LAUSR

Lithium-bismuth liquid metal batteries have much potential for stationary energy storage applications, with characteristics such as a large capacity, high energy density, low cost, long life-span and an ability for high current charge and discharge. However, there are no publications on battery management systems or state-of-charge (SoC) estimation methods, designed specifically for these devices. In this paper, we introduce the properties of lithium-bismuth liquid metal batteries. In analyzing the difficulties of traditional SoC estimation techniques for these devices, we establish an equivalent circuit network model of a battery and evaluate three SoC estimation algorithms (the extended Kalman filter, the unscented Kalman filter and the particle filter), using constant current discharge, pulse discharge and hybrid pulse (containing charging and discharging processes) profiles. The results of experiments performed using the equivalent circuit battery model show that the unscented Kalman filter gives the most robust and accurate performance, with the least convergence time and an acceptable computation time, especially in hybrid pulse current tests. The time spent on one estimation with the three algorithms are 0.26 ms, 0.5 ms and 1.5 ms.