Design of Mission Profile Emulator for Battery Degradation Tests

This research paper introduces a perspective for the design of a power converter to test batteries and evaluate their performance under realistic operational conditions based on sinusoidal ripple current. A design of a mission profile emulator (MPE) is proposed to generate battery test scenarios by implementing signals from real-world applications, such as a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) or a single-phase inverter. The proposed MPE is based on a synchronous buck converter in conventional and interleaved versions. The proposal is validated through PLECS simulations and Hardware-in-the-Ioop (HIL) experiments. The research investigates the relationship between control bandwidth and harmonic tracking capability for emulation purposes. This analysis centers on optimizing the converter design and enhancing comprehension of the battery's behavior, particularly when the current exhibits sinusoidal components. HIL experiments explore four distinct scenarios, illustrating behavior in simple buck converter systems and demonstrating bandwidth extension and ripple reduction in interleaved systems. The study validates these findings by examining Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and current ripple across various conditions.