ECEA 5718 Photovoltaic Power Electronics Battery Management Laboratory

3rd course in the Photovoltaic Power Electronics Specialization

Instructor: Robert Erickson, PhD, Professor

Design, construct, and demonstrate a battery management system in which the power electronics system developed in the earlier courses is adapted to control charging of the storage battery. The project includes maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to provide bulk charging at the maximum rate, and charge taper and float modes to improve battery health.

Note: T​he parts kit and test equipment kit for this course are the same as in the prerequisite open-loop (ECEA 5716) and closed-loop (ECEA 5717) power electronics lab courses, so no further purchases are required.

Prior knowledge needed: 

• Specialization in Power Electronics, ECEA 5700-5703
• O​pen-Loop Photovoltaic Power Electronics Laboratory, ECEA 5716
• Closed-Loop Photovoltaic Power Electronics Laboratory, ECEA 5717

Learning Outcomes

• Model the PV panel, SEPIC, and battery in a system MATLAB/Simulink simulation, and use this to design and test digital battery management algorithms.
• Maximize PV panel power and battery charging current with a digital control algorithm.
• Design, construct, and demonstrate voltage and current sensing circuitry.
• Understand how batteries convert energy stored in chemical bonds to electrical energy.
• Model batteries, including the Nernst equation relating electrolyte concentration to cell voltage, and how ESR varies with state of charge.
• Understand battery charge/discharge cycles, including round-trip efficiency, effect on life, and associated management of charge cycle.

Syllabus

Grading

Letter Grade Rubric

Component List

T​he parts kit and test equipment kit list below are the same as in the prerequisite open-loop (ECEA 5716) and closed-loop (ECEA 5717) power electronics lab courses, so no further purchases are required.