Structured Analysis and Review of Filter-Based Control Strategies for Hybrid Energy Storage Systems

Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS), i.e., the combination of two different energy storage technologies, are widely discussed as a promising solution for energy storage problems. A common control scheme to allocate the power between these storages and the subject of this study is filter-based control, where a filter splits the input signal into a low-frequency and high-frequency part. It provides robust results and easy implementation, although more advanced strategies may perform better. Many publications use this controller for specific problems, but a structured analysis of this controller type that quantifies the advantages and disadvantages, traits, and setbacks is missing. This work fills this gap and structures, summarizes, and provides mathematical background and guidelines on filter-based control of hybrid energy storage systems. Numerical simulations are performed to quantify the impact of design variables, parameters, or the input signal by using a linear storage model with efficiency and self-discharge rate and a low-pass filter controller with constant energy feedback as a representative subtype of this control scheme. The present work proves the high cycle-reduction capabilities of filter-controlled HESS at the cost of overdimensioning compared to more advanced control strategies. It demonstrates that using a high-efficiency, high-power storage with a low self-discharge rate and high-energy storage leads to smaller overall dimensioning and losses than a single storage system. The study identifies the feedback factor of the controller as the most impacting design variable

Techno-economic and Environmental Comparison of Internal Combustion Engines and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells for Ship Applications

In order to quantify the economic and environmental impact of technology selection in ship power systems, four different battery-supported hybrid configurations including diesel and gas combustion engines, as well as natural gas fueled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are modeled and analyzed. The investigations include component investments, maintenance and operational costs, as well as the components’ and fuels’ carbon footprints, operational greenhouse gases and other relevant emissions. Dynamic energy system models are used to derive economically optimal system designs for an appropriate technology comparison in a cruise ship case study. The assessment is conducted for a cruise ship case study with technology parameters for the near future and 2050. Results indicate that the auxiliary power system based on diesel combustion is inferior both economically and environmentally compared to SOFCs or gas combustion engines. While latter are the most cost efficient, SOFC application provides an environmental improvement without the need for a new fuel such as hydrogen. In a final outlook for the year 2050, SOFCs economically overtake gas combustion engines on the condition that their investment costs decrease and synthetic fuels are introduced to the market as a low emission solution