M. Chinthavali, M. Starke, S. Campbell, B. Xiao
Oak Ridge National Lab,
United States
Keywords: power electronics, energy storage systems integration
Summary:
Batteries with different chemistries as a source and load requires a different power conversion system, which results in redundancy, complex coordination, and reduced energy conversion efficiency. This can be solved with a centralized solution that allows coordinated integration of different battery sources and loads, elimination of extra power conversion stages, and allowance of more sources or loads added with a simple plug and play feature. For this proposed concept, a modular and scalable power electronics interface was developed to integrate various battery sources with different chemistries to ac and dc loads efficiently with reduced power conversion stages. This is a novel method of integrating batteries and power electronics to provide efficient coupling between the two for improved power conversion. As more and more renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, and loads are being adopted, more grid-connected power conversion systems are being introduced into buildings, too. Some of the components used in these systems are redundant increasing the cost of the equipment and reducing the efficiency. These loads and sources are not typically from the same company or use the same communication protocols, which make it difficult for an energy management system to efficiently manage the building power demand and generation. The concept proposed here solves all these issues and introduces a scalar, modular, and efficient power electronics hardware system. Today, each inverter company builds inverters typically for one application. This approach does not allow integration inverters for different applications using some common components to save cost. The propose concept actively tackles two areas of research, battery management system for secondary use and developing new low-cost power conditioning system prototypes. These two areas will enable integration of multiple battery chemistry systems into a single grid ready energy storage.