Hybrid power sources for Land Warrior scenario

Hybrid systems utilizing a zinc-air battery or a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) as the high energy density component coupled with a rechargeable battery (lead-acid or nickel-metal hydride) or electrochemical capacitor (EC) bank as the high power density component were tested under a high-pulse application load, Land Warrior (LW). The hybrid power sources successfully operated the LW cyclic load beyond the capabilities of the specific single chemistry systems studied. The zinc-air battery hybrids allowed approximately triple the operation time of PEMFC hybrids. The best performing hybrid system was the zinc-air battery/lead-acid battery. It provided the greatest operating voltage and longest operating time     

Ultracapacitors + DC-DC converters in regenerative braking system

An ultracapacitor system for an electric vehicle has been implemented. The device allows higher accelerations and decelerations of the vehicle with minimal loss of energy and minimal degradation of the main battery pack. The system uses a DC-DC power converter, which is connected between the ultracapacitor and the main battery pack. The design has been optimized in weight and size, by using water-cooled heat sinks for the power converter, and an aluminum coil with air core for the smoothing inductance. The ratings of the ultracapacitor are: nominal voltage: 300 Vdc; nominal current: 200 Adc; capacitance: 20 Farads. The amount of energy stored allows us to have 40 kW of power during 20 seconds, which is enough to accelerate the vehicle without the help of the traction batteries. The vehicle uses a brushless DC motor with a nominal power of 32 kW and a peak power of 53 kW. A control system based on a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) manipulates all the aforementioned variables and controls the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) switching pattern of the converter transistors. The car used for the implementation of this system is a Chevrolet LUV truck.     

Charge equalization for an electric vehicle battery system

Charge equalization for series connected battery strings has important ramifications on battery life. It enhances the uniformity of the battery cells and hence improves the life of the battery as a whole. A new charge equalization technique for a series string of battery cells has been recently proposed by the authors. The basic technique utilizes a simple isolated dc-to-dc converter with a capacitive output filter along with a multiwinding transformer. The possibility of integrating the trickle charge function with the charge equalization function is potentially very attractive, as it can lead to an efficient and low cost implementation     

Electric-vehicle batteries

Electric vehicles that can't reach trolley wires need batteries. In the early 1900's electric cars disappeared when owners found that replacing the car's worn-out lead-acid battery costs more than a new gasoline-powered car. Most of today's electric cars are still propelled by lead-acid batteries. General Motors in their prototype Impact, for example, used starting-lighting-ignition batteries, which deliver lots of power for demonstrations, but have a life of less than 100 deep discharges. Now promising alternative technology has challenged the world-wide lead miners, refiners, and battery makers into forming a consortium that sponsors research into making better lead-acid batteries. Horizon's new bipolar battery delivered 50 watt-hours per kg (Wh/kg), compared with 20 for ordinary transport-vehicle batteries. The alternatives are delivering from 80 Wh/kg (nickel-metal hydride) up to 200 Wh/kg (zinc-bromine). A Fiat Panda traveled 260 km on a single charge of its zinc-bromine battery. A German 3.5-ton postal truck traveled 300 km with a single charge in its 650-kg (146 Wh/kg) zinc-air battery. Its top speed was 110 km per hour     

Fast equalization for large lithium ion batteries

Slight differences between the series connected cells in a lithium ion (Lilon) battery pack can produce imbalances in the cell voltages, and this greatly reduces the charge capacity. These batteries cannot be trickle-charged like a lead acid battery since this would slightly overcharge some cells and may cause these cells to ignite. Therefore, an electronic equalizer (EQU) should be used to balance the cell voltages individually. The targeted EQU described herein can be connected to any cell via a set of sealed relays to provide much faster equalization and higher efficiency than previous methods.     

Sensitivity of a ramp equalizer for series batteries

To realize the maximum potential of large series connected battery packs, the individual battery voltages should be maintained at fairly uniform values, i.e., the voltages should be equalized. The ramp type of electronic equalizer has proven to be very effective in performing this task since it offers the advantages of simplicity and convenience. However, to achieve maximum performance, it is necessary to understand how the circuit is affected by certain parameters. This is accomplished by defining the circuit sensitivity and using a simplified model to explain the relative effects of leakage inductance, frequency, and power level     

基于无迹卡尔曼滤波法的串联型电池系统 荷电状态估计研究

以锂离子电池为载体的电源系统为航天器稳定可靠运行提供了一种有效的方式.多个电池单体经串联可扩大电池系统容量,即串联型电池系统.为准确估计串联型锂离子电池系统的荷电状态(State of Charge,SOC),针对扩展卡尔曼滤波(Extended Kalman Filter,EKF)计算复杂、精度不高等问题,结合串联型电池系统空间状态方程,提出基于无迹卡尔曼滤波法(Unscented Kalman Filter,UKF)的串联型电池系统荷电状态估计算法.在恒流和脉冲两种工况下,通过对比分析UKF与EKF算法的仿真结果与实验数据的匹配情况,证明了提出算法的准确性和高鲁棒性.     

Selective buck-boost equalizer for series battery packs

To maximize the capacity and reliability of a series connected battery pack, a new selective equalizer developed from the earlier ramp equalizer is proposed. A set of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) controlled by a microcontroller is used to route equalization current to the lowest voltage batteries. Since only the lowest voltage batteries are connected to the equalizer, the need for uniform transformer leakage inductance is avoided, and a lower power level can be used since no excess current flows to the other batteries. An equalization experiment has shown that a 37 W selective equalizer had a slightly better effect on a 24-battery pack than a 63 W ramp equalizer     

High-frequency AC power distribution in Space Station

A utility-type, 20-kHz, AC power distribution system for the space station employing resonant power-conversion techniques is presented. The system converts raw DC voltage from photovoltaic cells or three-phase, low-frequency AC voltage from a solar dynamic generator into a regulated, 20-G kHz AC voltage for distribution among various loads. Operations of the components of the system such as driver inverter, DC receiver, bidirectional receiver, and three-phase AC receiver are discussed. EASY5 computer modeling and simulations were performed to study the local and global performance of the system. Simulation results show that the system has fast response and good transient behavior. The AC bus voltage is effectively regulated using the phase-control scheme, which is demonstrated with both line and load variations. The feasibility of paralleling the outputs of driver modules is illustrated with the driver modules synchronized and sharing a common feedback loop. A high-frequency, sinusoidal AC voltage is generated in the three-phase, AC input case, when the driver modules are phased 120° away from one another and their outputs are connected in series     

Electrical power on a 30 kW space-based radar satellite

An electrical power system for a space-based radar satellite is described. When the radar is on, its transmitter needs an average DC power of 30 kW. The problem of distributing the power efficiently in pulses to many transmit/receive modules is addressed. System requirements include a high-voltage battery and transmission line, load-sharing between the solar array, and the battery during sunlit periods, and a 25-kW solar array. A scaled-down version of the power system for a proof-of-concept demonstration is described     

Development of three-phase switch-mode rectifier using single-phase modules

This paper presents a three-phase (3/spl phi/) switch-mode rectifier (SMR) consisting of three 1 /spl phi/ SMRs, two center-tapped autotransformers and three changeover switches. The ac input sides of three modules are /spl Delta/-connected, and their dc output sides are connected in parallel. As any one module fault occurs, the remaining two modules becomes modified T-connected and continuously perform three-phase rectification with good line drawn power quality. When two constituted 1/spl phi/ modules are faulted, the proposed 3/spl phi/ SMR will be operated as 1/spl phi/ SMR. The quantitative and robust voltage regulation controls for the developed SMR are made to consider the effects of changes of system parameters, operating condition, and number of connected modules.     

Life cycle testing of a sealed 24-V, 42-Ah nickel-cadmium aircraftbattery

Extensive research has been conducted in the design and manufacture of very long life sealed maintenance free nickel-cadmium aircraft batteries. This study presents data on a 100% depth of discharge (DOD) life test performed on a nominal capacity 42-Ah battery. The purpose of this study is to validate design concepts, determine the life characteristics of the newly designed sealed Ni-Cd batteries, and develop baseline information on failure rates and mechanisms. The data from this experiment can be used to compare depth of discharge versus battery life with similar tests such as the lower DOD experiments performed on spacecraft batteries. This information is important in the ongoing development of long life batteries and in developing failure models for life prediction     

一种基于SOC补偿器的并联型 电池系统等效电路模型

以锂离子电池为载体的电源系统为航天器稳定、可靠运行提供了一种有效 的方式。通过多个电池单体的并联可扩大电池系统容量,即并联型电池系统。针对锂离 子并联型电池系统的工作特性,因电池单体性能参数不一致而难以被准确表征的问题, 分析各电池单体性能参数与电池系统性能参数的扩展关系及并联电路工作特性,提出一 种基于SOC 补偿器的并联型电池系统等效电路模型;在Matlab/Simulink 环境下搭建电池 系统仿真平台,通过仿真结果与实验数据对比分析验证所提出模型的准确性。     

航空蓄电池能量均衡技术研究

航空电池组中单体电池之间会逐渐出现不一致性,会降低电池组性能和使用寿命,甚至引发安全事故。本文提出了一种基于主动均衡的航空蓄电池组能量均衡系统结构,提出了一种能量集中式双向传递的Cúk型均衡电路,设计了顶部均衡和底部均衡的均衡控制策略。开发了航空镍镉蓄电池能量均衡系统,进行了镍镉电池组能量均衡实验分析,实验结果表明新型能量均衡器具有均衡速度快、均衡电池单体可任意选择、能量双向传递的优点,通过电池组能量均衡控制能明显改善电池组内单体之间的不一致性,提高电池组容量利用率和使用寿命。     

Artificial hearts, batteries, and electric vehicles

New battery applications ranged from an implanted battery that powers an artificial heart, to powering a seismic sensor behind an oil-well drilling bit as it grinds through rock looking for oil-bearing structure. These applications require high reliability that justifies the cost of thorough qualification testing, production control, acceptance testing of every cell, and tracking every cell by its serial number through its lifetime. Electric vehicle developments ranged from electric scooters for commuting to work in Europe to electric cars connected to the electric grid when not being driven. Availability of their battery energy for carrying load peaks is so valuable that the electric utility being supported could offer to replace the vehicles batteries whenever they wear out, with no cost to the car owner.     

International Space Station power storage upgrade planned

As the Earth-orbit International Space Station (ISS) grows, it needs more power which is generated by solar panels. For periods in which the planet Earth occults sunlight, energy is stored in the biggest set of batteries ever flown in space. Reliability of power is important in a space station because a failure requires costly launch of replacement components. Even greater importance results when astronauts work in the station. A power failure that causes the astronauts to perish would be a very serious event. The first battery-containing "integrated equipment module" was launched November 30, 2000 and installed on port 6 of the International Space Station. Two more modules will be launched by the United States; to be launched in 2004 is the European Space Agency's "attached COLUMBUS APM laboratory," which will have its own power system. Unexpected battery-related events occurred in the integrated equipment module during its first year-and-a-half in orbit. The problems and their solutions were described in papers presented at the 37/sup th/ Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Since the International Space Station carries more battery cells than any other spacecraft, the in-flight performance data from its battery assembly can be useful to engineers who design power supplies for other spacecraft. We, therefore, summarize the battery development process, the adopted design, and an unexpected in-flight battery degradation and its correction.     

Determination of the Number of Cells in a Stepped Sine Wave Inverter for Equal Charge Transfer

The synthesis of an inverter sine wave output voltage by a staircase wave shape of low level voltage sources (cells) is accomplished by combining the cells in series at specific time intervals. Different cells of the inverter are then connected to the load for different time durations which results in unequal discharging of the cells. In order for the cells to transfer equal charge during the system operation, each voltage step should consist of a different number of cells in a parallel combination (module), the number of which depends on the time along the wave shape. The number of cells in each module is determined from the circuit current analysis and the appropriate switching time intervals, and is performed for a resistive and an inductive load. This number depends on the number of inverter voltage steps, the cell internal resistance, and the type of the load. The proper number of cells in the modules ensures identical state of charge of the cells, and equal cell recharging, and simplifies cell inspection, maintenance, and replacement.     

Robust fault-tolerant attitude control for satellite with multiple uncertainties and actuator faults

In this paper, the satellite attitude control system subject to parametric perturbations, external disturbances, time-varying input delays, actuator faults and saturation is studied. In order to make the controller architecture simple and practical, the closed-loop system is transformed into a disturbance-free nominal system and an equivalent disturbance firstly. The equivalent disturbance represents all above uncertainties and actuator failures of the original system. Then a robust controller is proposed in a simple composition consisting of a nominal controller and a robust compensator. The nominal controller is designed for the transformed nominal system. The robust compensator is developed from a second-order filter to restrict the influence of the equivalent disturbance. Stability analysis indicates that both attitude tracking errors and compensator states can converge into the given neighborhood of the origin in finite time. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed control law, numerical simulations are carried out in different cases. Presented results demonstrate that the high-precision attitude tracking control can be achieved by the proposed fault-tolerant control law. Furthermore, multiple system performances including the control accuracy and energy consumption index are fully discussed under a series of compensator parameters.     

Performance, life-cycle cost, and emissions of fuel cells

In this tutorial we evaluate the present status and future direction of fuel cell development. The three most promising types of fuel cells being evaluated for electric vehicle propulsion are: (1) direct hydrogen-consuming fuel cells; (2) methanol-consuming fuel cells; and (3) zinc-air fuel cells. The author evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of each type.     

飞行状态对太阳能飞机中组件性能的影响

基于光伏组件产生功率模型，研究了太阳能飞机中飞行速度、高度、时间及区域等状态参数影响组件性能的规律。以单晶硅组件及Xihe太阳能飞机为研究对象，当飞机飞行速度增加时，组件产生的功率随之增加但趋于饱和。原因在于速度的增加能有效降低组件的表面温度，但提升是有限的。飞机所需的功率随飞行速度呈现指数增加，且组件产生的功率与飞机所需的功率有能量平衡点。组件产生的功率随飞行高度的增加而增加，但有饱和的趋势。原因在于，当飞行高度上升，大气温度随之下降，组件表面温度下降；同时海拔越高，大气密度和大气通透率越大，太阳辐射增加，从而组件产生的功率增加了；饱和的原因在于组件本身性能的限制。一天之中，组件产生的功率基本以太阳时12点为中心左右近似对称，中午最强；一年中组件性能在夏季最强，冬季最弱。原因在于组件性能主要由所受太阳辐射决定。随着纬度的增加，组件产生的功率减小。原因在于，纬度越高，太阳高度角越小，组件所能接受到的太阳辐射也就越小；纬度越低，组件总产生功率越高且平稳。纬度低的地区更适合太阳能飞机的飞行。该文为太阳能飞机的能量分配、长时间驻空提供一定的帮助。