Specification and use of pulsed current profiles for ultracapacitors power cycling

In this study, pulsed current profiles are specified and used for ultracapacitors power cycling. First, a characterization procedure has been developed to follow the ultracapacitors electric and thermal parameters during the power cycling tests. The whole experiments can be realized on the same test bench specially designed. The current profiles take into account at the same time the ultracapacitors features and their use as peak power source in HEV applications. Thanks to a convenient electro-thermal modelling, a 400 Amps profile has been specified. Experimentally, a thermal steady state has been properly obtained with this current profile. During the power cycling, ultracapacitor parameters changes, especially impedance real part, are periodically quantified, after a representative number of cycles. The cheering presented results validate the profile specification methodology. So, the study on the effect of the current profiles discontinuity can be continued.