Search Results (32)

This paper discusses the implementation of a wireless inductive power transfer system for pacemaker applications. One of the inherent challenges in these systems is regulating the output voltage, as there is no direct physical connection from the primary. Additionally, there are other challenges, such as variability in magnetic coupling. First, resonant converters for inductive charging topologies are investigated for biomedical applications. Then, a control method based on the system’s modeling is proposed, eliminating the need for communication. This method is designed for systems with variable and unknown coupling and specifically for a resonant series–parallel topology. For an operation point, determined by the coupling factor, the primary current is measured to regulate the output voltage by adjusting the input voltage. The relationship between the input current and the input voltage is set by a look-up table. The effectiveness of this control strategy is validated in the PSIM simulator and with experimental results for a coupling range between 0.3 and 0.5, achieving a regulated output current error of less than 1%, and an output voltage range within the limits of the battery charger. Full article

The article presents basic information about the induction heating of gears, which are widely used in various industries. This article presents the methodology and results of a coupled FEM simulation of a circuit model for a power electronics converter connected to an inductor-charged heating system. The induction heating of gears was performed using a high-frequency inverter with SiC MOSFET transistors. A prototype inverter was built using a full-bridge structure with a series-parallel resonant circuit. The operating frequency was 350 kHz, the output power of the inverter was 3.5 kW, and the drain efficiency was equal to 96%. Coupled simulation was performed for a charge in the form of a gear made of 42CrMo4 steel (material parameters are provided in the article) for two types of heating: with and without a magnetic field concentrator. In addition, the article presents the results of co-simulation studies in the following form: a distribution of magnetic induction in the gear, energy density in the gear, the characteristics of energy density in a single tooth on the 8 mm length and the temperature of the tooth tip for two types of induction heating. Full article

In order to achieve high and low voltage isolation transformation in DC transmission and distribution networks, a multi module input-series output-parallel (ISOP) system consisting of a buck/boost converter and a CLLLC resonant converter as submodules was studied. This system can ensure that the CLLLC converter operates in the optimal state during frequency changes, achieves a soft switching function, and maintains a high conversion efficiency. This article establishes a mathematical model of a cascaded converter, analyzes its gain characteristics, and proposes a fuzzy PID three-loop control strategy to achieve good input voltage and output current sharing in the ISOP system. A simulation model is built on the MATLAB(R2023a)/Simulink platform to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control strategy. Finally, by building a prototype platform, the feasibility of the ISOP system and the effectiveness of fuzzy PID three-loop control were verified through experiments. Full article

Under light load conditions, the phase-shifted full-bridge (PSFB) converter often has difficulty in realizing the zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of the lagging-leg by relying on the energy of its resonant inductor; however, for the series-parallel PSFB converter applied in high-power applications, the lagging-leg still has the problem of difficult realization of ZVS. Based on this, the paper analyzes the reasons why the series-parallel PSFB converter has difficulty in achieving ZVS for the lagging-leg under light and heavy loads. Under interleaved control, the ZVS of the lagging-leg over the full load range is realized by adding an auxiliary LC branch at the midpoint of the lagging-leg of both submodules. Based on the double-bridge input-parallel-output-series (IPOS) PSFB converter, analyzing the working principle of the circuit after adding the auxiliary LC branch and extending it to the series-parallel PSFB converter. The design requirements of the LC auxiliary branch of the dual-bridge series-parallel PSFB converter are given and the effects of the LC auxiliary branch on the module operating state and device stress are analyzed. On this basis, an extension is carried out to give the working principle and design method of the auxiliary LC branch of the N-bridge series-parallel PSFB converter. Finally, a 100 kW Matlab/Simulink simulation model verifies the superior performance of the proposed LC auxiliary branch to realize the lagging-leg ZVS of the series-parallel PSFB converter under light and heavy loads and achieves a 1.09% peak efficiency improvement at rated load. Full article

The manuscript presents an innovative approach for the engineering design of resonant DC/AC converters used as sources of high-frequency electricity for a variety of needs: industrial and domestic applications, wireless power transmission, high-performance lighting, and more. The methodology is based on the generalized consideration of electromagnetic processes in a series resonant RLC circuit fed by a square-wave voltage source. Due to the symmetry in the form of the current in the AC circuit of the DC/AC converter, it is possible to generalize all their possible operating modes. This was realized by applying the quasi-boundary method to the analysis of resonant DC/AC converters with and without reverse diodes operating in soft and hard switching modes. On this basis, the transfer functions of the devices, which give the relationship between their output and input voltages, are defined and analytically determined. Additionally considered are cases of resonant DC/AC converters with complex output circuits, which are applied to match the load needs and the capabilities of the power electronic device. In this sense, the basic dependencies for designing the main types of resonant DC/AC converters using series and parallel load compensation are given. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is demonstrated through several examples, and their verification and validation is achieved with simulations and prototypes. The proposed innovative design approach is applicable not only in power electronics education, but also in the design and prototyping of a whole class of power electronic devices. The unification of design methodologies formalizes and algorithmizes the design process, which is an important step for its automation and for applying various optimization procedures to achieve certain goals. Full article

A DC converter is the core equipment of voltage conversion and power distribution in a DC distribution network. Its operating characteristics have a profound impact on the flexible regulation of distributed resources in an active distribution network. It is challenging for the existing single-stage conversion topology to meet the requirements of distributed renewable energy connected to a multi-voltage level, medium-voltage grid. It is necessary to study the multistage transform power unit topology further, which can satisfy high reliability, high efficiency, and wide input range. This paper proposes a high-power density DC converter for medium-voltage DC networks with wide voltage levels. It adopts Buck-LLC integrated modular composition. The input ends of the high isolation resonant power unit are connected in series to provide high voltage endurance, and the output ends are connected in parallel to meet the high-power demand and achieve high-power transmission efficiency. The proposed series dual Buck-LLC resonant power unit topology can adjust the duty cycle of series dual buck circuits to meet the needs of different levels of medium-voltage DC power grids. The soft switching problem within the wide input range of all switching tubes is solved by introducing auxiliary inductors, thereby improving energy transmission efficiency. The auxiliary circuit and control parameters are optimized based on the research of each switching tube’s soft switching boundary conditions. Finally, an experimental prototype of a 6.25~7 kW power unit is designed and developed to prove the proposed topology’s feasibility and effectiveness. Great breakthroughs have been made both in theoretical research and engineering prototype development. Full article

This work presents the experimental validation of a 40 kW electric vehicle (EV) charger. The proposed system comprises two 20 kW modules connected in parallel at the input and output. Each module has two stages—as a grid converter Vienna Rectifier (VR) was chosen, and as an isolated DC/DC stage, two Series-Resonant Dual-Active-Bridges (SRDABs) in input-series-output-parallel (ISOP) configurations were applied. The AC/DC and DC/DC stages were enclosed in 2U rack standard housing. A bipolar DC-link with ±400 V DC voltage was employed to connect both stages of the charger module while the charger’s output is dedicated to serving 800 V batteries. VRs operated at 66 kHz switching frequency and the SRDABs operated at 100 kHz. The converters used in the charger structure were based on silicon carbide (SiC) power devices. The description and parameters of the built hardware prototypes of both—AC/DC and DC/DC—converters are provided. Moreover, the experimental validation of each stage and the whole charging system, including oscilloscope waveforms and power analyzer measurements at nominal power, are included. Such a configuration enables energy conversion with high efficiency without a negative impact on the grid and high-quality grid waveforms. Full article

Direct current transformer (DCT) is a key piece of equipment in direct current (DC) microgrids, and the mainstream topologies mainly include LLC resonant converter (LLC) and dual active bridge (DAB). In this paper, a novel bi-directional buck/boost + CLLLC cascade topology is proposed for the input-series-output-parallel cascade converter system of a DC microgrid. To solve the problem that frequency variation causes the converter to deviate from the optimal operating point, resulting in low efficiency, and the inability to achieve a soft switching function. The CLLLC converter operates near the resonant frequency point as a DCT, only providing electrical isolation and voltage matching, while the buck/boost converter controls the output voltage and the voltage and current sharing of each module. Compared to other cascaded converter systems, the cascaded converter proposed in this paper has high efficiency, simplifies the parameter design, and is suitable for wide input and wide output operating conditions. The system adopts a three-loop control strategy, establishes the small-signal modeling of the system, and its stability is verified by theoretical analysis and simulation. The simulation and experimental results verify the correctness of the proposed cascaded converter based on buck/boost + CLLLC and the effectiveness of the control strategy. Full article

Modular input-series–output-parallel (ISOP) converters are very suitable for high-voltage and high-power applications. In order to ensure the normal operation of ISOP converters, it is necessary to realize the input-voltage and output-current equalization of each submodule. However, there are few studies on the input-voltage and output-current equalization performance of the ISOP system. In this paper, the input-voltage and output-current equalization characteristics of a Boost + LLC modular ISOP converter are studied based on the small-signal model. In this paper, the small-signal model of an ISOP system is first established, and then the input-voltage and output-current equalization performance of the ISOP system under the condition of inconsistent submodule parameters are analyzed. Finally, simulations and experiments are reported to verify the results. The experimental results show that the ISOP system composed of a Boost + LLC cascaded module has excellent voltage and current self-equalization performance. Full article

In this article, a resonant converter based on a series-parallel self-adjusting rectifier structure is proposed. By changing the driving signal of the switch, the converter has four working modes: full-bridge structure frequency modulation control, full-bridge structure phase-shift control, half-bridge structure frequency modulation control and half-bridge structure phase-shift control. The newly proposed resonant converter retains the soft switching characteristics of the LLC resonant converter and the mode switching can be completed only through software control without adding additional switches. Different modes correspond to different gain ranges. By changing the control strategy of the modes, the newly proposed converter can meet the design requirements of wide output. Finally, an experimental prototype with an input voltage of 25 V and an output voltage of 9 V to 35 V is built. The experimental results prove the correctness of the wide output characteristics of the converter proposed in the article and, in the four operating modes, it can realize zero-voltage turn-on of the active switch on the primary side and zero-current turn-off of the rectifier diode on the secondary side, which preserves the high efficiency of the resonant converter. Full article

This paper presents a high-voltage power source to produce glow-discharge plasma in the frame of a specific application. The load has two well-differentiated types of behavior. To start the system, it is necessary to apply a high voltage, up to 15 kV, to produce air-dielectric breakdown. Before that, the output current is zero. Contrarily, under steady state, the output voltage is smaller (a few hundred volts) while the load requires current-source behavior to maintain a constant glow in the plasma. The amount of current must be selectable by the operator in the range 50–180 mA. Therefore, very different voltage gains are required, and they cannot be easily attained by a single power stage. This work describes why the LC-parallel resonant topology is a good single stage alternative to solve the problem, and shows how to make the design. The step-up transformer is the key component of the converter. It provides galvanic isolation and adapts the voltage gain to the most favorable region of the LC topology, but it also introduces non-avoidable reactive components for the resonant net, determining their shape and, to some extent, their magnitude. In the paper, the transformer’s constructive details receive special attention, with discussion of its model. The experimental dynamic tests, carried out to design the control, show load behavior that resembles negative resistance. This fact makes any control loop prone to instability. To compensate this effect, a resistive ballast is proposed, eliminating its impact on efficiency with a novel filter design, based on an inductor, connected in series with the load beyond the voltage-clamping capacitor. The analysis includes a mathematical model of the filtering capacitor discharge through the inductor during the breakdown transient. The model provides insight into the dimensions of the inductor, to limit the discharge current peak and to analyze the overall performance on steady state. Another detail addressed is the balance among total weight, efficiency and autonomy, which appears if the filter inductor is substituted for a larger battery in autonomous operation. Finally, a comprehensive set of experimental results on the real load illustrate the performance of the power source, showing waveforms at breakdown and at steady state (for different output currents). Additionally, the detector’s constructive principles are described and its experimental performance is explored, showing results with two different types of metallic pollutants in water. Full article

This study presents the topology of a three-phase LLC resonant converter with matrix transformers. The three-phase LLC resonant converter has the advantages of conventional LLC resonant converters, including zero-voltage switching at the primary side, zero-current switching at the secondary side, high-frequency feasibility, and high efficiency. Moreover, it has additional advantages that differ from conventional LLC, including low output capacitor current ripple, natural current sharing in three resonant currents, and a high power level. As a result of the above mentioned characteristics, LLC topology has been used in many electric vehicle charging systems, server power systems, and other high-power applications. However, as the power level becomes higher and higher, the input voltage is usually too high to reduce conduction loss, and the output current also increases. This situation makes transformer design more difficult. The increasing current means more core and copper loss, and the heat dissipation of the transformer becomes more difficult. Matrix transformer technology can improve this problem directly and simply. By utilizing matrix transformers, which are primary series connected and secondary parallel connected, the primary voltage stress and secondary current stress of the transformers can be reduced, and the output current can be distributed. The analysis of the proposed converter in this study includes a circuit operation introduction, a time-domain analysis, calculation of the transfer ratio curve in the frequency domain, and a loss analysis. The theoretical analysis and performance of the proposed converter are verified. A three-phase LLC resonant converter with matrix transformers prototype is built with a high input voltage of 800-VDC and high output current of 200-A. The output voltage is 100-VDC. The waveform and efficiency data will be shown in the experimental results. Full article

In a power plant, sub-synchronous resonance is not encountered very often, but when it occurs, it can cause a very serious problem and severe damage. Many efforts have been investigated to study and hence mitigate a resonance produced between electrical synchronous machines and the electrical grid that may arise for frequencies other than the fundamental one (50 Hz). Natural resonances in the electrical grid incorporating series capacitors can appear for sub-synchronous frequencies and can be both a series and parallel resonance nature. Mitigation techniques are required for a power plant with an extensive turbine-generator string located near a long power transmission line with series capacitors. Due to the severe consequences, power plants that risk sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) may be equipped with appropriate protection. However, if the sub-synchronous resonance frequencies of the network coincide with any of the mechanical frequencies of the turbine-generator shaft, torsional interaction that is called sub-synchronous torsional interaction (SSTI). If the electrical damping for a specific frequency in the network is insufficient or negative in comparison to mechanical damping, it may lead to this sub-synchronous torsional interaction. This phenomenon can be hazardous causing fatigue in the turbine-generator shaft, which results in the failure of the power generation unit. It can also occur due to the interaction between a control system of converters and the turbine generators. In this research paper, a study using different methods of analysis developed by transmission system operators (TSOs) and the manufacturers with one case study is presented. Additionally, different mitigation techniques, such as filtering and damping, are suggested. Furthermore, a demonstration for measuring principles as well as monitoring and protection against SSTI using a synchro-phasors measurement unit has been presented. Full article

Technological advancements in solar power systems necessitate highly reliable power inverters with a high efficiency and a small size. An LLC resonant converter-based pseudo Direct Current (DC) link inverters offer these qualities to some extent. The resonant circuits of conventional pseudo DC link inverters lack the ability to attain a zero gain and cannot handle variable frequency control which in turn requires very large filters to produce pure sinusoidal output voltages for grid. The usage of these filters consequences in the enhanced price and size of inverters; moreover, the reliability of inverters is also reduced. We propose a novel topology for a pseudo DC link inverter based on an LLCLC resonant converter. The proposed inverter does not require large filters, because it generates rectified sinusoidal output voltages. An additional parallel LC component is added in series to the resonant circuit, which makes it able to attain a zero gain through an infinite circuit impedance. The 400 W pseudo DC link inverter with a 40 V input and a 400 V output is designed and simulated on OrCAD PSpice software. The results showed that there is a significant improvement in achieving a zero gain. The possible lowest gain achieved is approximately 0.125. The proposed technique attested to be more efficient than those formerly used, subsequently contributing satisfying outcomes. Full article

This paper proposes an AC/DC single-stage structure by integrating a boost topology and an active clamp flyback (ACF) circuit with power-factor-correction (PFC) function. The PFC function can be achieved by controlling a boost PFC topology operated in the discontinuous conduction mode. With the coordination of active clamping components, a resonant technique is obtained and zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) can be achieved. The proposed converter is combined with the advantages of: (1) compared with two-stage circuit, a single stage circuit decreases the component of the main circuit and reduces the complexity of the control circuit; (2) a boost topology with PFC function operated in discontinuous conduction mode can be accomplished without adding any current detecting technique or detecting input signal; (3) by using the inductor from the PFC stage, ZVS function can be achieved without any additional inductor; (4) the increment of switching frequency facilitates the optimization of power density; (5) the conducting loss at the secondary side can be reduced by adding the synchronous rectification; (6) in this proposed scheme, the dual transformers with series-parallel connection are utilized, the current at the secondary side can be shared for lowering the conduction loss of the synchronous transistors. Finally, a prototype converter with AC 110 V input and DC 19 V/6.32 A (120 W) output under 300 kHz switching frequency is implemented. The efficiency of the proposed converter reaches 88.20% and 0.984 power factor in full load condition. Full article