6
Coupling with Batteries and Fuel Cells
6.1 Introduction
In industry, uninterrupted power supply systems and power trains supported by battery technology have not proven to be complete solutions
mainly because of restrictions on chemical power sources such as relatively
low power density and insufficient cycle lives. Thus, high power and long
cycle life ES devices have been identified as viable alternatives. In recent
years, progressive research intended to develop ES devices and accelerate
their applications has affirmed their status, and subsequent funding by the
U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) indicates they are equivalent to batteries
for addressing future energy needs. The increasing number of investigations focusing on ES development and integration into applications proposed several benefits arising from the ability of such devices to address
rapid, short (<1 sec), high-power demands.
In this chapter, considerable attention is given to the relevance of ESs
hybridized with batteries and fuel cells to integrate their respective strengths.
Several available methods permit their integration, yet each design possesses
key parameters for system operation and often requires further optimization
based on its degree of controllability. The benefits of a hybridized energy
system rest on efficiently maintaining the synergy between the individual
devices. The difficulties of this task arise when component control and efficiency must be balanced by the cost and weight of the system. Ultimately,
the specific purpose or application will decide which parameters must be
optimized in a defined priority.
6.2 Coupling ES Systems with Other Energy Devices
The current systems used in commercially available low-energy products
such as electronics are activated carbon-based double-layer ES devices. As a
result, the advanced development and manufacturing of materials focused
247
Coupling with Batteries and Fuel Cells
6.1 Introduction
In industry, uninterrupted power supply systems and power trains supported by battery technology have not proven to be complete solutions
mainly because of restrictions on chemical power sources such as relatively
low power density and insufficient cycle lives. Thus, high power and long
cycle life ES devices have been identified as viable alternatives. In recent
years, progressive research intended to develop ES devices and accelerate
their applications has affirmed their status, and subsequent funding by the
U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) indicates they are equivalent to batteries
for addressing future energy needs. The increasing number of investigations focusing on ES development and integration into applications proposed several benefits arising from the ability of such devices to address
rapid, short (<1 sec), high-power demands.
In this chapter, considerable attention is given to the relevance of ESs
hybridized with batteries and fuel cells to integrate their respective strengths.
Several available methods permit their integration, yet each design possesses
key parameters for system operation and often requires further optimization
based on its degree of controllability. The benefits of a hybridized energy
system rest on efficiently maintaining the synergy between the individual
devices. The difficulties of this task arise when component control and efficiency must be balanced by the cost and weight of the system. Ultimately,
the specific purpose or application will decide which parameters must be
optimized in a defined priority.
6.2 Coupling ES Systems with Other Energy Devices
The current systems used in commercially available low-energy products
such as electronics are activated carbon-based double-layer ES devices. As a
result, the advanced development and manufacturing of materials focused
247