An Intelligent Battery Management System for Home

Microgrids
Christopher Lebrón, Fabio Andrade, Efraín O’Neill, Agustín Irizarry
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
christopher.lebron@upr.edu; fabio.andrade@upr.edu; efrain.oneill@upr.edu; agustin@ece.uprm.edu

Abstract— This paper presents an intelligent battery for the development of photovoltaic (PV) systems [6]. The
management system (iBMS) used in a grid-connected Microgrid. proposed microgrid in figure 1 will be a residential type
The microgrid is composed by a PV generator, Battery system composed of three homes. The microgrid will be grid
and a small residential group. This microgrid is located in a connected and it will integrate a photovoltaic system with
Caribbean zone which an average solar radiation greater than batteries for energy storage. Demand Response (DR) system is
1000 W/m2 but with large intermittency due to the movement of added because it can reduce the home power demand when the
clouds. The iBMS considers a fuzzy controller whose rules are batteries or the grid are under stress [7]. An intelligent battery
defined by the behavior of the people living in the houses, the management is needed in order to not generate disturbances to
intermittent energy available from the PV generator, the state of
the electrical grid and to optimize the battery state of charge.
charge (SOC) of the battery and the contracted power from the
electric mains. Also the iBMS considered a block of demand
respond (DR) from a non-critical electric loads available in
houses. The mail objectives of the iBMS is to supply electric
power to houses using the available energy, not to generate
disturbance to the electric mains and always to maintain the
battery SOC in the possible maximum.

Index Terms—Battery Management System, Demand Response,

Fuzzy Controller, Microgrid, Photovoltaic Generator.

I. INTRODUCTION
Microgrids are the systems that integrate distributed
generation (DG) units, energy storage systems (ESS) and
controllable loads on a low voltage network which can operate
in either grid-connected mode or stand-alone mode [1]. In the
grid-connected mode, the microgrid adjusts power balance of
supply and demand by purchasing power from the main grid
or selling power to the main grid [2]. The intermittency of
distributed renewable generation poses significant challenges
for the operation and integration of microgrids [3]. To
alleviate the power fluctuations of non-dispatchable DG units,
various control schemes are used in microgrids, including
power regulation of each dispatchable DG unit, charging and
discharging of ESS, and load shedding [4].
The tropical climate in the Caribbean zone facilitates an
abundant supply on solar renewable energy resource [5]. The
case study is located in an island named Puerto Rico (PR)
located in the Caribbean. In some regions in PR the solar
irradiation exceeds the 1000 W/m2 making this resource ideal
Figure 1: Home Microgrid working in grid-connected mode
Battery management systems (BMS) are vital in the use of
microgrids. Over the past decade researchers have developed
different strategies for battery management systems. One of
these strategy is the use of fuzzy logic (FL)-based expert
system applied for microgrid battery scheduling. Indeed, fuzzy
set theory can encompass such subjective decision-making
process due to its ability to define human reasoning that can
handle uncertainties regarding to the microgrid exogenous
environment and the uncertainty of the forecasted parameters.
The use of fuzzy logic helped improved the fuzzy expert
system for battery scheduling decreased considerably the

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battery maintenance cost by extending the operation lifetime
through lower depth of battery discharge [8]. Another strategy
is the SOC-based management system, in this technic consists
of a hierarchical control system containing three modules:
SOC computation module, battery mode identification system
and closed-loop feedback mode identification system [9]. In
addition, a common strategy for BMS is to use an inverter as
an energy management system, the energy from the dc-link
can be taken into a dc–ac inverter to feed the energy in the
grid or the household. Alternatively, this energy can be stored
into the battery via a second dc–dc converter, called battery
converter. The battery converter consists of a synchronous
buck converter with two phases and a balancing unit [10].
The objective of this paper is to develop control strategy
for a battery system to improve operation of a home
microgrid. The iBMS proposed in the paper try to maintain a
flat consumption of the mains and to compensate for the
intermittent nature of the PV generator using the storage
system and the demand response function. On the other hand,
the BMS must consider the SOC of the battery to prevent
significant damages due to excessive charge or discharge. A
battery model appropriate for microgrid application is derived
base on the cell model presented in [11]. A full model for a
microgrid, with a storage system, a PV generator and
residential consumptions is built in MATLAB/SIMULNK and
simulations are carried in a dSPACE system using the concept
of Hardware in the Loop (HIL).
Figure 2: PV Array Model
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II. GENERAL OVERVIEW
A PV generator, Battery system and a small residential
group compose the microgrid. The microgrid normally
operates in a grid-connected mode, as power can be imported
or exported from and to the main grid.
A. PV Array Model
The behavior of a photovoltaic (PV) module is largely well
known. It works inside a limited voltage and current values
following an exponential I-V curve. This curve varies with
irradiance and temperature. Manufacturers of it usually
provide the main parameters referred to reference values of
irradiance (W) and temperature (T) (Stan dard Test
Conditions, STC: 1000 W/m2 and 25ºC, respectively). A
simple-to-use PV model, proposed in [12], is used to fulfil of
accurately prediction of PV characteristics (even changing
irradiance and temperature), make possible building
series/parallel module associations, configure partial
shadowed scenarios and just to require parameters provided by
manufacturers in typical datasheets.
The mathematical model used, firstly the I-V curve in STC
is modelled and then the influence of irradiance and
temperature is taken into account.
The used irradiance and temperature data is based on data
collected in southern Puerto Rico. These data show a highly
random behavior and it has a maximum irradiance of
2000W/m2 typically between 13h and 15h. The PV system has
an array of 640 solar cells in series and 8 in parallel, fig. 2.
This generator uses the programmed MPPT algorithm. This
algorithm is combined with the model as a control loop,
starting from the measured Ipv and Vpv values, the PI controller
is designed to produce a reference current value Ipvref to be
used as an input value for the PV module model.
B. Battery Model
The used model, proposed in [11], is based on a Thévenin
circuit with a RC parallel circuit and includes a state of charge
estimator. The model simulates hysteresis and sub-hysteresis
effects. Also, this model considers variations in the internal
and external variables by modifying the values of its internal
parameters.
The SOC that is defined as the quantity of charge
remaining in the battery, is expressed in terms of percentage
with respect to the nominal capacity Cn.
The battery has a stack of 210 Ni-Cd cells (240Vdc) and
22Ah of capacity.
C. VSI Converters
The prime energy of this generator, which can be solar or
batteries, is transferred as AC power through a VSI converter
that uses an intelligent control system. The control system
uses a PLL block and inner control loops of current and
voltage to ensure the respective reference signals. The output
current and voltage reference signals are configured by an
outer control loop of sharing power which uses the basic idea
of the synchronous generator concept to control the sharing
power by using droop curves (“P vs. f” and “Q vs. V”). Fig 3.
D. Residential Model
The small residential group data was simulated from three
homes located in Puerto Rico through Matlab/Simulink. There
were three households in this case study. For a typical
consumption pattern of residential groups in Puerto Rico has
its high demands during the night, this is because work and
school hours are mostly during the day, from 8:00 am to 5pm
and most of the family members are not at home during this
period of time. Some significant appliances that are in an
average home in PR are: television, A/C Unit, fridge, oven,
coffee maker, washing and draying machine and illumination.
The peak demand for these three homes is approximately 20
kW.

Intelligent Battery Energy DR

SOC DR
Management System DR
Pbat Pgrid Figure 4: Fuzzy Logic Membership input functions

Ppv (-)A, Medium High level (-)MA, Medium level (-)M, Low
level (-)B. The levels for discharging the baterry are at Low
Pref2 Pref1 level (+)B, Medium level (+)M, Medium High level (+)MA
ω0

Kp LPF vα iα − vβ iβ
and High level (+)A. The outputs of the FLC are: three
Reference
Generator
ω0)
E = E0 − kq ( Q − Q LPF v β iα − vα iβ
different levels of demand response and access to the electrical
𝐸=sin(𝜔𝑡)
grid for when is needed.
0

Droop Curves Power Calculation

Reference Kp LPF vα iα − vβ iβ
Generator
v β iα − vα iβ
𝐸=sin(𝜔𝑡G) (s) E = E0 − kqG
c
( Q − Q0 )
Droop Curves
v (s)
LPF

Power Calculation
!"#$ = !&-!(-!)*+, (1)
SVM
VdcIdc
abc/αβ

abc/αβ

abc/αβ

S1-S2-S3 S1'-S2'-S3'
Gc(s) Gv(s)

+ S1 S2 S3 SVM
The FLC uses ecuation (1) to maintain the power flow
balance in the microgrid. However, the baterry has a
VdcIdc a Ial Vac Ia0
abc/αβ

abc/αβ

abc/αβ

b
S1-S2-S3 Ib
S1'-S2'-S3'
l Vbc Ib0
Vdc
Cdc c Icl Vcc Ic0
R
−
S1'
+ S2'
S1
S3'
S2
Li Ri
S3
L0 R0 restriction that it requiers the baterry’s satate of charge
between the values of 20% and 80%.
a Ial Vac Ia0
n b Ibl Vbc Ib0
Vdc
Cdc c Icl Vcc Ic0
R CL
i R L0 R0
i i
S1' S2' S3'
−
n
Ci 20 % < &'( < 80% (2)
Figure 3: iBMS for the Home Microgrid The FLC optimizes the battery’s SOC by operating in
various levels of demand response, once the batery starts to
produce power and the SOC begins to decrease the controller
III. AN INTELLIGENT BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM activates the different levels of Demand Response. If the SOC
The management system proposed in this paper is based on is at medium charged it activates the first level of DR. Each
a fuzzy logic controller (FLC). This controller is developed time the SOC level drops it activates another DR level option
within the fuzzy tool box of Matlab/Simulink. The objective until the higher level is reach and the system has no choice to
of the the FLC is to optimize the energy produced by the require additional power from the electrical grid.
photovoltaic generators and maintaining a constant flow from
IV. SIMULATIONS RESULTS
the electrical grid. The FLC in figure 4 has two inputs
function: the battery state of charge (SOC) and the real power Simulations based on Hardware in the loop (HIL), by
of the battery (Pbat). using a dSPACE ds1006, MATLAB/Simulink and dSPACE
Control Desk, are performed to evaluate the proposed method
In the Soc input function there are different leves of for study the large-signal stability. In the case of study, an
representations: Low Soc (B), Medium Low (MB), Medium inverter-based generator is connected to a Microgrid working
(M), Medium High (MA) and High (A). For the Pbat input in island-mode. Electrical setup and control systems parameter
function has 2 components when the battery is charging and are listed in table I.
discharging. The leves of charging the baterry are at high level

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 Figure 5: Simulation Results with Fuzzy Logic Controller

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 The simulation results are shown in figure 5, in the last
graph is represented the time period of the simulation that are
seven days. Each day is represented with the ramp plot with
values from 0 to 24 hours. The Three Household Power
Consumption graph represents the consumption of houses in a
24-hour period. The values of power consumption of each day
varies randomly maintaining a pattern of actual consumption.
In this graph it can be observed two mayor peaks: one is
during the morning (7 hour) approximately with a power peak
of 10 kW, this happens when most of the families wake up to
work and go to school. In the other hand, the next peak
happens at the evening (15 hour) and the peak power is
approximately 15 kW, this is when the family’s returns to
their houses and they start to use most of their appliances.
TABLE I. MICROGRID PARAMETERS
Parameters
System
Description Rated power
PV Generator is simulated with real
PV Generator 25 kW
time irradiance data.
Battery System 210 Ni-Cd cells (240Vdc) 15 kW
Main Grid Constant Power Grid 3 kW
Houses Residential group of three houses 20 kW
The Demand Response graph represents the controllable
loads of each house that are: the air conditioners and some
lights. This controllable loads represent approximately 2.5 kW
of the total power consumption. When the SOC of the
battery’s reaches its critical level it activates a level of
response. For example, in the SOC plot its initial value is 20%
and this represents the most critical point of the battery. The
demand response activates and disconnects the controllable
loads in order to drop the demand from the houses and try to
maintain the power flow balance. Once the SOC starts to
increase the loads are connected back slowly.
The purpose of this controller is to maintain the power grid
on a constant value in this case 2.8 kW and the SOC at its
maximum value. It can be seen in the Electrical Grid graph the
curve it is mostly constant except when the demand respond,
the Photovoltaic Generators and the battery are no enough to
supply the load at the time and it needs more energy from the
grid this can be observe in the graph. Also, the opposite occurs
when the Photovoltaic Generator produces more energy than
the load at the time and the 15 kW limit of the battery. When
this happens the excess of energy is delivered to the electrical
grid. However, the grid stays for the most part constant. Since,
the initial value of the SOC is 20 % it can be observe in the
graph that its value tends to exceed its maximum value from
the day before.
V. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, a Fuzzy logic battery management system
has been proposed to control the battery at grid-connected
mode. Three modes of operation were de fined for the battery
to be operated. The functionalities of the BMS proposed in
this paper are tested through case studies in HIL/Matlab the
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dynamic behavior of the microgrid is examined. The
simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the control
strategies through the fuzzy logic.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This project is funded in part by NSF, under grant # ACI-
1541106. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
National Science Foundation.
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