufficiency of the building, the net-present value of the investment in PV and BESS, and their combination in a joint expression, respectively. The latter OF provides cost-effective solutions that are potentially more profitable in case of future high increase of the electricity cost. Two analysis methods are developed to find the optimal solution under a predefined load shifting strategy. The first one applies an exhaustive search by examining all possible combinations of PV and BESS capacity. The drawback of this method is the high computational burden due to unnecessary access to the solution space. The second method is implemented with a particle swarm optimization (PSO) variant, namely the unified-PSO. Under this approach, the analysis algorithm is guided in the solution space toward efficient solutions under lower computational time. The comparative assessment of the two methods in both residential and industrial sites verifies that via the PSO algorithm the optimal solutions are found under lower execution time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage systems provide viable solutions for improving efficiency and power quality as well as reliability issues in dc/ac power systems including power grid with considerable penetrations of renewable energy. The storage systems are also essential for aircraft powertrains, shipboard power systems, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles to meet the peak load economically and improve the system’s reliability and efficiency. Significant development and research efforts have recently been made in high-power storage technologies such as supercapacitors, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), and flywheels. These devices have a very high-power density and fast response time and are suitable for applications with rapid charge and discharge requirements. In this paper, the latest technological developments of these devices as well as advancements in the lithium-ion battery, the most power dense commercially available battery, are presented. Also, a comparative analysis of these high-power storage technologies in terms of power, energy, cost, life, and performance is carried out. This paper also presents the applications, advantages, and limitations of these technologies in a power grid and transportation system as well as critical and pulse loads. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper provides steady-state and transient analysis of the equivalent circuit of the 1 MWh battery tied to the grid for wind integration. It also discusses the installation of a 1 MWh battery system at Reese Technology Center (RTC) in Lubbock, Texas. The research involves deploying energy storage devices for application with wind turbine model to understand the transient behavior of the system under three phase fault conditions. A 1 MW/1 MWh battery storage system at the RTC is connected to the South Plains Electric Cooperative (SPEC) grid. The batteries are used for energy storage and for mitigation of transient conditions grid dynamics. In this paper, the equivalent circuit of the 1 MWh battery is modeled in PSCAD and analyzed for its charge and discharge characteristics under transient fault conditions when it is tied to the grid for wind integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load management is usually not considered in details during the planning stage due to its complexity and uncertainty in nature. However, this practice is changed in microgrids since the load composition in microgrids is more specific and manageable. In addition, the development of advanced metering infrastructure provides a more convenient mechanism for data collection and system control. This paper presents an integrated resources planning model based on optimal direct load control (DLC) (such as control of the air-conditioning load) in microgrids for load shifting and peak shaving to reduce/defer investments and minimize total social costs. This paper begins with the introduction of DLC and the models of the relevant distributed generation resources, including photovoltaic, wind turbines, diesel engines, and batteries. An algorithm is presented to combine the microgrid planning and DLC strategy. The results of the case study show that the proposed model provides an effective approach for the least cost planning in microgrids by using load management as competitive virtual power sources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation of stacked revenue generated from grid-connected energy storage systems (ESSs). The stacked revenue from an ESS cannot be calculated by merely aggregating the benefits from various applications (e.g., energy arbitrage, frequency regulation, and outage mitigation) as the ESS may not be available for all types of applications during the same time intervals. This is because a quantity committed to one market may not be committed to another. In this paper, different types of applications for grid-connected ESSs are identified, and a model incorporating component reliability, power system operation constraints, and storage system operation constraints is developed to evaluate the composite revenue generated from these applications. In this model, the types of applications of ESSs are prioritized according to their intended contributions and system operating conditions. Sequential Monte Carlo simulation is used for evaluating the reliability improvement and a quadratically constrained linear programing model is built for estimating the maximum revenue from arbitrage and regulation markets. The proposed method is demonstrated on the IEEE reliability test system using historical PJM price data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive backstepping controller is designed to control the common dc-bus voltage for different components in a dc microgrid under various operating conditions. The dc microgrid in this paper comprises a solar photovoltaic (PV) unit, a battery energy storage system (BESS), a backup diesel generator, and loads (both critical and noncritical). The controllers are designed for all components except loads where the main control objective for all controllers is to maintain a constant voltage at the dc-bus where all components are connected. This paper considers solar PV systems as the renewable energy source, whereas a diesel generator equipped with a rectifier is used as a backup supply to maintain the continuity of power supply in the case of emergency situations. The proposed controller is designed recursively based on the Lyapunov control theory, where all parameters within the model of different components are considered unknown. Adaptation laws are used to estimate these unknown parameters while the stability of the dc microgrid, with these adaptation laws, is ensured through the formulation of suitable control Lyapunov functions (CLFs) at different stages of the design process. The negative definiteness or semidefiniteness of these CLFs guarantees the stability of the dc microgrid. Finally, the performance of the proposed controllers is verified using both simulations and experiments on a test dc microgrid under different operating conditions. The proposed controller ensures the regulation of the dc-bus voltage within the acceptable limits under different operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Wireless sensor networks are widely used for environmental monitoring in remote areas. They are mainly composed of wireless sensor nodes, usually powered by batteries with limited capacity, but are expected to communicate in long range and operate for extended time periods. To overcome these limitations, many energy harvesting techniques are proposed to power wireless nodes for prolonged operation, whereas multihop techniques are utilized to extend the communication range. In this paper, a novel floating device with multisource energy harvesting technology that can be used as a wireless sensor node is proposed. The long range communication between wireless sensor nodes and a gateway is established through LoRa technology. In addition to conventional solar panels, an energy harvesting technique based on thermoelectric generators exploiting thermal differences created between water surface and materials exposed to sunlight is proposed. Energy generated from photovoltaic and thermoelectric generators is combined to power the wireless sensor node. This floating device consumes 6.6216 Wh per day when used as a wireless sensor node for the collection and transmission of environmental data. The sensor node can operate on a water surface for at least 9.6 days when it is not exposed to sunlight. During a sunny day, the floating device can harvest 8.375 Wh from solar panels and 0.425 Wh from thermoelectric generation. In other words, the floating device harvests sufficient energy to be self-sustaining during sunny days. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Replacing the batteries of wearable medical devices is an inconvenience to the user. Wireless power transfer (WPT) could be a solution for this problem. However, the structure should be compact to satisfy the wearable device requirements and the power efficiency should be as high as possible for prolonging the user experience. Besides, as algorithms embedded in these devices become more complex, the device power consumption also increases. Fulfilling these specifications in a compact structure with better efficiency is the aim of this research paper. This paper proposes a power processing module for WPT applications. This module is embedded within the WPT path to convert receiving end ac power to dc power, and to simultaneously provide multiple dc–dc power conversion for wearable medical devices. The ac–dc circuit is specifically designed using a compact topology to convert wireless ac power to stable dc power. The dc power is further regulated by different mode controls either to perform battery charging or to provide independent voltage supplies to dc loads. The integrated circuit occupies an area of 1.9 × 2.3 mm when implemented on a 0.25 μm high voltage CMOS process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) and their application raise new questions and demands. Accordingly, the charging process of EVs is a novelty in everyday life when using such vehicles. This paper presents results of user charging behavior within a field test. In the field test, 500 people with above average yearly mileage took part in integrating the vehicles into their everyday lives. For the results of this paper, the charging behavior of 200 test people is taken into account. The differences in user behavior between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) are discussed. The results indicate that there are various opportunities for grid services based on EVs, as the vehicles are connected or parked close to a charging station the majority of the time. Moreover, the results also show deviating user behavior for the BEVs and EREVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an optimized energy management system (OEMS) to control the microgrid of a remote temporary military base (FOB) featuring diesel generators, a battery energy storage system (BESS), and photovoltaic (PV) panels. The information of the expected electric demand is suitably used to improve the sizing and management of the BESS, according to the days of operation. The OEMS includes power electronics to charge the batteries from either the PV source or the diesel generators, and it can function as a current source when it is supplementing the power from one of the generators or as a voltage source when it is the sole source of power for the loads. The new contribution of this paper includes the optimization of a FOB's microgrid, where critical loads must be serviced at all times. The proposed optimization, which uses Special Order Sets for the semicontinuous function handling, also integrates economic evaluations by properly taking into account how the size of BESS affects its charge/discharge cycle; thus, the FOBs’ battery lifetime, in addition to its fuel consumption. Results from optimization are employed by the OEMS to coordinate the energy sources, and match the critical and noncritical loads with the available supply. Fuel savings of \approx \text30\% (and \approx \text50\% adding the PV source) can be achieved with respect to the already improved, but not optimal, solution of a previous work. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a new isolated three-port bidirectional dc–dc converter for simultaneous power management of multiple energy sources. The proposed converter has the advantage of using the least number of switches and soft switching for the main switch, which is realized by using an inductor–capacitor–inductor ( $LCL$) -resonant circuit. The converter is capable of interfacing sources of different voltage–current characteristics with a load and/or a dc microgrid. The proposed converter is constructed for simultaneous power management of a photovoltaic (PV) panel, a rechargeable battery, and a load. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed converter is capable of maximum power point tracking control for the PV panel, when there is solar radiation, and controlling the charge and discharge of the battery, when there is surplus energy and power deficiency with respect to the load, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the performance analysis and comparison of two types of bidirectional dc–dc converters—cascaded buck–boost capacitor in the middle and cascaded buck–boost inductor in the middle for use in plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The comparison of the two converters is based on device requirements, rating of switches and components, control strategy, and performance. Each of the converter topologies has some advantages over the other in certain aspects. Efficiency analysis has been carried out for specific scenarios in vehicle applications. The simulation and experimental results are provided for both converter types. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents an energy management approach for a hybrid energy system comprised of a photovoltaic (PV) array and a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). A single storage device, i.e., a Li-ion battery module, is used in the proposed structure. Linear proportional-integral (PI) and nonlinear flatness-based controllers for dc bus stabilization for power plants are compared. To verify the control approaches, a hardware system is realized with analog circuits for the PV, FC, and battery current control loops (inner controller loops) and with numerical calculation (dSPACE) for the external energy control loops. Experimental results with small-scale devices [namely, a PV array (800 W, 31 A), a PEMFC (1200 W, 46 A), and a Li-ion battery module (11.6 Ah, 24 V)] illustrate the excellent energy management scheme during load cycles, and the nonlinear differential flatness-based control was determined to provide improved dc bus regulation relative to a classical linear PI control method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Industrial microgrids functioning under islanded mode of operation are often subjected to large and fluctuating demands from loads such as crushers, excavators, and steel rolling mills. This paper studies the supercapacitor (SC) cycle life when multiple small rated but distantly located distributed energy resources are supplying a cement plant crusher-conveyor load in the islanded operation of the microgrid. Each DER consists of a fuel cell (FC) supplemented with a SC. After having carried out extensive modeling, simulation, and analysis, this paper demonstrates that the SC cycle life can be equalized by employing the cooperative framework of flexible distribution of energy and storage resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an artificial neural network (ANN) based approach is proposed to estimate the capacity fade in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Besides its robustness, stability, and high accuracy, the proposed technique can significantly improve the state-of-charge (SOC) estimation accuracy over the lifespan of the battery, which leads to more reliable battery operation and prolonged lifetime. In addition, the proposed technique allows accurate prediction of the battery remaining service time. Two identical 3.6-V/16.5-Ah Li-ion battery cells were repeatedly cycled with constant current and dynamic stress test current profiles at room temperature, and their discharge capacities were recorded. The proposed technique shows that very accurate SOC estimation results can be obtained provided enough training data are used to train the ANN models. Model derivation and experimental verification are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the energy management for the decentralized generation systems (DGS) using the wind turbine with photovoltaic (PV) panels and the energy storage devices. For a high penetration level of the wind/PV generation, the energy storage device with a fast response is necessary to cover the shortfall or overflow of generation due to sudden variations of the wind or the sun. In addition, the requested energy by the residential appliances presents random behavior, which can be lower or higher than the produced energy from the renewable sources. Using the wind turbine and the PV power generation system with energy storage will reduce the fluctuations of the wind power and the load ones. The energy storage system requires capital investment; thus, it is important to estimate the reasonable storage capacities without an overflow size for the desired applications. In addition, a good strategy for energy management is necessary to reduce the variation impacts of the wind energy and the load for the battery and the residential appliances. The contribution of this paper is focused on energy management based on the frequency approach using the wind/load's fluctuating power sharing and the polynomial controllers. First, this method enables reducing for the battery and the microgrid the impacts of the microcycles due to the wind/load's power fluctuations. Second, it allows estimating the energy storage capacity without the overflow size. The performances of the proposed method are evaluated through some simulations and experimental tests using the summer load profile and the winter ones. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper studies the characteristics of battery packs with parallel-connected lithium-ion battery (LiB) cells. To investigate the influence of the cell inconsistency problem in parallel-connected cells, a group of different degraded LiB cells were selected to build various battery packs and test them using a battery test bench. The physical model was developed to simulate the operation of the parallel-connected packs. The experimental results and simulation indicate that, with different degraded cells in parallel, there could be capacity loss and large difference in discharge current, which may cause further accelerated degradation and a more serious inconsistency problem. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the design, implementation, and field measurements of a prototype marine-current power generation system (MCPGS) for capturing energy from marine current. The studied prototype MCPGS employs the flowing marine-current energy near the Cross-Sea Bridge, Peng-Hu Island, Taiwan. The design of the prototype MCPGS has to meet the practical marine-current flowing conditions and the severe environmental conditions in the ocean of Peng-Hu Island. The designed MCPGS unit consists of a three-blade marine-current turbine, a gearbox, a three-phase permanent-magnet generator, and a power converter that is used for converting generated energy to be stored in the battery. Field measured results for the studied MCPGS under different practical marine-current speeds in Peng-Hu Island are performed and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new functionality for high-power battery chargers by incorporating an impedance measurement algorithm. The measurement of battery impedance can be performed by the battery charger to provide an accurate equivalent model for battery management purposes. In this paper, an extended control capability of the onboard battery charger for electric vehicles is used to measure the online impedance of the battery. The impedance of the battery is measured by the following: 1) injecting ac current ripple on top of the dc charging current; 2) transforming voltage and current signals using a virtual \alpha-\beta stationary coordinate system, a d-q rotating coordinate system, and two filtering systems; 3) calculating ripple voltage and current values; and 4) calculating the angle and magnitude of the impedance. The contributions of this paper are the use of the d-q transformation to attain the battery impedance, theta, and its ripple power, as well as providing a controller design procedure which has impedance measurement capability. The online impedance information can be utilized for diverse applications such as the following: 1) a theta control for sinusoidal current charging; 2) the quantifying of reactive current and voltage; 3) ascertaining the state of charge; 4) determining the state of health; and 5) finding the optimized charging current. Therefore, the benefit of this method is that it can be deployed in already existing high-power chargers regardless of battery chemistry. Validations of the proposed approach were made by comparing measurement values by using a battery charger and a commercial frequency response analyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient power conversion technologies are strategic to the advancement of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). This paper presents an overview of power conditioning system (PCS) architectures for an FCV propulsion system. Two new power conversion topologies to obtain variable ac from the fuel cell system are proposed. The switching of the power devices are based on the proposed hybrid modulation technique that minimizes the switching losses in the inverter. The proposed converters do not use the dc-link filter capacitors. Elimination of the dc-link capacitor not only reduces the size and volume but also helps in retaining the sine wave modulated information at the input of a three-phase inverter. Bidirectional converter topologies are proposed for interfacing low-voltage battery and fuel cell dc bus. Experimental results are presented for the proposed topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new zero current switching topology for parallel balancing of serially connected batteries string. The main advantage of the balancing concept in this study is that energy is transferred only when the cells are unbalanced. As a result, the power losses are significantly reduced since no current circulates through the system when balanced. This has been enabled by a modification of an isolated series-resonant converter operating in a discontinuous conduction mode. A single transformer for two cells is used, as opposed to conventional isolated topologies that require a transformer per cell. The realization is simple and sensorless. Experimental results have been obtained by a prototype of two modules balancing four series-connected batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional energy generation sources mainly provide energy supply to remote areas nowadays. However, because of growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, the integration of renewable energy sources is mandatory to meet power demands and reduce climatic effects. The advancements in renewable generation sources and battery storage systems pave the way for microgrids (MGs). As a result, MGs are becoming a viable solution for power supply shortage problems in remote-area applications, such as oceanic islands. In this paper, an islanded MG, which consists of PV system, tidal turbine (TT), diesel generator (DG), and Li-ion battery, is considered for Ouessant island in Brittany region in France. The economic operation of the MG is achieved by including battery degradation cost, levelized costs of energy of the PV system and TT, operating and emission costs of DG, and network constraints. The developed model leads to a non-linear and non-convex problem, which unfortunately can converge to a local optimum solution. The problem has, therefore, been relaxed and converted to a convex second-order cone model to achieve an optimal decision strategy for islanded MG operations with a global or near-global solution. Numerical simulations are carried out to prove the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in reducing the operating and emission costs of the islanded MG. It is shown that the developed convex energy management system formulation has an optimality gap of less than 1% with reduced computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently approved regulation about self-consumption in Spain will dramatically change the level of penetration of photovoltaic distributed generation combined with storage devices at residential level in short term. In this paper, we will study the impact of the massive installation of such technologies under the constraints imposed by the new regulation, over the terminal distribution network. As it will be demonstrated, this impact will be drastic in terms of energy demand, voltage profile, and load curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic solar home systems (SHSs) provide a cost-effective solution for the limited electrification of remote off-grid communities. However, due to their standalone nature, the benefit of usage diversity cannot be extracted. In this paper, we present the power electronic interface along with the decentralized control scheme for the integration of standalone SHSs for driving community load applications. Power electronic interface consists of an isolated boost converter capable support dc bus integration, thereby it formulates a dc microgrid through the interconnection of multiple standalone SHSs. Power aggregation is achieved through decentralized controlled resource sharing based upon the resource availability and installed capacity in the individual solar home system. To ensure cost affordability and to avoid the deployment of any communication infrastructure, modified I–V droop control is designed for the intended application. Thereby, power aggregation through the proposed power electronic interface and its decentralized control allows us to extract the benefit of usage diversity and drive high power community power loads at a village scale. The overall schematic is simulated using MATLAB and scaled down model is implemented on hardware. Results of power aggregation from various resource sharing scenarios are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents an approach for renewable energy sources integration with the existing grid. Unique types of loads can be exploited to allow for a sustainable solution to energy integration. A case study of Saudi Arabia is investigated where desalination plants coupled with a water storage tank is utilized to mitigate the variability of renewable sources. A hybrid photovoltaic-wind turbine generator system is proposed. The results indicate two critical points. First, even in a fossil fuel rich country, sustainable renewable sources are economically feasible. The second point is that the typical storage element (i.e., batteries), is not always the best candidate for energy storage as in the case of desalination plants. Instead, storing the excess energy as water in a storage tank is economical and less prone to failures as compared to large-scale batteries. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem and solved using heuristic techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mission profiles such as environmental and operational conditions together with the system structure including energy resources, grid and converter topologies induce stress on different converters and thereby play a significant role on power electronic systems reliability. Temperature swing and maximum temperature are two of the critical stressors on the most failure-prone components of converters, i.e., capacitors and power semiconductors. Temperature-related stressors generate electrothermal stress on these components ultimately triggering high potential failure mechanisms. Failure of any component may cause converter outage and system shutdown. This paper explores the reliability performance of different converters operating in a power system and indicates the failure-prone converters from wear out perspective. It provides a system-level reliability insight for design, control, and operation of multiconverter system by extending the mission-profile-based reliability estimation approach. The analysis is provided for a dc microgrid due to the increasing interest that dc systems have been gaining in recent years; however, it can be applied for reliability studies in any multiconverter system. The outcomes can be worthwhile for maintenance and risk management as well as security assessment in modern power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved bridgeless (BL) Cuk converter-based electric vehicle (EV) battery charger with high power factor and increased efficiency is designed and developed in this paper. It provides low cost and high-power-density-based charging solution for the EV. This charger incorporates less number of devices operating over one switching cycle, which reduces the additional conduction loss incurred by a diode bridge rectifier of the conventional charger. Hence, it improves the charger's efficiency. The added advantage of the proposed topology is that the unwanted capacitive coupling loop is removed, as well as the unwanted conduction through the body diode of the inactive switch in the previously developed BL Cuk converter is avoided. This significantly improves the charger's efficiency. For the constant current and constant voltage charging, the commands are synchronized by a flyback converter. The proposed charger draws a sinusoidal current from ac mains and the total harmonic distortion in the supply current is reduced to the limits specified by the IEC 61000-3-2 guidelines. The improved efficiency and power quality indices of the proposed charger are investigated to demonstrate its satisfactory charging operation at all operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The IEEE 1584 Guide does not address arc-flash hazard in dc systems. The interest in this subject is evidenced by current publications. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2012 methodology has added a small description of the calculations of arc-flash hazard in dc systems. However, there are serious inaccuracies in the application of the methodology that is advocated in the NFPA. A review of the current literature indicates that there is no comprehensive document on the subject and that some of the assumptions made in the current literature are not accurate, e.g., with respect to the short-circuit current profiles and protective devices in dc systems, which are very fundamental to the accurate calculations of arc-flash hazard in dc systems. This paper is presented in two parts. This part provides equations with practical examples of short-circuit calculations in dc systems. The second part provides the analysis of arc-flash hazard. Accurate calculations of the short-circuit currents and ascertaining their profiles is the first step in the arc-flash hazard analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An efficient converter topology for extracting maximum power from a photovoltaic module is presented in this paper. The proposed topology is implemented on a stand-alone battery charging system. A reversed buck–boost converter enabling parallel power processing (PPP) with a power switch referenced to the common return is the core of the charging system. Small-signal analysis of the proposed charging system is carried out to facilitate the design of a compensator for maximum power point (MPP) tracking. The simulation and experimental results confirm the validity of the model and verify the high efficient operation while tracking the MPP. The use of the PPP with split loads is also presented which would improve the converter size, efficiency, and step-down duty ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a multiport high-frequency ac link inverter is proposed as the power electronic interface between the photovoltaic (PV) modules, battery energy storage system, and three-phase ac load. In this inverter, a single-stage power conversion unit fulfills all the system requirements, i.e., inverting dc voltage to proper ac, stepping up or down the voltage, generating low harmonic ac current at the output, and input/output isolation. The ac link is formed by a parallel ac inductor/capacitor (LC) pair having low reactive ratings. A single-input/single-output partial resonant inverter has already been proposed by the present authors. This paper verifies the possibility of extending this topology to multiport partial resonant converters. The proposed converter is believed to overcome most of the shortcomings associated with the currently available multiport PV inverters. It is a single-stage ac link power conversion system with zero voltage turn on and soft turn off of the switches, which has very small switching losses, compact size, and light weight. The proposed converter does not contain any electrolytic capacitors at the link, which increases the reliability of this converter to a great extent. In the proposed inverter, PV side and ac side are isolated; however, if galvanic isolation is required, a single-phase high-frequency transformer can be added to the link. This converter can both step up or down the voltage, regardless of the presence of a transformer. Although this configuration is extendable to the grid-connected applications, in this paper, only the stand-alone application is considered. The performance of the proposed multiport inverter is verified through simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a state-of-the-art algorithm for a real-time charging recommendation for an electric vehicle driver based on an accurate real-time range indicator system to avoid range anxiety. The charging recommendation algorithm alerts the driver when charging is deemed required for the selected route. This algorithm determines the nearest charging location obtained using GPS based on an accurate estimation of state of charge (SoC) at the destination and when charging determines the optimum charging time required by the battery to have sufficient energy to reach the destination. The graphical user interface of the real-time range indicator system is also used to show the driver an accurate estimation of the remaining range to destination and the current SoC. The results from simulations of a range of routes validate the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fully decentralized controlled (FDC) electric vehicle (EV) charger, where its design is intended to mitigate the charging impact on power grids, is proposed in this paper. The proposed FDC EV charger uses the parameters measured from the power grid, EV charger and EV battery pack to adjust the charging current. Fuzzy logic control is used in this paper to integrate these measured parameters into the proposed FDC EV charger. As the proposed charger can be realized without a centralized control center and information exchanges between EV chargers, an FDC scheme for EV charger can therefore be effectively achieved. A prototype of the proposed FDC EV charger with a rated power of 500 W is implemented. Experimental results verify that the proposed charger can automatically adjust the charging current according to variations in the power grid and EV. Simulations analyze the impact of 100 EVs with a rated power of 7 kW charged simultaneously. Simulation results show that the EV charging impact on power grids can be effectively mitigated by the proposed FDC EV chargers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]