Experimental Demonstration of a Scalable Supercapacitor Bus Stabilizer at 250 KW/6.5MJ

This study investigates the use of lithium-ion supercapacitors for shipboard DC bus stabilization, integrating a six-leg interleaved boost converter with scalability and load balancing. A 250 kW, 520 VDC energy storage system was designed and experimentally tested to validate the effectiveness of supercapacitors in mitigating voltage transients and ensuring stable power delivery. The system comprises a bidirectional DC/DC converter that efficiently manages power flow between the lithium-ion supercapacitors and the shipboard power bus. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed system successfully maintained a stable 520V DC output while supporting peak power demands, with an efficiency of approximately 95%-97% throughout the discharge cycle. Furthermore, thermal imaging analysis confirmed that heat dissipation mechanisms effectively maintained component temperatures within safe operational limits, highlighting the system's reliability and robustness. By integrating supercapacitors with advanced power conversion architectures, shipboard energy management can be improved, reducing stress on conventional batteries and generators while enhancing overall operational resilience. The demonstrated scalability and effectiveness of the proposed system offer promising pathways for future adoption in naval and commercial maritime applications.