Enhanced energy management strategy for hybrid fuel cell – supercapacitor – battery tramway using cascade Fuzzy – Pi controller

This paper introduces an advanced energy management strategy for a hybrid tramway system powered by a fuel cell, supercapacitor, and battery, employing a Cascade Fuzzy-Proportional Integral (CFPI) controller. The strategy is designed to enhance the efficiency and longevity of the hybrid power system. A primary goal is to mitigate sudden changes in the fuel cell current, which helps prolong its lifecycle and improve system reliability. Additionally, the CFPI controller maintains the DC bus voltage at its reference level, ensuring consistent and stable power delivery during both steady state and transient operating conditions. The proposed energy management strategy also enhances the robustness of the control over the hybrid power sources, allowing for optimal power distribution. The Turkish driving cycle of the LF-LRV tramway was used as the reference cycle for evaluating the control performance. Simulation results demonstrate that this strategy not only effectively manages the power flow between the fuel cell, supercapacitor, and battery, but also improves the battery’s state of charge (SOC). This contributes to a more efficient and sustainable tramway system. Ultimately, the proposed CFPI-controlled strategy optimizes the performance and durability of hybrid sources, making it a promising approach for modern urban transport applications.