Series Architecture for the Reduction of the DC-DC Converter in a Hybrid Energy Storage System for Electric Vehicles

Abstract

A Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) uses DC-DC converters to couple its energy sources. However, this device represents a “dead weight” in the system and must be reduced to a minimum in order to maximize the HESS’ performance. This work proposes a new coupling architecture to reduce the converter’s volume and mass. Not yet addressed in the literature, this architecture is based on a series coupling of the sources. In this case, a DC-DC converter is used to control the current difference between the two sources. If this difference is zero, so is the power processed by the converter. By reducing the power processed by the converter, its mass and volume can be reduced. Simulation and experimental tests were carried out to validate the architecture concept. For the latter, power supplies were used to emulate the batteries and the load, and a 2 kg, 3.3 kW evaluation board served as the DC-DC converter. The results show that, compared to a conventional solution that is usually adopted in the literature, with the series architecture, it is possible to reduce the converter sizing power by almost 3.7.

Analysis, Design and Effectuation of a Tapped Inductor Current Converter with Fractional Output for Current Source Systems

“…The power converter is widely used in automotive electronic equipment, communication systems, industrial automation, and new energy systems [1]. However, most current application conversions are based on voltage mode usage scenarios [1][2][3][4].…”

“…The power converter is widely used in automotive electronic equipment, communication systems, industrial automation, and new energy systems [1]. However, most current application conversions are based on voltage mode usage scenarios [1][2][3][4]. The current source converters mentioned in this article are usually buried inside the electronic circuit and are not easy to see; the internal resistance of an ideal current source is infinite.…”

“…This type of circuit requires a current mode source to supply power. In addition, current sources also apply the conversion of Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) [9] and the charging of high-power energy storage systems of electric vehicles [1,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”