An Energy Management Approach for Distributed Control Systems: Implementing Predictive Set-Point Modulation with Supercapacitors and Parallel DC-DC Converters

In electric vehicles equipped with hybrid energy storage systems, it is crucial to achieve fast and precise regulation of the DC bus voltage to match the target reference. Existing techniques often struggle to avoid voltage overshoots while pursuing fast stabilization, which leads to significant fluctuations in the DC bus voltage. To overcome this challenge, this paper presents an advanced energy management strategy using predictive setpoint modulation. We develop an innovative set-point modulation technique that achieves efficient regulation of the DC bus voltage by utilizing a feed-forward compensator in combination with parallel operation of multiple DC-DC converters and supercapacitors (SCs). This configuration not only ensures voltage stability, but also optimizes the charge/discharge cycle management of the supercapacitors, which improves the energy utilization efficiency and overall system performance. Laboratory experimental results show that our strategy significantly reduces DC bus voltage fluctuations and maintains stable system operation under various load conditions, outperforming conventional technologies. In addition, our technology has the advantages of fast response and easy integration into existing systems, providing an efficient and reliable solution for energy management in electric vehicles.