Exploiting dynamic modeling, parameter identification, and power electronics to implement a non-dissipative Li-ion battery hardware emulator

More and more applications encompass battery energy storage systems (BESSs) based on Li-ion batteries. However, when designing the power converter of a BESS or when studying the interaction between BESSs and other application components, relying on a real battery makes the process cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. Moreover, the battery could even suffer damages. The aim of the work is to show that it is possible to exploit suitable battery models and related parameter identification methodologies, as well as power converters and related control techniques, to develop a hardware device that emulates any given battery. In particular, this paper shows the design and the experimental prototype of a Li-ion battery emulator that is capable of both sourcing and sinking power at kilowatt scale. Unlike other similar devices available in the market or described in the technical literature, the proposed device is low-cost, it injects power into the grid during sink operation, and it can also reproduce battery dynamics. Design criteria are given in the manuscript. The proposed battery emulator has been tested and experimentally validated. The obtained device allows reducing the cost, time, and complexity of performing system tests in Li-ion BESS applications.