Browse Topic: Capacitors

Items (459)
The discharge characteristics of ignition systems critically influence flame kernel formation and ignition stability under lean-burn conditions. This study experimentally compares a transistor coil ignition (TCI) and a capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system in a constant-volume combustion chamber using hydrogen–air mixtures. The electrical behavior of both systems was first characterized through synchronized measurements of voltage, current, and high-speed imaging under various operating conditions with a resistive spark plug. The CDI system exhibited high-current (≈750 mA), short-duration (≈250 μs) discharges with strong instantaneous power but limited total spark-gap energy (≈5 mJ), while the TCI system produced lower-current, longer-duration (≈3 ms) discharges with higher cumulative energy (≈30 mJ). Flow-field tests revealed that the TCI discharge duration and energy release were strongly influenced by airflow, whereas CDI discharge behavior remained largely unchanged at flow velocities around 20 m/s. Ignition experiments with lean H₂–air mixtures (λ = 2.5–4.0) demonstrated that both systems can reliably ignite the mixture under quiescent and moderate-flow conditions, but the CDI system failed to sustain ignition near the lean limit. The results highlight the distinct energy-transfer mechanisms of the two ignition concepts and provide guidance for optimizing ignition design in future hydrogen internal combustion engines.
Cong, BinghaoJin, LongYu, XiaoZhou, QingTjong, JimiZheng, Ming
As already well-understood/enormous engineering practices, the inverter AC-side NVH phenomena/mechanisms/measures for motor-equipped vehicle, are already pretty clear. In addition to inverter AC side–induced NVH issues, DC ripple induced by PE switching leads to NVH issues manifesting on the capacitor, inductor, and conductor in terms of reverse piezoelectricity, electrostriction, magnetostriction, Laplace force, and so forth. These DC-side NVH issues are already literally analyzed by a couple of literatures, and mechanisms/measures are explored/applied to electric drive development. And yet, the phenomenon that a pulsating magnetic field inside a battery pack induced by DC current ripple off PE switching brings noise at switching frequency inside the vehicle cabin is newly captured/analyzed by our research, and that has been barely searched during the literature survey. This newly discovered phenomenon is the pivotal point in this paper. Although the noise features like the conventional switching noise that originates at the AC side of the inverter, the mechanism/measures are different; hence, this newly found NVH phenomenon is termed as alternative switching noise by the author, distinguishing itself from the conventional switching noise off AC side of the inverter. The mechanisms and measures associated with this phenomenon are innovatively explored/analyzed, which ultimately offer great aid to BEV/HEV/PHEV NVH interpretation/development. First, in this paper the inverter AC-side NVH issues are overviewed including mechanisms/measures, then DC-side NVH issues from capacitor, inductor, and conductor are reviewed in terms of mechanisms/measures, third the extending exploration/study upon alternative switching noise is described in detail. The relevant analysis for alternative switching noise is barely mentioned/involved during literature survey, and that is newly found/studied within the research delineated in this paper. Fourth, two case studies are exemplified to further validate the mechanisms/measures employed during investigation. In the end, the common strategies addressing the alternative switching noise are summarized, which shall be adopted to keep issues from happening at the very beginning of vehicle development stage.
Zhao, QianZhao, YihanNiu, HaolongLi, QiweiZhang, WenchaoXue, HongbinCheng, YananLi, JingKang, Ming
The advent of wide-bandgap (WBG) switching MOSFET devices enables high-frequency operation, allowing for significant reductions in the size of passive components such as inductors and capacitors, and improving the overall efficiency of inverter systems. However, these benefits come with the trade-off of increased electromagnetic interference (EMI), which imposes stringent requirements on filter design. The complexity of designing EMI filters, which depends heavily on switching frequency and applicable EMI standards, presents a significant challenge and can impact development timelines. Carrier wave modulation technique is considered as an effective method for minimizing conducted EMI in traction inverters. This article presents various carrier wave modulation schemes that successfully reduce conducted EMI. The evaluated strategies aim to eliminate noise fluctuations and simplify the design of demanding EMI filters. Additionally, the impact on output voltage, output current, total harmonic distortion, and overall inverter performance has been analyzed. The results demonstrate that the discussed carrier wave modulation techniques can reduce conducted EMI more efficiently than conventional carrier frequency PWM methods.
R, KodeeswaranKuncham, Sateesh KumarKolhatkar, Yashomani
With the increasing demand for DC loads, DC-DC converters have become indispensable in modern power electronic architectures. With high-voltage applications typical DC-DC converter topologies are required which include isolation for safety and voltage level conversion. Among various isolated converter topologies, the flyback converter is widely favored for low-power applications, typically under 100 W, due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Like other DC-DC topologies, the flyback converter can operate in either continuous conduction mode or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The work has focused on the design and performance analysis of a flyback converter operating in DCM, with a specific emphasis on magnetic component design and loss evaluation. A 55 W multi-winding flyback converter employing a passive snubber circuit is studied and implemented. The loss analysis is done with switch losses around 3.4W and the coupled inductor core losses around 1.5W and copper losses around 0.8W. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of passive voltage clamping techniques is presented to address voltage spikes across the primary switch. The most common passive snubbing techniques in the primary side switch node which includes the Resistor Capacitor Diode Clamping and Transient Voltage Suppressor Diode clamping is discussed. Using LTspice, an open-loop simulation is developed to validate operation. The necessity of primary snubbing and the implementation of valley switching are described and validated through simulation results. A hardware prototype is developed to validate the same for the input voltage varying from 90V to 400V, and with three output voltage of 12V, 16V and 18V.
S, DenisDeshpande, Prathamesh PravinDeshpande, Rohan
Automotive displays have become an essential part of modern vehicles, not just for aesthetics but also for improving safety and user interaction. As cars get smarter, the industry is leaning heavily into advanced display technologies to provide drivers and passengers with clearer, more responsive visuals. Technologies like Active Matrix LCDs (AMLCDs) and AMOLEDs are now common in dashboards, infotainment systems, digital clusters, and even head-up displays. These display types are popular because they offer great brightness, vibrant color, and wide viewing angles — all of which are important in a car, where lighting conditions can change constantly. But to make these displays work effectively, a solid backplane is critical. That’s where technologies like amorphous silicon (a-Si) and low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) come in. Among these, LTPS has gained popularity due to its ability to support high-resolution, high-refresh-rate screens, thanks to its higher carrier mobility. Still, LTPS isn’t perfect. It struggles with things like threshold voltage (VTH) shifts, uneven brightness, and flickering — issues that can shorten the display’s life and reduce performance over time. Traditionally, a simple pixel circuit called the 2T1C (two thin-film transistors and one capacitor) has been used, but it doesn’t handle voltage shifts very well. As a result, newer and more complex designs have emerged — including 4T1C, 5T2C, 7T2C, and even 9T2C circuits. These advanced pixel circuits add more components to help regulate voltage and current more precisely. Better compensation for VTH variations, improved image uniformity, reduced flicker, and longer display life. This paper takes a closer look at these different pixel circuit designs, especially how they perform in LTPS-based displays for automotive use. We provide a side-by-side comparison that breaks down the pros and cons of each approach. Understanding how these circuits work — and where each one excels — is key to pushing forward the quality and reliability of displays in next-generation vehicles.
Sinha Roy, DebarghyaDuggal, AnanyaSingh, Ujjwal Kumar
This manuscript introduces a methodology to reduce the DC link capacitor size in pole-phase modulated (PPM) induction motor drives (IMD). Typically, the DC link capacitor (DCLC) occupies around 25 to 30% of the inverter volume and 20% of the inverter material cost. Reducing the DCLC size and cost is essential to lowering the inverter size and cost. This can be accomplished by lowering the DCLC ripple current. The proposed technique suggests adapting phase-shifted triangular carrier waveforms, in all the operating modes of the PPM drive, to significantly reduce the ripple current through DCLC, successively reduces the size and cost of DCLC. Simulations are performed in MATLAB/Simulink on a 9 phase PPM drive to validate the efficacy of the strategy. Though the suggested concept is verified with a 9 phase PPM drive, which is operated in 2 modes, it can be extended to any 3n PPM drive. The results demonstrate a 60% reduction in ripple magnitude, enabling the use of smaller, more reliable, and cost-effective capacitors.
A, Rajeshwari
In automotive applications a power electronic converter is used for energy conversion between battery and electrical machine. For high performance drives a lightweight design is demanded. Additionally, a higher efficiency of the inverter results in lower cooling requirements but is often achieved by increasing component weight. Hence, thermal modeling of the components and their interactions is essential to determine the best compromise between weight, efficiency and cooling requirements. In traction inverters the DC-link capacitors, power modules, high voltage electrical connections and low voltage devices dissipate power. In this paper the focus is on the thermal modeling of the DC-link capacitor, power modules and high voltage electrical connections and their system, as the performance of the inverter is defined by these components. The thermal models are derived based on physical properties and geometries. First, the DC-link capacitor thermal model is presented and considers the anisotropic heat conductivity of the capacitor coil and the inhomogeneous loss feeding in the busbars. Next, the thermal model of a power module and heatsink is explained taking temperature dependent material properties into account. Based on the input temperature of the coolant and heat dissipation of the power modules the temperature rise of the fluid is calculated. Furthermore, the electrical connections, consisting of a combination of cables, busbars and shunts are thermally modeled. With the individual component models combined an overall inverter thermal model is developed. A comparison between the thermal system model and measurements is carried out finally. For this several temperature sensors were integrated into an inverter. By taking the measured temperatures into account, the thermal system model is validated for stationary and dynamic load points. As all models are based on geometric and material properties it is possible to observe the impact of sizing in the future.
Blaschke, Wolfgang MaximilianMengoni, LeonardPflüger, RobinKulzer, André Casal
Researchers at North Carolina State University have now identified a “sweet spot” at which the length of a threadlike energy storage technology called a “yarn-shaped supercapacitor” (YSC) yields the highest and most efficient flow of energy per unit length.
Free-piston engines are new and efficient energy conversion devices that eliminate mechanical crankshafts. A wide-input power converter was needed as an electronic crankshaft for a free-piston engine to achieve efficient power generation control. A 20 kW single-phase full-bridge power converter that can operate over a wide-input voltage range was proposed in this paper to solve this problem. A current controller was designed by discussing the current flow of the power converters in four working modes, including forward electric, reverse electric, forward generation, and reverse generation. A model that considers the parasitic inductance on the wires in the circuit and the parasitic inductance and capacitance of each pole of the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switch was established in this paper, and the accuracy of the model was verified through simulation in MATLAB/Simulink. The main parameters of the power converter, such as the absorption resistance and capacitance of the RC absorption circuit, switching frequency, gate resistance, and DC side filtering capacitor, were optimized through the enumeration method to improve the conversion efficiency of the power converter and reduce noise. A physical model was made to verify the designed power converter. The final results show that the conversion efficiency of the power converter has reached 96.5%, and the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the input current has been reduced 1.5% to reduce noise.
Li, MengfeiXu, ZhaopingLiu, Liang
A new bendable supercapacitor made from graphene has been developed that charges quickly and safely stores a record-high level of energy for use over a long period. The technology overcomes the issue faced by high-powered, fast-charging supercapacitors: they usually cannot hold a large amount of energy in a small space.
Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) store charge by adsorbing ions at the electrode-electrolyte interface, offering fast charge/discharge rates, high power density, minimal heat generation, and long cycle life. These characteristics make EDLCs ideal for memory backup in electronic devices and power assistance in electric and hybrid vehicles. However, their energy density is lower than that of batteries, necessitating improvements in electrical capacity and potential. Traditionally, activated carbon with a high specific surface area has been used, but recent research focuses on mesoporous carbon materials for better ion diffusion. This study uses resorcinol-formaldehyde-carbon cryogel (RFCC) with mesopores and organic electrolytes with a wider electrochemical window. Various RFCCs with different pore sizes were synthesized and evaluated. Comprehensive investigations into the pore structures and surface properties of both synthesized carbon gels and commercial mesoporous materials were conducted. EDLCs with organic electrolytes were fabricated, and their electrochemical performance was analyzed. Findings indicate that mesoporous carbon gels significantly enhance capacity in high-rate charge-discharge cycles due to improved ion diffusion, highlighting their potential in optimizing EDLC performance.
Cheng, ZairanOkamura, TsubasaOhnishi, YutoNakagawa, Kiyoharu
Most electric 2-wheelers on the market today seek to replace combustion engine vehicles from 50cc to 150cc which equates to an electric motor power between 2 and 12 kW. The traction voltage level of these vehicles is mostly between 44V and 96V. However, the actual choice of voltage on a specific vehicle seems to be arbitrary and higher voltage does not necessarily correlate with higher motor power. This paper seeks to highlight considerations and tradeoffs which feed the choice of traction voltage levels. Important criteria are electrical safety standards and their impact on vehicle electrical architecture, the performance and availability of key electronics parts such as capacitors, MOSFETs, and gate drivers, while also highlighting functional safety aspects. This paper shows by a comprehensive analysis of the motor drive that for the vehicle class mentioned above the traction voltage level can be kept below 60V without any performance impact, while also ensuring electrical and functional safety.
Schmitt, Stefan
NASA's Cryogenic Flux Capacitor (CFC) capitalizes on the energy storage capacity of liquefied gases. By exploiting a unique attribute of nano-porous materials, aerogel in this case, fluid commodities such as oxygen, hydrogen, methane, etc. can be stored in a molecular surface-adsorbed state. This cryogenic fluid can be stored at low to moderate pressure densities, on par with liquid, and then quickly converted to a gas, when the need arises. This solution reduces both safety-related logistics issues and the limitations of complex storage systems.
As the U.S. military embraces vehicle electrification, high-reliability components are rising to the occasion to support their advanced electrical power systems. In recent years, electronic device designers have started using wide band-gap (WBG) materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) to develop the semiconductors required for military device power supplies. These materials can operate at much higher voltages, perform switching at higher frequencies, and feature better thermal characteristics. Compared to silicon, SiC-based semiconductors provide superior performance. The growing availability of these materials, in terms of access and cost, continues to encourage electrification. With the ever-present pressure of size, weight, and power (SWaP) optimization in military applications, and a desire to keep up with the pace of innovation, there's a need for capacitors that can deliver higher power efficiency, switching frequency, and temperature resistance under harsh conditions. In this article, we explore the rise of electrification in military applications, the enabling role of high-reliability power supplies and converters, and how capacitors are meeting the rigorous requirements of modern electrified land systems.
Toward the goal of “dual carbon economy” development, new energy hybrid commercial vehicles have become the main vehicles to meet the future fuel consumption and emission targets. In order to meet the high requirements of commercial vehicles on power and to minimize the influence of ambient temperature on the power of the vehicle, this study proposes a composite energy storage system (CESS) incorporating ultracapacitors. To further understand the impact of ultracapacitor on the dynamic performance of the vehicle, this study compares the dynamics of series range-extended hybrid pickup trucks with and without ultracapacitor at ambient and low temperatures, as well as the effect of ultracapacitor on the service life of lithium-ion batteries, by means of simulation. The results show that at room temperature (25°C), the addition of ultracapacitor shortens the 0–100 km/h acceleration time of the whole vehicle by 24.4% and improves the off-road climbing performance by 11.7%; at low temperature (−20°C), the addition of ultracapacitor shortens the 0–100 km/h acceleration time of the whole vehicle by 88.8% and improves the off-road climbing performance by 67.9%. Under WLTC, 3% gradient conditions, the ultracapacitor increases the cycle life of the lithium-ion battery by about 9% and reduces heat generation by 11.7%.
Yu, Xiaocao
In this study, a bipolar nanosecond pulse all-solid-state power supply was developed including Lenz capacitance (LC) resonant circuit and full-bridge inverter circuit to provide plasma ignition mode for internal combustion engines. The power supply converts the direct current (DC) voltage into voltage pulses using the inverter circuit with insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), and subsequently amplifies the voltage through a pulse transformer. In the magnetic compression circuit, two capacitors were utilized to store energy simultaneously and approximately double the voltage. By exploiting the hysteresis characteristics of the magnetic switch, a nanosecond pulse output was achieved. An enhanced full-bridge inverter snubber circuit was proposed, which can effectively absorb surge voltage, with a voltage impact reduction on the primary winding of the pulse transformer to less than 1%. The newly developed bipolar nanosecond pulse power supply achieved a good performance with bipolar pulse frequency of 20 kHz and peak voltage of 7 kV, while the rising time is 550 ns and the half-height full-width duration is 420 ns. With surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) load, the peak power of single pulse discharge can reach up to 35 kW, with the highest recorded value of deposited energy per pulse at approximately 0.9 mJ, and a final stable value observed at approximately 0.55 mJ, a uniform multi-streamer discharge was achieved.
Sun, AoHu, YongRong, WeixinYu, WenbinZhao, Feiyang
The extension of traction batteries from electric vehicles with supercapacitors is regularly discussed as a possibility to increase the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries as well as the performance of the vehicle drive. The objective of this work was to validate these assumptions by developing a simulation model. In addition, an economic analysis is performed to qualitatively classify the simulation results. Initially, a hybrid energy storage system consisting of battery and supercapacitor was developed. A semi-active hybrid energy storage topology was selected. Subsequently, the selection of use cases as well as the application-specific definition of load cycles took place. In addition, the control strategy was further developed so that a simulation on lifetime was made possible. The end-of-life of the battery cells was defined, according to the USABC guideline values. Based on the data of the respective use case, the control strategy parameter optimization was carried out according to an empirical approach. In the final step, the developed hybrid energy storage system and the conventional battery system were compared, and the results evaluated both technically and economically. A slowdown of the aging effects and thus an improvement of the battery lifetime in the hybrid energy storage system could be clearly demonstrated. Despite proof of the technical advantage, the use of electric hybrid systems consisting of a battery and supercapacitor in electric vehicles is currently questionable due to the high additional costs. Through further technical development, subsidies or the construction of new, highly automated production facilities, supercapacitors will experience a price reduction in the future, which is why electric hybrid energy storage systems can play an important role in the mobility of tomorrow.
Mödl, RomanBraun, AndreasKallis, Lena
This paper addresses challenges in current Fuel Cell Stack Buses and presents a novel Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Bus (FCEV-Bus) powertrain that combines fuel cells, ultra-capacitors, and batteries to enhance performance and reliability. Existing Fuel Cell Stack Buses struggle with responsiveness, power fluctuations, and cost-efficiency. The FCEV-Bus powertrain uses a Fuel Cell stack as the primary power source, ultra-capacitors for quick power response, and batteries for addressing power variations. Batteries also save costs in certain cases. This combination optimizes power management, improves system efficiency, and extends the FCEV-Bus's operational life. In conclusion, this paper offers an innovative solution to overcome traditional fuel cell system limitations, making FCEV-Buses more efficient and reliable for potential wider adoption.
Bhardwaj, RohitSaurabh, SaurabhGadve, DhananjayAmancharla, Naga Chaithanya
In the coming years, moving towards a hundred percent electric vehicles will be one of the key areas in the automotive industry. The main advantages of using e-mobility are operational flexibility, lower carbon emission and regenerative energy. Thermal management in an e-vehicle plays a vital role for the reliability of the system and any thermal failure can cost a significant amount of money to a company per vehicle. Inverter assembly is widely used to convert Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) in the e-mobility platform to operate the motor for vehicle propulsion. It consists of various electronic transmitters, controllers, capacitors, and semi-conductors which will emit an enormous amount of heat during their operation. Since inverters are highly temperature sensitive in nature, it is necessary to improve the temperature distribution in the device. For this reason, adequate cooling system and ventilation is inevitable to keep the components operational. In this study, the thermal characteristic of the inverter was determined using transient thermal analysis considering three different fin geometry used in the heat sink. The two major heat sources are capacitors and Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), and the heat transfer in the inverter assembly is due to conduction, convection, and radiation. This paper deals with the optimization of inverter fin to meet the cooling efficiency. Also, experimental validation was performed to verify the simulation results and correlation study was carried out to find the results accuracy of the numerical method. Simulation methodology was standardized for the thermal management of an inverter which can be effectively used in the electric vehicle industry.
Govindarasu, AnbarasuT, SukumarSathyamoorthy, GugainamasivayamSubramanian, Vivek
The portable and electric energy storage market has long been dominated by lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, surpassing other energy storage systems in their ability to provide higher energy and power. However, in critical applications such as electric vehicles, there is a growing demand for a device that can efficiently produce both high power and high energy over a significant number of cycles. Meeting these rigorous standards presents new challenges for existing technologies, prompting researchers to explore alternative technologies for energy storage devices.
Alternating current (AC) heating is an efficient and homogeneous manner to warm Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) up. The integrated design of AC heating combined with the motor drive circuit has been studied by many scholars. However, the problems of excessive heating frequency (>1kHz) and zeros torque output of the motor during the heating process have not been solved. High-frequency AC excitation may be detrimental to the battery because the effect of high-frequency AC excitation on the state of health of the battery is unknown. In addition, although the zero-torque output can be realized by controlling the q-axis current to zero, the torque ripple is still difficult to eliminate in a real-world application. To further solve the above problems, the motor’s neutral conductor is pulled out and connected to a large capacitor to increase the current amplitude of the AC heating at low frequencies. To quickly evaluate the AC that the heating system can generate, a simplified equivalent circuit model is established. And a new numerical solution algorithm is proposed to solve the nonlinear model. Finally, the capability of the system is evaluated using a specific set of parameters. The results show that the proposed algorithm can approximately solve the nonlinear model with a limited number of iterations. And the evaluation results of the heating system indicate that the heating system can quickly heat the battery pack. Compared with other works, the theoretical temperature rise rate is greater than 2.29°C/min. The battery pack heating scheme will promote the application of electric vehicles (EVs) in cold regions.
Huang, RanjunWang, XinjianDai, Haifeng
Toyota Motor Corporation has developed a new battery electric vehicle (BEV) on the dedicated e-TNGA platform for BEVs, which was designed to lower the center of gravity of the vehicle and increase body stiffness. In addition to a full-time 4WD system, another feature of this new BEV is its pleasurable driving experience. A new inverter drive unit was developed for this system. Unlike the previous inverter, the advantage of the new inverter is that it is small enough to be mounted inside the transaxle housing, thereby contributing to the availability of interior and luggage space. The temperature rise of the power semiconductors in the inverter was reduced considerably by the development of a new power semiconductor for BEVs. This enables a parallel layout of two power semiconductors instead of three. The components of the inverter were also downsized. A coreless current sensor was adopted, and capacitors were developed with significantly lower capacitance. The rear inverter adopts silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, which significantly reduce energy loss compared to Si power semiconductors. This paper describes the technology developed for this new inverter unit.
Yuichi, ShimoKanzaki, TakaoYanagi, TakashiGoto, YukioKurihara, TakashiKobayashi, Masayoshi
Researchers at Drexel University are one step closer to making wearable textile technology a reality. Recently published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Journal of Material’s Chemistry A, materials scientists from Drexel’s College of Engineering, in partnership with a team at Accenture Labs, have reported a new design of a flexible wearable supercapacitor patch. It uses MXene, a material discovered at Drexel University in 2011, to create a textile-based supercapacitor that can charge in minutes and power an Arduino microcontroller temperature sensor and radio communication of data for almost two hours.
Researchers have developed a low-cost device that can selectively capture carbon dioxide gas while it charges. Then, when it discharges, the carbon dioxide (CO2) can be released in a controlled way and collected to be reused or disposed of responsibly.
Today the contribution of the transportation sector to greenhouse gases is evident. The fast consumption of fossil fuels and their impact on the environment have given a strong impetus to the development of vehicles with better fuel economy. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) fit into this context with different targets, from the reduction of emissions and fuel consumption to performance and comfort enhancement. Vehicles exist with various missions; super sports cars usually aim to reach peak performance and guarantee a great driving experience, but great attention must also be paid to fuel consumption. According to the vehicle mission, HEVs can differ in the powertrain configuration and the choice of an energy storage system. The electrical energy source often consists of batteries, but also capacitors could be used. The energy storage systems could be limited in energy or power density, depending on their technology. This work explores the hybridization of a super sports car by fitting two electric machines in position P2-P4. In addition, the energy storage system is hybridized by combining batteries and capacitors to get the benefits of both. At first, the hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is obtained by connecting batteries and capacitors in parallel. The research activity shows that such a system could significantly reduce the peak current requested to the batteries and reduce the battery voltage variations, consisting of a simple solution. Later, the connection between capacitors and batteries is regulated by a DC-DC converter to fully use the available energy of the capacitors and actively control the system. Both systems are modeled in MATLAB/Simulink, and they are eventually introduced as part of a hybrid electric vehicle model. The model is simulated on emission cycles and the fuel consumption results are compared with the ones of the conventional super sports car to determine the improvements on fuel economy.
Franceschi, AlessandroCavina, NicolòParenti, RiccardoReggiani, MaurizioCorti, Enrico
As the electrification of automobiles continues to accelerate, the need for a safe, reliable, high-power energy-storage technology is greater than ever. Ultracapacitors already have an established place in Voltage Stabilization Systems (VSS) for internal-combustion engine (ICE) stop-start applications. By providing additional voltage support during a high-current cranking event, voltage levels are maintained to allow proper operation of accessories without interruption and enable proper operation as battery state-of-health declines.
Micro-supercapacitors could revolutionize the way we use batteries by increasing their lifespan and enabling extremely fast charging. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a method that represents a breakthrough for how such supercapacitors can be produced.
A new bendable supercapacitor made from graphene has been developed that charges quickly and safely stores a record-high level of energy for use over a long period. The technology overcomes the issue faced by high-powered, fast-charging supercapacitors: they usually cannot hold a large amount of energy in a small space.
This research aims at developing the suboptimal energy management strategy by using artificial neural network (ANN) for a triple-electrical-energy electric vehicle (EV). The controller hardware designs will be implemented in the future. Firstly, we constructed a low-order dynamic equations that abstracted the characteristics of the vehicle, including energy sources (the fuel cell, lithium battery, and supercapacitor), driver’s model, traction motor, transmission, and longitudinal vehicle dynamics, etc.. The key parameters were mostly retrieved from the commercialization software-Advanced Vehicle Simulator (ADVISOR). Base on the vehicle structure of the Toyota Mirai, we built the range-extended EV. The powertrain system included an 110kW fuel cell set, a 40Ah lithium-ion battery set, and a 165F/48V supercapacitor and a 150kW AC motor. The ECMS control strategy included a six-layer for-loop: the battery state-of-health (SOH), power demand, the battery state-of-charge (SOC??), the supercapacitor state-of-charge (SOC????), the power ratio of battery to power demand(α) and the power ratio of the supercapacitor to power demand(β). The ECMS data for ANN training was divided to two parts, the input part is four for-loop and the output part is α and β. To evaluated the benefit of the ANN, a rule-based (RB) control was designed as well. A standard driving cycle, New European Drive Cycle (NEDC), was chosen for the energy improvement evaluation. The energy consumption for RB and ECMS is [17.6258, 8.9141kWh], respectively, in two-time NEDC cycles. The energy improvement for ECMS is approximately 50% and the ANN accuracy is higher than 90%. The hybrid system can be scaled down to a small mobility in the near future.
CHEN, CHIEN-LIANGHUNG, YI-HSUANQIU, ZHU-YANG
The electric-field coupled power transfer (ECPT) system with a coupling capacitor double-resonance circuit is proposed for electric vehicle (EV) charging. The article analyzes the plate capacitors between the EV and ground copperplate and introduces the coupling capacitor double-resonance circuit. The two-port network impedance matching of two topologies coupling capacitor double resonance is simulated, and then double side L impedance matching network and coupling capacitor double resonance with Series-Series (S-S) topology are proposed to solve the transmission efficiency decrease led by plate capacitances’ fluctuation. A prototype of the ECPT system is designed and built to prove the validity of the proposed methods. It is shown that the ECPT system realized higher than 60 W of electrical power, which is dynamic wireless transferred through the tire steel belt and the ground copperplate with at least 88% efficiency when the tires are rolling.
Chen, XinChen, Zhen
This SAE Recommended Practice is intended as a guide toward standard practice and is subject to change to keep pace with experience and technical advances. It describes a body of tests which may be used as needed for abuse testing of electric or hybrid electric vehicle rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS) to determine the response of such electrical energy storage and control systems to conditions or events which are beyond their normal operating range. This document does not establish pass/fail criteria. However, SAE J2929 does define pass/fail criteria for automotive RESS safety testing. Abuse test procedures in this document are intended to cover a broad range of vehicle applications as well as a broad range of electrical energy storage devices, including individual RESS cells (batteries or capacitors), modules, and packs. RESS includes any type of rechargeable electrical energy storage device, such as batteries and capacitors. This document does not apply to RESS that uses mechanical devices to store energy (e.g., electro-mechanical flywheels) or fuel cells.
Battery Safety Standards Committee
This document contains definitions currently used in the automotive industry as they relate to energy storage and batteries for starting, lighting, and ignition applications, as well as for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EVs). It is intended that this document be a resource for those writing other battery, HEV, and EV documents, specifications, standards, or recommended practices. The use of the term “battery” in this document can be assumed to be a rechargeable battery (secondary battery). The terminology may be applied to other industries if desired.
Battery Terminology Committee
Capacitors that rapidly store and release electric energy are key components in modern electronics and power systems; however, the most commonly used ones have low energy densities compared to other storage systems like batteries or fuel cells, which in turn cannot discharge and recharge rapidly without sustaining damage. By introducing isolated defects to a type of commercially available thin film in a straightforward post-processing step, a team has demonstrated that a common material can be processed into a top-performing energy storage material.
This article presents a two-stage Dynamic Programming (DP)-based approach to solving the problem of Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) component sizing, specifically, the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery and ultracapacitor (UC) for a mild hybrid electric powertrain. In the first stage, optimal sizing of the battery for the powertrain without a UC is solved for a specified drive cycle, which is used in the reported literature. In the second stage, the battery is complemented with a UC cascaded through a direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter in a semi-active configuration. A DP-based formulation is then constructed and solved for the hybrid energy storage subsystem. While the first-stage DP problem has an objective function to minimize the fuel consumption while sustaining the battery charge at the end of the drive cycle, the second-stage DP problem is solved for minimization of the battery capacity loss (i.e., maximization of battery life and better utilization of the battery in terms of its throughput and stress by the virtue of limiting the power transients/C-Rates). A heuristic layer at the top level of the two-stage DP framework ensures economic sizing of the battery and UC that effectively meets the objectives of arriving at a battery and capacitor size for an economic HESS. This novel approach could be easily extended to multiple standard drive cycles and real-life drive cycles.
Kamat, ShivaramFollen, KennethChunodkar, Apurva
Today, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology is widely used by healthcare professionals to examine soft tissues and organs in the body. MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool because it can be used to detect a variety of potentially life-threatening issues ranging from degenerative diseases to tumors in a noninvasive manner. To understand the design challenges involved in developing MRI equipment, specifically when it comes to the selection of radio-frequency (RF) and electrical components such as capacitors, it’s first important to understand the basic physics behind the way MRI machines operate.
Supercapacitors are devices that store a dense electrical charge in an electrical field that provides electronics or a power grid with a quick jolt of power on demand. They have a capacitance value far higher than typical capacitors but at the cost of lower voltage limits. Unlike typical capacitors, supercapacitors don’t use conventional solid dielectric (insulator) — they utilize electrostatic double-layer capacitance (typically made of carbon) and electromechanical pseudo-capacitance (metal oxide or conducting polymer). Both contribute to the capacitor’s total capacitance and are designed for many rapid charge/discharge cycles over long-term energy storage. Hybrid supercapacitors boost that capacitance, energy density, and operating voltage (3.8 V maximum) up to 10X over symmetric supercapacitors.
Circuit designs exploiting the increased energy storage provided by supercapacitors require more careful consideration of the increased power handling than that of batteries when charging these devices. The unique composition of electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLC) inherently allows them to withstand large currents. Table 1 is a brief list of AVX cylindrical (SCC) and series-connected module (SCM) SuperCapacitors, displaying peak current supply and sink current capability. These maximum specifications will typically exceed current capability of charge sources and lead to failures within the power supply system.
This paper presents a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) powertrain development and optimization, aiming to minimize hydrogen consumption. The vehicle is a prototype that run at the Shell Eco-marathon race and its powertrain is composed by a PEM fuel cell, supercapacitors and a DC electric motor. The supercapacitors serve as an energy buffer to satisfy the load peaks requested by the electric motor, allowing a smoother (and closer to a stationary application) working condition for the fuel cell. Thus, the fuel cell can achieve higher efficiency rates and the fuel consumption is minimized. Several models of the powertrain were developed using MATLAB-Simulink and then experimentally validated in laboratory and on the track. The proposed models allow to evaluate two main arrangements between fuel cell and supercapacitors: 1) through a DC/DC converter that sets the FC current to a desired value; 2) using a direct parallel connection between fuel cell and supercapacitors. The results obtained with the direct parallel connection (with the appropriate sizing of the overall capacity) have highlighted a significant efficiency advantage, while the DC/DC converter insertion enables an improved control of the fuel cell current and requires a smaller capacitance. Furthermore, a sizing methodology for the supercapacitors capacitance is proposed for both layouts: with the DC/DC converter it mainly depends on the energy range provided by supercapacitors to the electric motor, while in the direct parallel connection the supercapacitors sizing is outlined by concurrently evaluating the circuit’s predicted hydrogen consumption and granting the most suitable conditions to increase the fuel cell performance. Finally, the results obtained from the model were validated by comparing them with experimental data obtained in the laboratory and on the track.
Carello, Massimilianade Carvalho Pinheiro, HenriqueLongega, LeonardoDi Napoli, Luca
This paper presents a compact, partially laminated busbar design to connect the DC-link capacitor, high-voltage DC (HVDC) connector, and power module using a single integrated busbar. The proposed busbar design is designed for a high-power and high-voltage Silicon Carbide (SiC) traction inverter. The proposed solution eliminates the need for using separate busbars: one for the connection between the HVDC connector and the DC-link capacitor, and the other one between the connection of the DC-link capacitor and the power module. Incorporating two busbars in a single traction inverter increases the total volume of the inverter and the parasitic components. Thus, the main design goals in this paper are minimizing the parasitic inductances, increasing the power density, and achieving a uniform current distribution across the capacitor cores. Additionally, the compact busbar design allows a reduction in the parasitic resistance compared to two separate busbars and, hence, it reduces the power loss. The voltage overshoot and maximum allowable stray inductance of the busbar are investigated in detail. Current density and its effect on the busbar temperature rise are analyzed using 3D finite element analysis.
Wang, YichengMistry, JigarAzer, PeterBilgin, Berker
This paper presents a compact thermal management solution for a high-power traction inverter. The proposed design utilizes a stacked cooling system that enables heat extraction from two of the largest heat sources in a power inverter: the power module and the DC-link capacitor. The base plate of the power module has circular pin fins while the capacitor comes with a flat surface which must be placed on a cold plate to provide the adequate heat dissipation. Incorporating individual cooling mechanisms for the DC-link capacitor and the power module would increase the weight, complexity and overall volume of the inverter housing. The proposed cooling system mitigates these problems by integrating the cooling mechanisms of the power module and the DC-link capacitor within a single cooling system. The cooling mechanism is designed to provide a uniform coolant flow with minimal pressure drop across the heat sink of the power module and DC-link capacitor. The uniform coolant flow also ensures minimal coolant temperature gradient across the switching devices in the power module and the capacitors cells. This maintains a uniform junction temperature in the capacitor cells and the switching devices. The proposed design is validated using Computational Fluid Dynamics.
Mistry, JigarWang, YichengAzer, PeterBilgin, Berker
We propose low inductance batteries and enhance power density for a inverter. Conventionally, the capacitors are used for smoothing ripple of the inverter. The low inductance battery which responds at carrier frequency of inverter can reduce the capacity of the smoothing capacitors and enable to enhance power density for the inverter. For reducing the inductance, it is necessary to separately understand the impact of electrochemical reaction under wide range of assumed conditions and structural reaction on frequency characteristics. Furthermore, it is also necessary to design the low inductance batteries based on combining the both of characteristics. However, there are no study focusing on modeling by combining such different domains. Therefore, we made original inductance model inside battery considering frequency characteristics among all materials and structural influence with electromagnetic field analysis simulator. Then, we compared obtained simulated values with actual battery. As a results, we found that both values were corresponding each other and it is possible to design the low inductance battery with this approach. Finally, we verified smoothing effect for inverter output using our low inductance battery module. We conducted smoothing test by high frequency current as input into the battery module. We confirmed that battery voltage fluctuation was reduced less than 5% at an current condition which voltage fluctuation was more than 5% for normal batteries. As a results we have shown it is possible to reduce smoothing capacitors by using low inductance batteries.
Komatsu, DaikiInoue, TakeshiYamauchi, Shin
With recent advances in electric vehicles, there is a plethora of powertrain topologies and components available in the market. Thus, the performance of electric vehicles is highly sensitive to the choice of various powertrain components. This paper presents a multi-objective optimization model that can optimally select component sizes for batteries, supercapacitors, and motors in regular passenger battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The BEV topology presented here is a hybrid BEV which consists of both a battery pack and a supercapacitor bank. Focus is placed on optimal selection of the battery pack, motor, and supercapacitor combination, from a set of commercially available options, that minimizes the capital cost of the selected power components, the fuel cost over the vehicle lifespan, and the 0-60 mph acceleration time. Available batteries, supercapacitors, and motors are from a market survey. The considered lifespan is taken as 10 years, and the traveling distance is estimated at 50.9 miles per day using a combination of standard driving cycles. The resulting optimization problem is solved with the help of a quasi-static powertrain model which is developed using MATLAB/Simulink. A Genetic Algorithm is used to find the optimal solution in the case study. Normalized weighting factors are given to help users meeting their preferred performance during the power component design. Battery packs in the case study are chosen from LiFePO4 18650 cells with total capacity up to 100 kWh. Seven available types of supercapacitors along with 6 popular motors are also included in the design options. Two samples of the design results are compared to analyze the relevant tradeoff between performance indicators and cost.
Shinde, AkashKshirsagar, KunalArshad, Saad BinPatil, UnmeshZhang, Jiangfeng
Researchers have engineered a novel type of supercapacitor that remains fully functional even when stretched to eight times its original size. It does not exhibit any wear and tear from being stretched repeatedly and loses only a few percentage points of energy performance after 10,000 cycles of charging and discharging. The supercapacitor could be part of a power-independent, stretchable, flexible electronic system for applications such as wearable electronics or biomedical devices.
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