Using Classic Circuit Analysis Methods to Describe Voltage Performance of Battery-Ultracapacitor Power Source. Issue 2 (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Norian, K. H.; Bowen, Ted L.
• Is Part Of: International journal of electrical engineering education. Volume 51:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: battery-ultracapacitor experiment -- teaching energy circuits; Electrical engineering -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Periodicals; Electrical engineering -- Periodicals; 621.30711
• DOI: 10.7227/IJEEE.51.2.2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7209

Abstract

Circuit analysis methods taught in principles of engineering courses were used to develop instructional material for inclusion in teaching a course on Energy Systems Projects. The course involves lectures and lab experiments on renewable energy sources. The paper describes an experiment and its analysis as a typical unit in the course. The experiment concerned measuring the supply voltage of a rechargeable battery-ultracapacitor power source. Transformations were used in the analysis to reduce the battery-ultracapacitor circuit to a single loop and the Laplace transform technique was then applied to derive equations describing the transient voltage of the battery-ultracapacitor circuit discharging through a resistive load. The equations were used for calculations and measurements for a sealed D size lead acid battery in parallel with an ultracapacitor. Teaching the course in experiments and related lectures in a laboratory setting enhanced the excitement factor in both the teaching and learning of circuit analysis techniques.