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Series connections of energy storage cells, such as lithium-ion cells and electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), require cell-voltage equalizers to ensure years of operation. Conventional equalizers require multiple switches, magnetic components, and/or secondary windings of a multiwinding transformer in proportion to the number of series connections, which usually makes them complex, expensive, bulky, and less extendable with increasing series connections. A double-switch seriesresonant equalizer using a voltage multiplier is proposed in this paper. The double-switch operation without a multiwinding transformer achieves simplified circuitry and good modularity at reduced size and cost, compared to conventional equalizers. Operational analyses were separately performed for the following two functional parts of the proposed equalizer: a series-resonant inverter and a voltage multiplier. The mathematical analyses derived a dcequivalent circuit of the proposed equalizer, with which simulation analyses of even an hour's duration can be completed in an instant. Simulation analyses were separately performed for both the original and equivalent circuits. The simulation results of the derived circuit correlated well with those of the original circuit, thus verifying the derived dc-equivalent circuit. A 5-W prototype of the proposed equalizer was built for eight cells connected in series and an experimental equalization was performed for seriesconnected EDLCs from an initially voltage-imbalanced condition. The voltage imbalance was gradually eliminated over time, and the standard deviation in the cell voltages decreased to approximately 5 mV at the end of the experiment, thus demonstrating the equalization performance of the proposed equalizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are connected in series, a cell voltage imbalance occurs due to nonuniform cell properties. Cell voltage imbalance should be minimized to prolong cycle lives and maximize the available energy of cells. In this study, we propose a series-parallel reconfigurable cell voltage equalizer that is considered suitable for energy storage systems using EDLCs instead of traditional secondary batteries as the main energy storage sources. The proposed equalizer requires only EDLCs and switches as its main circuit elements, and it utilizes EDLCs not only for energy storage but also for equalization. An equivalent circuit model using equivalent resistors that can be regarded as an index of equalization speed is developed. Current distribution and cell voltage imbalancing during operation are quantitatively generalized. Experimental charge-discharge tests were performed on the EDLC modules to demonstrate the performance of the cell voltage equalizer. All the cells in the modules could be charged/discharged uniformly even when a degradation-mimicking cell was intentionally included in the module. The resultant cell voltage imbalances and current distributions were in good agreement with those predicted by mathematical analyses. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 181(4): 38-50, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21287 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]