DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE EVALUTION OF CAPACITOR-BASED, INDUCTOR-BASED, AND RESISTIVE CELL BALANCING METHODS IN BATTERY MANAGMENT SYSTEM USING MATLAB/SIMULINK

Abstract

This thesis presents a detailed study of different cell balancing methods used in Battery Management Systems (BMS) through MATLAB/Simulink simulations. In lithium-ion battery packs, cells often develop unequal voltages and states of charge due to manufacturing variations, temperature differences, and aging effects. If not properly balanced, these differences can reduce battery efficiency, shorten lifespan, and create safety risks. To address this issue, the project compares three major balancing techniques: resistive balancing, capacitor-based balancing, and inductor-based balancing. Also the thesis studies the work compares capacitor-based, inductor-based, and resistive balancing techniques to understand their performance in maintaining equal battery cell voltage. The study focuses on factors such as balancing time, energy efficiency, and overall battery performance. Simulation results show that each method has its own advantages and limitations. The project helps in understanding how proper cell balancing can improve battery life, safety, and reliability in applications such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The resistive method is simple and low-cost but causes energy loss in the form of heat. In contrast, capacitor-based and inductor-based methods are active balancing techniques that transfer energy between cells more efficiently, reducing power loss and improving battery utilization. The simulations evaluate each method based on balancing speed, energy efficiency, voltage equalization capability, and overall battery performance. The simulation outcomes confirm that the proposed active balancing technique successfully minimizes cell-voltage differences, lowers stress on each cell, and enhances the overall performance and lifespan of the battery pack.