Abstract

This thesis deals with the interaction of batteries and power electronic converters in automotive applications. Even if the additional heating caused by (unwanted) alternating currents is disregarded, there has been a concern that alternating currents can be harmful for batteries. For that reason, alternating currents can be filtered using capacitors and/or by sophisticated hardware. In this work, the concern whether alternating currents are harmful to batteries is studied particular focus on large, lithium-ion cells for use in automotive applications.First, the harmonic content in the battery current of two, commercial hybrid-electric busses were measured and analysed. The most prominent harmonic had a peak magnitude higher than 10% of the maximum direct current level (160 A) arising at frequencies below 150 Hz. The maximum amplitude detected of a harmonic caused by the voltage source converter’s switching action was around 10 A and occurred at a frequency of 2 kHz. An experimental setup with alternating current capability for evaluating large lithium-ion cells has been designed and built. Twelve lithium-ion cells were cycled at a rate if 1 C during approximately 2000 cycles (corresponding to approximately one year). The cells were cycled with an superimposed alternating current of 1 Hz, 100 Hz, or 1 kHz while the rest of the cells were cycled with direct current (only), injected with alternating current (only), or no current at all (calendar aging). No negative effects caused by the alternating current was identified in terms of capacity fade and power fade for the tested lithium-ion cells. A comparison between sinusoidal current-ripple charging and conventional constant-current constant-voltage charging was also carried out. Three lithium-ion cells were cycled (ten times) with different ac currents superimposed during charge. The results were analyzed statistically and no significant improvements in terms of charging time or charging efficiency were observed in any of the charging tests using an superimposed ac current. The injection of alternating currents into batteries for heating purposes has also been studied and a control method for battery heating using an ac current was proposed. The proposed controller is applicable regardless of the LIB’s subsequent impedance nature (capacitive, inductive or resistive). Further, a design process for the generation of magnified alternating currents in dc-dc converters was presented. By matching the switching frequency with the frequency where the LCL filter and the battery resonate, the current flowing in the semiconductors and the switching frequency could be reduced. In a small experimental setup using a single lithium-ion cell, using an LCL-resonant circuit and a full bridges witch arrangement, magnifications of up to 15.7 were reached. This allowed for a loss reduction in the semiconductors of up to 75%, when compared to an equivalent dc-dc converter enabled to produce anon-magnified ac current.  "p"QC 20190517

Abstract

In the majority of applications using lithium-ion batteries, batteries are exposed to some harmonic content apart from the main charging/discharging current. The understanding of the effects that alternating currents have on batteries requires specific characterization methods and accurate measurement equipment. The lack of commercial battery testers with high alternating current capability simultaneously to the ability of operating at frequencies above 200 Hz, led to the design of the presented experimental setup. Additionally, the experimental setup expands the state-of-the-art of lithium-ion batteries testers by incorporating relevant lithium-ion battery cell characterization routines, namely hybrid pulse power current, incremental capacity analysis and galvanic intermittent titration technique. In this paper the hardware and the measurement capabilities of the experimental setup are presented. Moreover, the measurements errors due to the setup&rsquo s instruments were analysed to ensure lithium-ion batteries cell characterization quality. Finally, this paper presents preliminary results of capacity fade tests where 28 Ah cells were cycled with and without the injection of 21 A alternating at 1 kHz. Up to 300 cycles, no significant fade in cell capacity may be measured, meaning that alternating currents may not be as harmful for lithium-ion batteries as considered so far. Document type: Article