Reduced-order physics-based modeling and experimental parameter identification for non-Faradaic electrical double-layer capacitors

By Mundy, Al; Plett, Gregory L.
Published in Journal of Energy Storage NULL 2016

Abstract

Abstract Electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs, also known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors) are energy storage devices that possess very long cycle life and high power density, but typically have lower energy density than lithium-ion cells. Applications that require both high energy and power density may use hybrid energy-storage systems built using a combination of {EDLC} and lithium-ion cells. Optimal controls for such systems must be physics-based to optimize the performance they deliver while maximizing life, as performance and degradation are determined by electrochemical variables internal to the devices and not by externally measurable values. Further, for practical application, the models used in the controls must be simple and share a common framework. Accordingly, in this paper we develop a reduced-order physics-based model of a non-Faradaic {EDLC} that has the same form as a model previously reported for a lithium-ion cell. We show how to determine model parameter values from simple laboratory tests using standard lab equipment, not requiring device teardown to do so. We validate the model against data collected from a commercial EDLC.

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