Model Predictive Hybrid Control of Triple Active Bridge Converter Integrating Supercapacitor Applications

The increasing presence of airborne pulsed loads poses significant challenges to the power supply system's performance. A single energy storage battery handling pulsed power experiences substantial stress, severely reducing its cycle life. Existing approaches often employ a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) composed of lithium batteries and supercapacitors, where the supercapacitor provides instantaneous power to smooth the lithium battery's output. However, such systems lack flexibility. This paper integrates a lithium battery-supercapacitor HESS with a Triple Active Bridge (TAB) converter, enabling more flexible power flow and higher integration. A second-order filter is used to decompose the load power into reference power components. By employing a hybrid control strategy combining Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) and PI control, the supercapacitor rapidly delivers transient power while the lithium battery supplies smooth power, thereby extending its lifespan. Additionally, the second-order filter ensures that the supercapacitor's state of charge (SoC) recovers autonomously after transient fluctuations, preventing frequent depletion. These contributions provide a viable solution for power supply systems to effectively manage pulsed loads. The paper details the working principles of the HESS and the designed controller, with validation provided through simulations.