Lithium-ion batteries are important energy storage systems implemented in a microgrid and they are the most expensive single component, accounting for about 60% of overall capital expenditure¹. As of today, however, the microgrid significantly underutilizes the battery’s performance, which causes high cost and low energy efficiency in the grid operation. For example, the microgrid involves large battery modules. In order to perform the most accurate simulation and control of these systems the model must include multiple cells in parallel series. For large modules charge balancing becomes problematic². Not all the cells will be at the same state of charge and health. However, current technology considers battery packs as just one big battery/a black box having the same state of charge and health.

This talk will present progress in real-time simulation of physics based models for batteries in the microgrid framework including batteries, power electronics, energy generators and controls.

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute and Washington Research Foundation.

References

1. Ivanova, N. Lithium-ion costs to fall by up to 50% within five years. http://analysis.energystorageupdate.com/lithium-ion-costs-fall-50-within-five-years.

2. Moore, S. W.; Schneider, P. J. A review of cell equalization methods for lithium ion and lithium polymer battery systems; SAE Technical Paper: 2001.