Thomas A. Stuart

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.

A Normalized Model for the Half-Bridge Series Resonant Converter

Closed-form steady-state equations are derived for the halfbridge series resonant converter with a rectified (dc) load. Normalized curves for various currents and voltages are then plotted as a function of the circuit parameters. Experimental results based on a 10-kHz converter are presented for comparison with the calculations.

Fast equalization for large lithium ion batteries

Slight differences between the series connected cells in a lithium ion (LiIon) 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.

Small-Signal Model for the Series Resonant Converter

The results of a previous discrete-time model of the series resonant dc-dc converter are reviewed and from these a small signal dynamic model is derived. This model is valid for low frequencies and is based on the modulation of the diode conduction angle for control. The basic converter is modeled separately from its output filter to facilitate the use of these results for design purposes. Experimental results are presented.

A Large-Signal Dynamic Simulation for the Series Resonant Converter

A simple nonlinear discrete-time dynamic model for the series resonant dc-dc converter is derived using approximations appropriate to most power converters. This model is useful for the dynamic simulation of a series resonant converter using only a desktop calculator. The model is compared with a laboratory converter for a large transient event.

Inherent Overload Protection for the Series Resonant Converter

The overload characteristics of the full bridge series resonant power converter are considered. This includes analyses of the two most common control methods presently in use. The first of these uses a current zero crossing detector to synchronize the control signals and is referred to as the ¿ controller. The second is driven by a voltage controlled oscillator and is referred to as the ¿ controller. It is shown that the ¿ controller has certain reliability advantages in that it can be designed with inherent short circuit protection. Experimental results are included for an 86 kHz converter using power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs).

Modeling the Full-Bridge Series-Resonant Power Converter

A steady state model is derived for the full-bridge series-resonant power converter. Normalized parametric curves for various currents and voltages are then plotted versus the triggering angle of the switching devices. The calculations are compared with experimental measurements made on a 50 kHz converter and a discussion of certain operating problems is presented.

A Modular Battery Management System for HEVs

Proper electric and thermal management of an HEV battery pack, consisting of many modules of cells, is imperative. During operation, voltage and temperature differences in the modules/cells can lead to electrical imbalances from module to module and decrease pack performance by as much as 25%. An active battery management system (BMS) is a must to monitor, control, and balance the pack. The University of Toledo, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and in collaboration with DaimlerChrysler and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has developed a modular battery management system for HEVs. This modular unit is a 2 nd generation system, as compared to a previous 1 st

A 1.6-kW, 110-kHz DC-DC converter optimized for IGBT's

A full bridge DC-DC power converter using a zero current and zero-voltage switching technique is described. This circuit utilizes the characteristics of the IGBT to achieve power and frequency combinations that are much higher than previously reported for this device. Experimental results are included for a 1.6 kW, 110 kHz converter with 95% efficiency. >

A combined ultracapacitor-lead acid battery storage system for mild hybrid electric vehicles

Improvements in ultracapacitor technology indicate that the automotive industry should re-examine the energy storage system for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). With the combination of an ultracapacitor and a lead acid battery, a system can be implemented in which the lead acid battery can be maintained at 100% state of charge, lengthening the lifetime of the battery. Although performance of the current technology, nickel metal hydride, seems satisfactory, this technology is still very expensive. The ultracapacitor-lead acid battery system described here will provide a cheaper solution if ultracapacitor prices continue to drop as predicted by manufacturers.