Improved Energy Management Strategy Using Adaptive PI Controller for FuelCell-Supercapacitor-Battery Hybrid Tramways

Abstract This paper presents an enhanced Energy Management Strategy for a hybrid (FuelCell-Supercapacitor-Battery) tramway, using an adaptive Proportional-Integral(PI) controller. The main objectives are: i) prevent sudden changes in the fuel cellcurrent to prolong its lifespan; ii) effectively track the power requirements of thetramway under both steady-state and transient conditions; iii) regulate the DCbus voltage at a predefined reference; and iv) achieve robust control of the hybridpower source. The development of the proposed Energy Management Strategywas conducted through two stages: first, using cascaded PI controllers to evaluatecontrol performance based on the Turkish Driving Cycle of the LF-LRV tramway;and second, integrating the adaptive PI controller into the inner control loop ofthe DC bus voltage. The adaptive PI controller outperforms the conventional PIcontroller by significantly reducing chattering and transient peaks of the DC busvoltage by 77%. Furthermore, the adaptive PI controller responds robustly toparameter variations of Cbus, ensuring steady DC bus voltage clear of chatteringor disturbance. These improvements enhance the overall control performance,thereby advancing the sustainability of fuel cell-based tramways and promotingenvironmentally friendly urban transportation.