Battery charging and Discharging controller based on Pulse with Generator in MATLAB/Simulink

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a battery charging and discharging controller using a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) generator in MATLAB/Simulink. This project is relevant for those interested in renewable energy systems, electric vehicle design, or battery management systems, as it provides a practical application of these concepts.

Step 1: Set Up Your MATLAB/Simulink Environment

• Ensure you have MATLAB and Simulink installed on your computer.
• Open MATLAB and create a new Simulink model by selecting File > New > Model.

Step 2: Create the Pulse Width Modulation Generator

• Add a PWM generator block to your Simulink model:
  • In the Simulink library, search for and drag the PWM Generator block into your model.
• Configure the PWM parameters:
  • Set the frequency according to your system requirements.
  • Adjust the duty cycle to control the charging and discharging rates of the battery.

Step 3: Integrate the Battery Model

• Insert a battery block from the Simulink library:
  • Look for the Battery block under the Simscape > Electrical > Specialized Power Systems section.
• Connect the battery block to the PWM generator output:
  • Use the Line tool to draw connections between the PWM output and the battery input.

Step 4: Add Measurement Blocks

• To monitor battery performance, add measurement blocks:
  • Use Voltage Measurement and Current Measurement blocks from the Simscape library.
  • Connect these blocks to the battery terminals to track voltage and current during operation.

Step 5: Implement Control Logic

• Create a control logic system:
  • Use a MATLAB Function block to implement the control strategy.
  • Write a simple control algorithm to decide when to charge or discharge based on battery voltage levels.

function charge_discharge_logic(V_battery)
    if V_battery < 12
        % Charge the battery
        charge = 1;
    elseif V_battery > 13.5
        % Discharge the battery
        charge = -1;
    else
        % Maintain state
        charge = 0;
    end
end

Step 6: Simulate the Model

• Configure the simulation parameters:
  • Go to Simulation > Model Configuration Parameters and set the time and solver options.
• Run the simulation:
  • Click the Run button and observe the results in the Scope blocks connected to your measurement outputs.

Step 7: Analyze Results

• Review the output data:
  • Use the Scope blocks to visualize voltage and current waveforms.
  • Analyze how the PWM control affects battery charging and discharging cycles.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the essential steps to create a battery charging and discharging controller in MATLAB/Simulink using a PWM generator. You learned how to set up your environment, integrate a battery model, implement control logic, and analyze simulation results. For further exploration, consider tweaking the PWM parameters or integrating additional components like solar panels or load simulations to enhance your battery management system.