Design of an Improved Hybrid Lithium-Ion-Ultracapacitor Energy Storage System for Transport Vehicles

Abstract

Lead-acid batteries (LABs) are mostly used in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles for starting lightning ignition (SLI). With the increased in load demand for transport vehicles (TVs), LABs are experiencing performance failure. LABs are not able to meet the load demand, which results in deep discharge, and shorten their lifespan. Therefore, this research study seeks to design a hybrid lithium-ion-ultracapacitor energy storage system (ESS) that will have a high storage capacity and longer lifespan at a reduced weight compared to a single LAB ESS. Power-sharing strategy is used as the technical solution to improve the battery performance. Two bidirectional DC–DC buck-boost converters and two level fuzzy logic control (FLC) will make up the full-active topology of the energy management system. The FLC 1 will provide the total reference power to start the ICE and to charge the energy storages based on the power demand, while ensuring that the state of charge is within the minimum and the maximum range of the battery, protects the battery from overcharging and deep discharging. To monitor the bidirectional buck and boost converters during the charging and discharging of the HESS, the FLC 2 is responsible for allocating complete control and managing the reference power of the energy storage (LIB and UP). The suggested method is expected to limit the power drawn from the battery and increase battery lifespan without changing the batteries current chemical composition. The simulation will be carried out utilizing the MATLAB/Simulink tool.

Keywords:

• energy storage system
• hybrid energy storage system
• energy management strategy

Authors’ contributions

Conceptualization, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; methodology, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; software, B.Am and A.T.P.Z., validation, B.A.M, A.T.P.Z., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; formal analysis, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., and S.P.D.C.; investigation, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; resources, B.Am and A.T.P.Z.; data curation, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., M., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; writing—original draft preparation, B.Am and A.T.P.Z.; writing—review and editing, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; visualization, B.Am and A.T.P.Z.; project administration, B.Am, A.T.P.Z., S.P.D.C., and L.J.N.; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional review board statement

Not applicable.

Informed consent statement

Not applicable.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Not applicable.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the Tshwane University of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, Pretoria, AutoX (Pty) Ltd., S5 Enterprises (Pty) Ltd., Cape Town and The Independent Institute of Education (IIEMSA), South Africa for all the facilities provided in conducting the research and writing this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Notes on contributors

Buasa Andy Mayingi

Buasa Andy Mayingi: 2 years of experience as a Junior technical specialist at Siemens. A lecturer in Faculty of information and communication technology (ICT), Tshwane University of Technology. A Masters student at Tshwane University of Technology.

Andre T. Puati Zau

Andre T. Puati Zau currently works at BNM Tech & A associates and as Post Graduate Teaching Assistant in Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology. Andre Tati does research in Electrical Engineering. Their most recent publication is ‘Design of a solar photovoltaic system to power the community of Riverton in Droogfontein’.

Shyama Pada Daniel Chowdhury

Shyama Pada Daniel Chowdhury (PrEng, Fellow SAIEE, CEng, Fellow FIET(UK), SMIEEE), Director of the ESCO “S5 Enterprises”, is AEE (USA) Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), Certified Water Efficiency Professional (CWEP), Trained CMVP, and Certified Energy Performance Certificate Practitioner (CEPCP) in his own right. He is Research Associate of the IIEMSA and Adjunct Professor of Nelson Mandela University of South Africa. He has successfully conducted EPC I&V audits in South Africa for quite a number of buildings and extensive ISO 50001 EnMS awareness training for AutoX, Gqeberha (PE), for ISO 50001 certification and energy savings. He has embarked on a journey from academia to energy business for the real-time application of his vast experience in power and energy research and industrial collaborations towards its fruition in energy management and accomplishing Net Zero 2050 through sustainable energy management (using ISO 50001:EnMS, ISO 14001:EMS, SANS 1544: EPC) par COP27 mandates. Dr. Chowdhury’s profound academic research experience of 35+ years across several continents persistently contributes to the benefit of energy stakeholders in South Africa and the continent in combating energy crisis. His goal is to guide the clients in the best possible ways in reducing energy consumption and energy cost, based on Energy Audit findings with acceptable payback periods. He has embarked on sustainable development goals of integrated carbon mitigation, energy efficiency and water efficiency. His academic and research excellence is clearly visible in his accomplished graduations, research publications and citations, and execution of industry projects, with substantial project grants of high international repute. Dr. Chowdhury has worked for several universities in accomplished academic capacities such as, Jadavpur University, India, Brunel University, UK, University of Manchester, UK, University of Cape Town, South Africa and Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa. He has graduated 15 DEng, 55 MEng, 116 BEng students from aforesaid universities and published over 400 research papers, 2 patents, 3 books. His co-authored research book “Microgrids and Active Distribution Networks”, published by The IET (UK) in 2009 currently enjoys citation of 1400+. E-mail: [email protected]

Louwrance J. Ngoma

Louwrance J. Ngoma received his BTech and MTech degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria West, South Africa, in 2011 and 2013, respectively, and an MSc degree in Electronic and Electrical Systems from the ESIEE, AMIENS, in 2014. In 2014, he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, as a Lecturer. His current research interests include power systems stability, energy efficiency in smart grids, flexible ac transmission systems, renewable energy and grid integration.