The concept of ESTEEM is to design and manufacture an innovative Energy Storage and Regenerative System (ESRS) consisting of Electrical Power Distribution System (SEPDC) and embedded SuperCapacitors (SCs) Energy Storage Device (ESD) to demonstrate the concept of Enhanced Electrical Energy Management on controlling the power requirements of a regenerative ElectroMechanical Actuator (EMA) load and hence reduce generator overloading and transient stress. The main objectives of ESTEEM were:
o Identified the ESRS system components, design specifications and core requirements in terms of power ratings, power density, control, safety, communication protocol, cooling and energy management of a regenerative EMA and Enhanced Electrical Energy Management (E2-EM) functionalities.
o Performed a trade-off studies and conceptual designs of the ESRS components.
o Developed a set of functional and behavioural level models of the ESRS demonstrator components.
o Designed and developed a novel DC/DC converter (structure/topology) for interfacing the supercapacitors ESD with the SEPDC and with the capability of rapid change of operating mode from buck to boost and vice versa.
o Selected the supercapacitor technology which will achieve the best trade-off between energy and power density, power loss, maintenance free operation, component life time and safety. An innovative supercapacitors ESD thermal management was designed and assembled.
o Developed an advanced, intelligent, and adaptive control algorithm for the DC/DC converter.
o Designed and developed an EMA load emulator.
o Developed an innovative energy management strategy for the ESRS. The optimal reference power of the DC/DC converter was determined by the energy management supervisor.
o To transform the developed smart energy management strategy to a firmware for the supervisor computational core. Simulation based approaches was developed.
o Manufactured the ESRS system components and assembled the overall system.
o Demonstrated and tested the functionalities of the developed ESRS components, the developed energy management strategy, the E2-EM functionalities and to investigate the performance and power quality of the SEPDC during regeneration and transient variations of loads under the control of the “Iron Bird” as well as in autonomous control mode.