Model Predictive Control-Based Optimized Operation of a Hybrid Charging Station for Electric Vehicles

Enrique Gonzalez-Rivera,Luis M Fernandez-Ramirez,Juan P Torreglosa,Pablo Garcia-Trivino,Francisco Jurado,Raul Sarrias-Mena

doi:10.1109/access.2021.3106145

Enrique Gonzalez-Rivera, Luis M Fernandez-Ramirez + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3106145

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Abstract

This paper presents an energy management system (EMS) based on a novel approach using model predictive control (MPC) for the optimized operation of power sources in a hybrid charging station for electric vehicles (EVs). The hybrid charging station is composed of a photovoltaic (PV) system, a battery, a complete hydrogen system based on a fuel cell (FC), electrolyzer (EZ), and tank as an energy storage system (ESS), grid connection, and six fast charging units, all of which are connected to a common MVDC bus through Z-source converters (ZSC). The MPC-based EMS is designed to control the power flow among the energy sources of the hybrid charging station and reduce the utilization costs of the ESS and the dependency on the grid. The viability of the EMS was proved under a long-term simulation of 25 years in Simulink, using real data for the sun irradiance and a European load profile for EVs. Furthermore, this EMS is compared with a simpler alternative that is used as a benchmark, which pursues the same objectives, although using a states-based strategy. The results prove the suitability of the EMS, achieving a lower utilization cost (−25.3%), a notable reduction in grid use (−60% approximately) and an improvement in efficiency.

Highlights

The reduction of emissions linked to road transport is a challenge being faced all over the world
Self-consumption can be increased by integrating energy storage systems (ESS) in the system: ESS can be charged with excess PV generation or the grid during off-peak market periods, while using the energy stored in the ESS to charge the electric vehicles (EVs) during peak periods [4]
A novel energy management system (EMS) applied to a renewable charging station for EVs was presented in this paper

Summary

Introduction

The reduction of emissions linked to road transport is a challenge being faced all over the world. The use of renewable energy, PV-based energy generation, to meet the rising electricity demand for charging EVs, is a widely discussed approach [2], [3]. The difference between the PV generation and the charging profile of the EV poses a challenge for the optimal management of charging stations integrated with PV generation. To make these facilities profitable, it is important to maximize the self-consumption rate. Self-consumption can be increased by integrating energy storage systems (ESS) in the system: ESS can be charged with excess PV generation or the grid during off-peak market periods, while using the energy stored in the ESS to charge the EVs during peak periods [4]

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