Review of Assignment 1

Design of Electronic Systems

ELEE1129
MSc Electronics & Communications Engineering
MSc Electrical & Electronic Engineering
MSc Electrical Power Engineering

1
 ASSIGNMENT 1
ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR
UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES

The assignment is to evaluate the use of

Super Capacitors as the energy source
in Uninterruptible Power Supplies

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 Assignment 1: Aim
• To investigate an ‘real-life applications’
requiring continuous operation that demand
an ‘Uninterruptible Power Supply’ (UPS)
• To investigate experimentally Supercapacitors
and a simple flywheel for energy storage
• To critically evaluate the Super Capacitor
against alternatives to provide the energy
storage requirement in a typical UPS

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 Tasks
• Task 1:
– Investigation of UPSIdentify common energy storage solutions for typical
applications requiring UPS
– Identify at least 2 UPS applications (where Super Capacitors may be a
viable solution)
– Determine the Energy requirements for one of these applications

• Task 2: WS1 Super Capacitor Lab

• Task 3: WS 2 Flywheel Lab

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 Task 4: Technology Study:
Evaluation Super Capacitors for UPS
(Formal Report)
• Propose Energy storage solutions based upon
a Super Capacitor and other ‘conventional’
approach for the typical UPS requirement of
Task 1.
• Critically evaluate the SuperCapacitor as the
Energy Storage device in this application.
• Include your laboratory results from Task 2
and 3 in your evaluations
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 Report Structure
• Title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Problem analysis
• Problem Solution
• Problem Implementation
• Results
• Discussion of results
• Conclusion
• Future Work (if any)
• References
• Appendices (if any)
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 Title Page
• Your title page should show the following:-
• Document title
• Design of Electronic Systems
• Assignment 2
• Energy Storage Solutions for ‘XXX’ (your UPS Application)
• Your name and Student ID
• The date
• The place and program

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 Problem analysis (15%)
Research and investigate applications that require a
UPS. Choose such a typical application for your design
study and in this section define the energy
requirement. This can be ‘hypothetical’ – made-up but
realistic.
• What is the primary power source?
• How long will the primary source be unavailable?
• Produce an Outline Specification for the energy
requirements (voltage, current, time, etc.)
• Any other factors?(temperature, environmental)

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 Problem Solution (5%)
• Propose potential solutions to power the application
– to meet the requirement
• Consider use of SuperCapacitor – identify suitable
component
• Ideally at least 2 other sources of stored energy
• Make suitable calculations (estimations) to show
how each source might meet the requirement

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Problem Implementation (10%)
• Outline here how the lab experiments will
provide useful data to underpin your
estimates
– Outline Super Cap (5%)
– Flywheel (5%)

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 Results (20%)
• Experimental Results
• SuperCapacitor Lab (10%)
– Measured Capacitance, Internal resistance against
datasheet
• Flywheel Lab (10%)
– Stored energy, efficiency

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 Conclusions/
Discussion of Results (40%)
• Review your estimates in light of the
experimental data
– Do they support your estimates?
– Did the experiments highlight any practical
limitations in either methods
• Draw appropriate Conclusions from your
work:
– Advantages / Disadvantages of Super Capacitors
with particular reference to your application

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 Introduction and Conclusion
(10%)
These are read together FIRST! They should tell me what the
report is about.
Introduction – what is contained in the report. What the
objectives of the work were. It may include a reference if
significant – i.e. preceding published work.
Conclusions – did you achieve the objectives? Did it work! In this
instance could be useful to include significant summary results –
i.e. What the energy requirement was and what energy was
developed experimentally. (shouldn’t contain a reference)
n.b. 1 page each, be concise - no ‘waffle’, no ‘personal’
experience!

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 Some thoughts (1)
• Consider that this report will be used as the
technical basis for a product development.
– Have you made a good case?
– Will your boss recommend this for PV funding
– Will you have a job next year?

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 Some thoughts (2)
• Your assignment is not a lab report on Super
Capacitors. It is a study into their use in a UPS
application – you choose. This should be
reflected in the Title, Introduction, Conclusion
and then the main body...
• Is the English good? (get someone else to read
through it – preferably different nationality to
yourself)

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 Assignment 1 marking Scheme
Marks will be apportioned:
• UPS Application 20% Analysis 15%/Discussion 5%
• Super Capacitor 25% Solution/Implemt/results/Discussion
• Flywheel 25% Solution/Implemt/results/Discussion
• Critical Evaluation 20% Discussion
• General Format 10%

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Typical Student Report

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 Introduction

Talked about UPS in general, possibly Super Capacitor

some going into great detail – more than one page!

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 Problem Analysis
UPS Applications
• Handheld Megaphone • Computer Backup
• Flash lamp • IT (data centre)
• Electric Vehicle • Alarm Clock
• Laptop / Mobile Charger • MP3 Player
• Digital Camera • Radio Tuner
• Hospital Equipment • TV
• Emergency Light
• Aquarium (Pump, filter)
• Wireless Computer
Mouse

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 Problem Analysis
UPS Applications
• Handheld Megaphone
• Flash lamp
• Electric Vehicle
• Laptop / Mobile Charger
• Digital Camera
• Hospital Equipment
• Emergency Light
• Aquarium (Pump, filter)
• Wireless Computer
Mouse
• Computer Backup
• IT (data centre)
• Alarm Clock
• MP3 Player
• Radio Tuner
• TV
These are PORTABLE
applications for
Supercapacitors –
NOT UPS
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 Problem Analysis
Energy Calculation
Typically defined Voltage and Power. Some defined
Time say,
Voltage = 12V, Time = 12hours, Power = 20W ½ CV2 is TOTAL
energy stored in
Energy = 20W x 12 h = 240 Wh capacitor in
Joules
Then calculated Capacitance required from - needed to
define minimum
½ CV2 = 240 Wh, working voltage
If V=12 V then C = (2 x 240) / 144 = 3.33F - Needed to
convert Wh to J
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 Problem Solution
This section should propose the Super Capacitor, flywheel and
other potential energy storage technologies.

Could include calculations.

Could include background on Super Capacitor.

Fuel Cells are not a solution

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 Problem Implementation
This section should introduce the experiments (why do them)
and outline the experimental procedure – refer to Fig 1
Vin

Vmot Few gave figures a

or
Ext Imoto caption, less a Figure
r
F - Vout
number. Virtually no-
Int one referred to the
Speed
figures in the text!

Figure 1: Schematic of Flywheel jig

Most students put nothing here, just went straight into results!
At best showed a picture of the Flywheel / Supercap circuit
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 Results
Charging Time Volts Current
0 0.00 0.50
30 0.45 0.46
60 0.80 0.42
90 1.08 0.40 Little reference to what
120 1.29 0.37
150 1.46 0.36
result is from.
180 1.59 0.35 Worksheet asked for
210 1.69 0.34
240 1.77 0.33 plot of data – no need
270 1.83 0.32
300 1.88 0.32 to incorporate table of
330 1.92 0.31 data!
360 1.95 0.31
390 1.97 0.31
420 1.99 0.31
450 2.00 0.30
480 2.01 0.30
510 2.02 0.30
540 2.03 0.30
570 2.03 0.30
600 2.04 0.30
630 2.04 0.30
660 2.04 0.30
690 2.04 0.30
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 Results
Charging
2.50

2.00

No Axis Labels /Units

1.50 Both curves black –
probably colour in
1.00 WORD but printed
B/W
0.50 No Key

0.00
0 200 400 600 800

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25
 Results
Discharging Time Volts Current
0 2.05 0.3
30 1.77 0.26
60 1.53 0.22
90 1.32 0.19
Many people used too
120 1.14 0.16 high a range on
150 0.98 0.14
180 0.85 0.12 Ammeter – lost
210 0.73 0.1
240 0.63 0.09 resolution
270 0.55 0.08
300 0.47 0.06
330 0.41 0.05
360 0.35 0.05
390 0.30 0.04
420 0.26 0.03
450 0.23 0.03
480 0.19 0.02
510 0.17 0.02
540 0.15 0.02
570 0.13 0.01
600 0.11 0.01
630 0.09 0.01
660 0.08 0.01
690 0.07 0.01
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 Results
Discharging
2.0

1.8

1.6
‘Ripple’ caused by
1.4
poor resolution in
1.2 measurement
1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0 200 400 600 800

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 Results
Flywheel Often there was little note that the results now
related to the flywheel experiment
V I Hz V
V mA power F Vfout K.E
0 0 0 0 0 0
0.25 85 0.02125 7.1 0.36 0.02107
0.41 115 0.04715 14.3 0.74 0.085472
0.62 150 0.093 20.1 1.15 0.168867
0.79 172 0.13588 31.17 1.38 0.406094
0.98 206 0.20188 33.44 1.7 0.467397
1.21 255 0.30855 41.65 2.09 0.725075
1.4 315 0.441 50.11 2.41 1.049547
1.57 343 0.53851 53.1 2.6 1.178534
1.88
Again Table not needed
432 0.81216 64.1 3.13 1.717391
2.05
2.3
if these results are to be
486
566
0.9963
1.3018
70.4
79.36
3.44
3.87
2.071565
2.632428
2.51
2.71
plotted in a graph
625
692
1.56875
1.87532
86.2
92.5
4.22
4.51
3.105759
3.576322
2.9 753 2.1837 98.05 4.79 4.018356
3.1 805 2.4955 104.2 5.12 4.538252
3.3 870 2.871 111.1 5.38 5.159187
3.5 930 3.255 116.3 5.38 5.653437
3.71 1013 3.75823 121.9 5.38 6.210986
3.73 1016 3.78968 125 5.38 6.530902
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 Results

140 6

120 5

100
4
Frequency Hz

80

V Four
3
60
2
40
Vfout saturated
1
at
20
higher speeds, but no
0 comment 0 in text /
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
analysis
V motor

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 Results

6 What does this curve

5 say?
The K.E. Is stored
Kinetic Energy

4
energy whilst the
3
Power is the rate of
2 energy being lost.
1 No real relation – no
0
point to graph?
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Power W

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 Results
Slow-down characteristic
2.0
Usually a screen dump often with two
traces (Vfout and VM)
1.5
Curves not distinguished
Motor Volts (V)

V/Div and Time/Div not clearly labelled

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time Seconds

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 Discussion of Results
Usually very little post-processing. Mostly vague statements like
‘Flywheel are not suitable because it decays too quickly’ or
‘Super capacitor is suitable because it can charge quickly and
discharge slowly’ (actually a rubbish statement as the
charge/discharge rate depends on the resistance in the circuit!)

Compare to theory – most students ignored this from the

worksheet – main reason to do lab experiment to confirm Super
Capacitor behaves like an ordinary capacitor

Few students attempted to consider analysing the Flywheel –

usually by saying energy stored = ½ Iω2 = Energy required. This
is a reasonable initial estimate of it’s potential – but no
consideration to the Flywheel loses 32
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 Conclusions
Good that most students kept this to one page but usually very
vague again.

Many students listed disadvantages / advantages from the

literature, etc. – the ‘conclusion’ is to present conclusions from
the work within the report – NOT somebody else’s findings!

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Tutor Suggested Report

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 Introduction

This Report is about...

Use of Supercapacitors to provide a UPS solution for

Display / Memory function in a PC.

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 Problem Analysis :UPS Application
Tutor Suggestion

Want to save information on PC screen –

1. Power data save circuit – 5V, 20mA, 5s,

(Use Flywheel) – define min voltage 4V
Energy = 5V x 20 mA x 5s = 0.5J

2. Maintain Memory Circuit – 5V, 100µA, 1week

(Use SuperCapacitor) define min voltage 3V
Energy = 5V x 100µA x 7x24x60x60 = 302J

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 Problem Implementation
To evaluate the technology some simple experiments were
conducted on a commercially available Super Capacitor and
a Flywheel test jig using a CDROM.

Details can be found in the Appendix A (Super Capacitor)

and B Flywheel)

No need to describe experiment just add a copy of the

Worksheets in the Appendices

However list the tests to be made...

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 Problem Implementation
Tests to be made:

Test 1: Charging Characteristics of the Super Capacitor

Test 2: Discharging Characteristics of the Super Capacitor

Test 3: Calibration measurements of the Flywheel (Current,

Speed, Vfout as a function of Vmotor)

Test 4: Slow-down characteristic of the Flywheel (Vmotor

with
(a) no load (b) 500 Ohm (c) other

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 Problem Solution
The following energy storage technologies are outlined with
regard to the UPS requirement

Super Capacitor,

Flywheel

Rechargeable Batteries (propose type – NiCd)

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 Results
Test 1: Charging Characteristics of the Super Capacitor
2.50

2.00
Voltage / Current

1.50
Volts
1.00 Current mA

0.50
Also measure resistances:
0.00 Measure value of 6.8Ω = 7.1Ω
0 200 400 Measure
600 value
800 of 10Ω = 9.8Ω
Time Seconds

Can clearly relate what these results these are – Test 1! 40

40
 Results
Test 2: Discharging Characteristics of the Super Capacitor

2.50

2.00
Voltage / Current

1.50

1.00 Volts

Current A
0.50

0.00
0 200 400 600 800

Time s

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 Results
Test 3: Calibration measurements of the Flywheel
(a) Current as a function of Vmotor)
1200

1000

800
Current mA

600

400

200

0
0 1 2 3 4
Motor Voltage

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 Results
Test 3: Calibration measurements of the Flywheel
(b) Speed and Vfout as a function of Vmotor)
140 6

120 5
100
4
Frequency Hz

80

V Four
3
60
2
40

20 1

0 0
0 1 2 3 4
V motor
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43
 Results
Test 4: Slow-down characteristic of the Flywheel (Vmotor)
(a) No Load
2.0

1.5
Motor Volts (V)

1.0

0.5

0.0
0 10 20 30 40
Time Seconds

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 Discussion of Results
Use this section for post-processing of results and applying
to the UPS application

Compare Theory to Experiment for Super Capacitor

Energy Calculations for UPS

Analyse Energy stored in Flywheel and losses.

Analyse if it can it be used for UPS.

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 Discussion of Results
Super Capacitor
Comparison of Super Capacitor to Theory
Plot discharge curve against theoretical curve (assume C=30F)
showing good agreement
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
Volt

measured
0.6
Theory
0.4
0.2
0
0 200 400 600 800
TIme S

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46
 Discussion of Results
Super Capacitor
1.4 30

1.2
26J
25

1 E = ∫ ∆E dt Calculate
20
0.8
Energy
Volts measured
15 Released
Theory
0.6
Esum
10
through
0.4 numerical
0.2 5 integration
0 0
(J)
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

∆V 2 Time C V 2 30 *1.32
∆E = ∆t E= = = 26 J
R 2 2
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Discussion of Results
Super Capacitor
Initial drop in discharge voltage
can be used to calculate Internal
Resistance.

Vr = 0.2 V,
Initial current 0.3A
Rint = 0.2/0.3 = 0.07Ω

Accuracy poor as small value.

Could also consider the two time
constants for charge / discharge
– here Rint and C unknown, but
two equations so can solve 48
48
 Discussion of Results
Super Capacitor
UPS Applications (could be presented in Analysis / solution section)

Capacitance required:
Vmax = 5 V..................... I max = 100µA
Vmin = 3V ......................Imin = 166µA (assuming constant Power)
I avg = 133µA
∆T
C =I×
∆V C = 133 x10-6 x (7x24x60x60)/(5-3) = 42F

Cap working Voltage = 2.3V, so need 5/2.3 = 3 in series

Solution 12 capacitors = 4 x (3 x 30F in series ) in parallel = 40F

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49
 Discussion of Results
Flywheel - Losses
1200 5.0

4.5
1000
4.0

3.5
800

Resistance
3.0
Current mA

mA

600 R 2.5

2.0
400
1.5

1.0
200
0.5

0 0.0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Motor Voltage

Steady State Drive condition gives energy lost by friction

Find Equivalent internal resistance (approx. 4 Ohm) = Vmotor/Imotor
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50
 Discussion of Results
Flywheel – Discharge losses
5

4.5J
4
Motor Volts (V) / Energy (J)

3
V
E
2

Time constant ~ 30/5 =6 seconds

1

Time Seconds
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Calculate Electrical loss, assuming 4Ω load and numerically

integrate 51
51
 Discussion of Results
Flywheel – Stored Energy
mr 2
I= (m = 14 g , r = 6cm)
2
Vfout = 6V :
F = 125 Hz
ω = 2πF = 785
Iω 2
K .E . = = 6.5 J
2

From Numerical Integration of Electrical Losses – 4.5J

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 Discussion of Results
Flywheel – Equivalent Circuit
Equivalent circuit for Flywheel – Capacitor
with internal shunt resistor to represent
losses. Capacitance determined from stored
K.E.
1
CV 2 = 6.5 J
2
2 x6.5
C = 2 = 3 .3 F
2

C ~ 3.3F, R~4 gives a time constant of 12s.

Measured time constant around 6s. – more
detailed analysis of speed/losses needed.

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 Discussion of Results
Flywheel – Application
For application want to use Flywheel to
power Data Save circuit.

5V, 20 mA ~ RL = 5/0.02 = 250 Ω

Assume constant power
At 4V, I = 25 mA , RL = 4/0.025 = 160 Ω

Assume RL = 160 Ω, then time constant still of order 6s.

After 5s flywheel voltage will have dropped to 1V.

Possibly can use with a DC/DC voltage converter to give

4V from a minimum of 1V, ignoring conversion losses.
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 Conclusions
This report has investigated a Super Capacitor and a
CDROM Flywheel as potential solutions for UPS
applications.

It has been demonstrated that the Super Capacitor behaves

just like a conventional capacitor and can clearly meet the
memory UPS requirement.

The Flywheel was shown to exhibit characteristics of a

conventional capacitor but suffers from high internal losses.
However it may be possible to recover some energy for
very short, low power UPS requirements.
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