Search

This paper presents a multi-stage series model predictive control (MS-MPC) for PMSM drives in order to further improve the control performance of MPC. Firstly, the basic principle of conventional MPC is introduced. Then, the multi-stage series MPC is proposed in this paper, in which the cost functions of different prediction instant are adopted to form series control structure. In this method, the current prediction trajectory of one voltage vector is extrapolated to multiple control periods, and the control performances of every voltage vector during multiple control periods are evaluated by multi-stage series cost functions. Additionally, the implementation process of the proposed method is described. Finally, the comparison experiments between the conventional MPC and the proposed method show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the switching frequency under the same control frequency. In addition, the improvement of current control performance can be achieved by the proposed method under the condition of the same switching frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miniaturization and low cost contribute to the development and popularization of wireless power transfer (WPT). Reducing the number of power conversion stages can reduce the volume and cost of the WPT converter, and even make it possible to improve the efficiency. A single-stage WPT converter with constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) output and its asymmetric modulation method are proposed in this paper. A direct AC-AC converter is applied to the primary side of the WPT converter to directly convert line-frequency AC to high-frequency AC. The applied direct AC-AC converter that can replace the commonly used multi-stage primary converter reduces the number of circuit devices, thereby reducing the volume and cost of primary converter. The proposed WPT converter can realize zero voltage switching (ZVS) and power factor correction (PFC). In order to achieve CC and CV output, a switchable hybrid compensation topology is applied to the proposed WPT converter. A 720-W experimental prototype was manufactured to verify the rationality of the proposed WPT converter and the correctness of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To commercialize wirelesselectric vehicle charging (WEVC), three critical issues must be resolved: communication between the vehicle assembly (VA) and the ground assembly (GA), metal object detection (MOD) on the GA coil, and position detection (PD) of the VA. This paper proposes a comprehensive system that integrates MOD and PD with VA-GA near-field communication (NFC). A common high-frequency aided carrier is used not only for NFC, but also for MOD and PD. In addition, an array of dual-purpose detection coils is proposed as a sensor for MOD and PD. As a result, the three functions listed above share numerous components and circuits, greatly simplifying the system structure. Furthermore, because the high-frequency aided carrier can operate with or without a power carrier, the preceding three functions are independent of system power status. The proposed method has been validated using a 3.3 kW WEVC prototype operating at 85 kHz. The experimental results show that the proposed system is capable of performing both online and offline NFC, MOD, and PD with high sensitivity while having no impact on wireless charging efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the energy-efficient power allocation strategy for multi-user mmWave non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system with different hybrid precoding (HP) structures. Particularly, we consider the fully-access HP structure and the subarray HP structure, respectively. For these two structures, the finite resolution analog precoder is realized through a low-power switches and inverters (SI) network. In the NOMA system, multiple users are first paired according to their channel correlation and gain difference. Following this, we propose hybrid precoding schemes for the low-power SI-based HP structures. Then, a power allocation (PA) problem is formulated to maximize the energy efficiency of the system, subject to per-cluster’ power constraints and per-user’ quality of service constraints. To solve the non-convex PA optimization problem, we devise a suboptimal solution with two-stage PA strategies. Furthermore, the PA problem aiming at conditionally maximizing the spectrum efficiency is also analyzed. Simulation results show that the proposed mmWave-NOMA can achieve higher energy efficiency than the existing mmWave-NOMA scheme and the conventional mmWave orthogonal multiple access scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of intermediate couplers (IC) in inductive power transfer (IPT) systems are well documented in the literature. However, the lack of guideline rules makes the selection process of the passive components and operation mode difficult. This paper presents an iterative design methodology based on the equivalent mathematical model of the system to determine the optimal magnetic coupler (MC) dimensions and resonant tanks parameters that operates the system in a quasi constant current mode. It was found that the transconductance function of a series-series (SS) with an intermediate coupler exhibits a quasi-load independent characteristic when the reflected reactance from the receiver side is null. The design methodology then combines the self and mutual coupling profiles of the MC, obtained from a finite element analysis (FEA) tool, with the system specifications and constraints to find all possible solutions. A set of selection metrics are proposed to identify the optimal solution. This work also presents an identification method of the load and mutual inductances based only in the information available from the transmitter side. The proposed method uses the steady-state equations and does not require any form of communication to the receiver side. An experimental prototype was built and assembled in a converted combustion vehicle with efficiency of 89 $\%$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research studies of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) are gaining more and more attention, because of its attractive features, such as, transferring bidirectional power between electric vehicles and grid, regulating grid voltage/frequency etc. This paper investigates the damping technique of the grid-connected inverter for a V2G application. As the silicon carbide (SiC) mosfet has obvious advantages in high-power-density inverters with a high switching frequency, an LLCL filter-based SiC mosfet inverter is designed to suppress the harmonics and increase the power density in this paper. By analyzing and comparing the suppression effects of four passive damping methods on the resonance peak of the LLCL filter, it is found that passive damping control strategy brings extra loss into the V2G system, and affects the performance of LLCL filter. An active damping control method is proposed to reduce losses and ensure better dynamic performance. The feasibility of the design scheme and performance are verified by simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the series–series compensation topology to realize a low-voltage and high-current inductive power transfer system (IPT) for the automatic guided vehicles (AGVs). Since the height of the AGV chassis is in the tens of mm, the coupling coefficient is close to 1, resulting in a tightly coupled IPT system. This paper has three main contributions. First, it reveals that the high-order harmonic currents in a tightly coupled IPT system could be very significant. Second, it quantifies the impact of the high-order harmonic currents on the efficiency, which shows the efficiency can be reduced. Third, it proposes an effective method to design the parameters in order to reduce the harmonics and maintain high efficiency. Aiming at the charging of AGVs, a prototype is constructed. The magnetic coupler size is 220 mm × 220 mm × 10 mm. When the airgap is 10 mm, it achieves 1.8-kW power transfer with a dc–dc efficiency of 89.9% from a 400-V dc source to a 24-V dc load, and the charging current is 74 A. When the airgap varies from 5 mm to 15 mm, the power variation is within ±350 W, and the efficiency is not affected. The fast Fourier transform analysis of the experimental currents also validates the theoretical analysis and the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a current-fed single-phase inverter without constant intermediate DC link. It eliminates electrolytic capacitor from the DC-link and introduces an intermediate pulsating DC bus. The proposed topology is modular with three full-bridges making it scalable for high-power applications. New pulsating-DC-modulation for back-end pulsating DC-link inverter and secondary modulation (SM) for front-end DC-to-pulsating DC converter is proposed. Soft-switching and device voltage clamping of both primary side and secondary side devices of front-end current-fed full-bridge converter is realized. A rotating partial hybrid pulsewidth modulation has been introduced. One leg of inverter is commutated at a low switching frequency, while the other leg is operated at a high switching frequency for partial period of a line frequency cycle. Thus, switching losses of the back-end inverter are considerably reduced. Rotating mechanism is used to equalize the switching losses of four switches of the inverter. This paper presents detailed operation and analysis of the topology with a proposed modulation scheme. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed modulation scheme as well as soft-switching and performance of the converter. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

High-power boost converters offer significant benefits to hybrid and electric vehicles, because higher-voltage propulsion power equates to lower motor losses. However, the converters themselves must have high efficiency and high power density in order to make the system-level trade-off beneficial. Thus, this paper presents an optimized design process of high power multi-phase interleaved bidirectional boost converters. In order to achieve a fast and accurate analysis and design, a generalized method is developed for the calculations of required phase inductance and output capacitance. In addition, a genetic algorithm (GA) optimization method is implemented for the inductor design. Using the proposed design process, a 3-phase 60 kW interleaved converter is designed and tested using paralleled SiC MOSFETS. The converter achieves peak efficiency of 99.2% at 10 kW and is $>$ 98% efficiency from 5% to 100% load. The resulting power density is 9.4 kW/L, which can be further improved to 12.2 kW/L with alternate terminal connectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety and reliability of inverters play a significant role in stable power electronic system operations. Considering a railway vehicle air-conditioning inverter as a case study, this paper presents a generic open-circuit fault diagnosis method that can be applied to various inverter and control schemes. First, a detailed model of three-phase output currents under both normal and fault status is derived, and then the concept of space trajectory is introduced based on the three-phase output currents. The open-circuit faults of the inverter lead to output phase current distortion. Therefore, different types of faults have different space trajectories, and the corresponding shape of the space trajectory is considered to be a fault feature. Then, the fault is located by the direction vector and center-of-mass coordinate. The effectiveness and reliability of the diagnosis method are verified and analyzed using a hardware-in-the-loop test platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the analysis and design procedure of a voltage equalizer, which consists of a boost full-bridge input cell and a symmetrical voltage multiplier (SVM). The batteries under different initial voltage conditions can be charged to a desired uniform voltage level by the proposed voltage equalizer. The fundamental operation principle of the voltage equalizer is described, and a dc equivalent resistance model is derived to analyze the charging and equalization behaviors. The design procedure based on analytical models is presented to give the optimal parameter configuration for the voltage equalizer to reduce voltage imbalance among the batteries and improve the power conversion efficiency. The model of the equivalent resistance is verified by simulation study of an equivalent circuit. A 10-W prototype for 3 series-connected energy storage modules was built and tested with voltage imbalance. Experimental results confirm the validity of the design method, and demonstrate that the proposed voltage equalizer can achieve a good voltage equalization with a standard deviation reduced to a few millivolts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved package design of an inverter power module specialized for the 48 V starter- generator used in 48 V mild hybrid vehicles. The inverter module, called the mild hybrid starter and generator (MHSG), is integrated with its motor for size/volume reduction. However, the integrated motor-inverter presents supplementary challenges, such as limited cooling capabilities, in addition to the challenges resulting from the elevated voltage of 48 V of the mild hybrid systems. The proposed MHSG power module addresses these challenges. Parallel-connected metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) dies were solder-bonded onto a direct bonded copper (DBC) substrate, and three DBC substrates (providing six legs) were assembled in a custom housing mounted on a forced air cooler. Shunt resistors and surface-mount device components were also soldered onto the DBC substrates. For improved stability and balance, ribbon bonding was used instead of wire bonding, the module components were repositioned, and DBC patterns were adjusted. The aforementioned approaches minimized the parasitic inductance, unbalanced/concentrated current density, and maximum temperature of the 48 V MHSG inverter module. The proposed module was validated through multiphysics finite-element method (FEM) simulations, manufactured prototypes, and experiments, all of which confirmed that the proposed module exhibits the electrical/thermal characteristics required for 48 V integrated MHSG systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more attention has been gained in the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system due to its attractive features, such as transferring bidirectional power between electric vehicles and grid, regulating grid voltage/frequency. This paper develops the active electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter (AEF) with significant system volume and weight reduction compared to the traditional passive EMI filter (PEF). While the high-frequency parasitic parameters of the AEF and the restricted loop gain result in limited AEF EMI noise attenuation in the high-frequency range. Thus, an additional passive EMI filter is commonly needed to suppress the EMI noise. For avoiding external passive filter components, the active EMI filter is designed and integrated with a modified LCL-LC filter as a hybrid filter to guarantee EMI noise attenuation. The modified LCL-LC filter can maintain satisfactory harmonic suppression with a higher EMI reduction ability compared to other types of harmonic filters. Based on a single-phase grid-connected inverter, the total harmonic distortion (THD) and the conducted EMI measurement results are compared with the results of traditional LCL, LLCL, LCL-LC filters. The effectiveness of the proposed circuit is verified by simulation and experimental results. The proposed circuit successfully improves the filter design of the inverter in the suppression of harmonics and EMI noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-road dynamic charging of electric vehicles by wireless power transfer (WPT) systems has emerged recently as a cost-saving means for modern transportation. Thus, maximizing power transfer efficiency is essential in the system design stage as well as during the operation. In addition, the voltage regulation of EV power bus, supplied by the power transfer system and battery, is needed for a long life of the battery. In this paper, these two requirements are fulfilled under varying EV driving conditions by a single control system applied to a wireless power transfer system. The control system simultaneously tunes the switching frequency of the primary side inverter and the conversion ratio of the secondary side converter to achieve the maximum possible efficiency. In addition, the system adjusts the duty cycle of the primary side inverter to regulate the output voltage. Furthermore, an allowable range for the optimal frequency is determined and imposed to the primary inverter to compensate the power factor reduction according to IEEE std-1547.1. The system needs just one dc/dc converter instead of two as reported in the literature, without any restriction in zero state and start-up conditions. The control system does not need any information of the coupling coefficient and compensating circuit elements. The system is applied to a 710 W experimental wireless power transfer setup. Extensive simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the possibility of utilizing a wind turbine to recapture a portion of the kinetic energy losses of a car, irrespective of being a traditional car that is propelled by an internal combustion engine or an electric vehicle (EV) that is propelled by an electric motor, is appraised. To investigate the topic, a small wind turbine has been inserted at the back of the condenser of a car to recover a portion of the kinetic energy of wind passing through the condenser's crisscrossed bars. A portion of this wind is caused by wind existing outside the car, and the main portion is caused by the kinetic energy originating from the car movement. In the absence of the wind turbine, the wind passing through the condenser's crisscrossed bars hits the middle part of the car's chassis and loses its energy. Thus, not only the wind turbine uses a portion of the kinetic energy losses of the car to produce electricity but also, since it has been embedded at the back of the condenser, it has no impact on the aerodynamic coefficient of the car, i.e., it does not produce any extra resistive force. When the car is parked, and there is no kinetic energy resulting from the car movement, a small flow of wind available outside the car is converted into electricity stored in the car's battery. To realize the proposed scheme, a 100-W wind turbine, a permanent-magnet synchronous generator coupled to the turbine, and a novel built hybrid power generation system combining the wind-driven generator's output power with that of the car's battery have been embedded in an EV having a total weight of 1855 kg. Experimental measurements conducted under realistic operation of the EV are given that prove the traveling range of the EV and the power efficiency of the EV's power supply are enhanced by, 6.4 km and 0.2% respectively, by recovering only a portion of the kinetic energy losses of the EV. These two benefits also prove the novelty and contributions of this work in successfully recovering a portion of the kinetic energy losses of a car by using a small wind turbine embedded in the car. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies wireless charging of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The charging profile mandates a constant-current (CC) charging for a discharged battery until the battery voltage reaches the cutoff voltage at rated power. The charging continues at the cutoff voltage with a constant-voltage (CV) charging at a power level down to 3% of the rated power in order to fully charge the battery. An inductive-power-transfer (IPT) converter should be designed with minimal number of stages to achieve high efficiency. However, high efficiency for such a wide load range is difficult to achieve. Moreover, the efficiency-to-load relationship is distinctly different for CC and CV charging operations, posing difficulties for the single-stage design. This paper describes the design of a single-stage IPT converter that complies with the battery charging profile and, at the same time, achieves optimal efficiency. Design optimization includes soft switching for the entire battery load range, efficiency optimization for CC and CV modes of operation, and system efficiency optimization for the whole battery charging profile. Measured results of two experimental IPT battery chargers are presented for illustration and verification. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper aims to optimize real-time control for the degraded mode of a fault-tolerant power architecture but not the fault detection and isolation procedure itself. Such power architecture is dedicated to electric vehicles in which it performs the three following essential functions: traction, battery charging, and electric-grid assistance. For safety reasons, in the degraded mode, power control is limited to the traction mode. Thus, for a given torque, the proposed innovative strategy uses a novel current/voltage transform that leads to efficient real-time control of the torque. The key idea is to drive the current without a priori restrictions on its waveform, while minimizing Joule losses, i.e., the effective value of the current. It has been validated on a laboratory test bench. The studied system is based on a three-phase open-end-winding synchronous machine powered by an inverter with three full H-bridges. The last section of the paper analyzes the comparison between the classic sinusoidal current waveforms and the proposed sinusoidal current waveforms while operating on the two remaining motor phases. It results in a 14% increase of the torque produced by the permanent-magnet machine under test and a 14% decrease of the global system losses in traction mode. As a result, the new control strategy enhances traction performance in degraded mode and increases electric-vehicle autonomy in a postfailure condition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Regenerative braking energy feedback system (RBEFS) can effectively feed the regenerative braking energy (RBE) of the trains back to the ac power grid. This improves the economy of the urban rail transit system greatly. The RBEFS that is utilized for both recycling the RBE and controlling the voltage of the traction network is proposed in this paper. First, the structure of the medium voltage RBEFS with the higher recovery efficiency is presented, and its parameters are designed in detail. Then, the double closed-loop control strategy of the RBEFS is studied, which not only achieves unit power factor feedback but also stabilizes the voltage of traction network effectively. Finally, simulation based on MATLAB/Simulink, laboratory experiments, and the field test are used to verify the performance of the presented RBEFS. The simulation and experiments results show that the RBEFS is able to feed RBE back into the ac grid effectively and the power quality of its output current satisfies the requirements of grid connection, as well as mitigate the voltage rise of the traction network under different startup threshold perfectly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some electrified vehicles, for example the Toyota Prius, integrate a dc–dc converter between the battery pack and the traction inverter to increase the powertrain efficiency. However, adding this extra converter adversely affects the cost and power density of the powertrain due to the additional components, such as the switches and the inductor, that are expensive and heavy in high-power converters. The concept of the multi-source inverter was previously introduced as an alternative solution to reduce the power rating of the dc–dc converter while keeping similar powertrain performance. In this paper, the implementation of the multi-source inverter in a hybrid power-split powertrain is discussed. The operating modes during both dc–ac and ac–dc conversions are detailed and a prototype is experimentally tested with a load. New control strategies of the proposed powertrain show that three out of five operating modes bring new opportunities in terms of battery charging and power rating reduction of the dc–dc converter. A vehicle-level simulation model is developed in MATLAB/Simulink to quantify the benefits of the proposed topology. Simulations are performed for four drive cycles to compare the power profile of the dc–dc converter of the suggested powertrain with the Toyota Prius. The average power transferred by the dc–dc converter can be reduced by up to 25 $\%$ in most drive cycles tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with energy storage equipment based on supercapacitors, flywheels, or lithium batteries, inverters have obvious advantages in installation space, cost, reliability, and service lifetime. For this reason, regenerative inverters are increasingly installed in the substations of urban rail transit systems. They have controllable operating characteristics, but their impact on the energy saving and railway operation cost has not been fully studied. In this paper, based on the typical application scheme of regenerative inverters, the operating characteristics of the inverter including power limitation, start working voltage, and virtual internal resistance are introduced at first. A simplified power system model containing regenerative inverters and trains has been built. The impact of operating characteristics on the amount of regenerative braking energy and its distribution is analyzed. The inverter operating characteristics are optimized by a cost function considering total energy consumption, brake shoes wear, and inverter expense. A case study based on a multiple-train scenario is presented to validate the cost-saving performance. The work is expected to provide some guides for the design and optimization of the traction power supply system with inverting substations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traction inverters are crucial components of modern electrified automotive powertrains. Advances in power electronics have enabled lower cost inverters with high reliability, efficiency, and power density, suitable for mass market consumer automotive applications. This paper presents an independent review of the state-of-the-art traction inverter designs from several production vehicles across multiple manufacturers. Future trends in inverter design are identified based on industry examples and academic research. Wide bandgap devices and trends in device packaging are discussed along with active gate driver implementations, current and future trends in system integration, and advanced manufacturing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve reliability and realize electric isolation, an integrated topology of the charger and drive for medium/high-power electric buses is presented in this paper. The proposed integrated topology can solve the voltage matching problem between the power grid and the battery voltage and between the battery voltage and the drive system. The integration can be realized by using the common hardware of the charging system and the drive system, which can reduce the cost and weight of the whole system. To improve the power level, a three-phase combined full-bridge converter based on the magnetic-combination transformer is adopted in the charging system, which has a single-stage power-factor-correction function, electric isolation, and no electrolytic capacitor. To better reflect the integration, the motor drive system adopts a single-stage boost dual-inverter that is the reconfiguration of the magnetic-combination transformer and the 3-H bridge converter in the charging system and few extra components. The drive system has a single-stage boost/buck function, high reliability, and strong fault-tolerant ability. The proposed integrated topology, which can realize a charging function and a driving function, has been analyzed in this paper. Finally, the experimental results verify the feasibility of the integrated topology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A 12-V motor drive system using an onboard battery is promising in vehicle applications, e.g., to rotate an air pump to adjust its air delivery to the burner, thereby providing autonomous exhaust temperature control for the conventional diesel engine vehicle. The 12-V/1-kW motor drive system proposed in this paper consists of a series-resonant LLC MOSFET full-bridge converter, which provides high-efficiency power transfer by implementing zero voltage switching and boosts the dc bus to $\sim$300 V, and an insulated-gate bipolar transistor inverter, which provides the high-side phase currents to a 1-kW/6000-r/min brushless dc motor (BLDC). This design secures the high efficiency, low cost, and low volume. Meanwhile, with the variable output voltage of this dc/dc converter, this paper realizes a commutation torque-ripple reduction method, which will minimize the mechanical vibration. Experimental results on this prototype system demonstrate that: 1) the LLC dc/dc part efficiency is 97.6% with 92% of the inverter efficiency; and 2) the motor commutation torque ripple is reduced close to zero. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a controller to minimize the overall drive system's losses and the key inverter and motor losses by mapping machine's speed and torque demands to an optimal state current and switching frequency. The objective function takes into account copper and core losses of the machine along with conduction and switching losses of the inverter. The effect of the inverter harmonics on the voltage and current waveforms is modeled and shows that while higher switching frequency increases inverter loss, it decreases the machine's loss. The inverter switching frequency varies with the speed and load torque. The voltage and current limitation are used as the constraint. The effects of the current, voltage, and switching frequency are shown on the losses of the machine and the inverter. The result of optimization for each pair of speed and load torque is the corresponding $dq$ axes current and switching frequency. A control system is implemented based on the optimization scheme to verify the optimization process. The effectiveness of the control system is verified experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulse-width-modulation-controlled inverter and the permanent-magnet synchronous motor are the key electrical components of the electric vehicle (EV). The electromagnetic radiation emission of the motor drive system has a great influence on the electromagnetic radiation emission of the vehicle to a certain extent. Different motor drive systems may have significant differences in the design of the inverter electromagnetic compatibility, the length, and the direction of the cable, which resulting in a significant difference in the radiation emission of the motor drive system. At present, there are many researches on the conduction emission, electromagnetic interference (EMI) modeling, and EMI suppression of the inverter and the motor, but the research on the radiation emission of the motor drive system and its relationship with radiation emission of the vehicle is relatively little. In this paper, a certain EV is taken as an example to analyze the reason why the electric motor drive system is the source of the high emission amplitude in the frequency range from 0.50 to 3 MHz and the resonance point. Also, it is proved that it is feasible to add Y capacitor at inverter's dc terminal. It is effective to reduce the radiation emission of the vehicle in the above frequency range particularly, and a simplified vehicle common-mode interference model is established. Finally, the availability of the model is verified on multiple models. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates the inverter nonlinearities in a drive system based on silicon carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (SiC-mosfets) and compares its performance with that of an equivalent silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistor (Si-IGBT) system. Initially, a novel comprehensive analytical model of the inverter voltage distortion is developed. Not only voltage drops, dead time, and output capacitance, but also switching delay times and voltage overshoot of the power devices are taken into account in the model. Such a model yields a more accurate prediction of the inverter's output voltage distortion, and is validated by experimentation. Due to inherent shortcomings of the commonly used double pulse test, the switching characteristics of both SiC-mosfets and Si-IGBTs in the pulse width modulation inverter are tested instead, such that the actual performances of the SiC and Si devices in the motor drive system are examined. Then, the switching performance is incorporated into the physical model to quantify the distorted voltages of both the SiC-based and Si-based systems. The results show that, despite its existing nonlinearities, the SiC-based drive has lower voltage distortion compared to the conventional Si-based drive as a result of its shorter switching times and smaller voltage drop, as well as a higher efficiency. Finally, the overriding operational advantages of the SiC-based drive over its Si-based counterpart is fully demonstrated by comprehensive performance comparisons. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Inductive power transfer (IPT) technology has been approved to be convenient and reliable interface for charging and discharging the electric vehicles (EVs). Precise model for such system can help designers and researchers to anticipate, optimize, and evaluate its behavior amid the development. Thus, this paper presents a physics-based co-simulation platform for the bidirectional IPT system (BIPTS) in EVs’ applications. The platform is established through the coupling between finite element and circuit analysis. The power electronic converters and controllers are developed in Simulink; and the power pads are modeled in Magnet environment. The two parts are lined together through the compatible Simulink plug-in tool. In addition, a state-space dynamic mathematical model for the same BIPTS is derived and implemented in MATLAB environment. A 1.2 kW BIPTS is analyzed under different dynamics by both models and the results are compared. The effect of the nonlinearities and the magnetic material characteristics on the BIPTS's performance is assessed, in terms of errors and harmonics analysis. The analysis considered both the full and light loading operating conditions in the system. Finally, a small-scale prototype for a BIPTS is built, tested, and compared with the co-simulation results for verification purposes. The proposed co-simulation could provide accurate prediction for the system's dynamics, during both charging and discharging operation. The scheme is generic and can be easily expanded to different pad structures, compensation networks, and converter topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

DC-link voltage fluctuation, originated from the single-phase power supply, has a significant impact on the railway traction drive system. Instead of employing a large LC filter to suppress the fluctuation, software solutions are of more interests, since they do not add additional components to the system. A state-of-the-art feedforward strategy predicts the dc-link voltage pattern based on its repetitive nature and directly modifies the duty cycle fed to the inverter to eliminate the impact of the fluctuation. Yet this strategy requires a symmetrical and consistent pulse pattern. In this paper, a compensation approach for synchronous space vector modulation with multiple pulse patterns is proposed. It utilizes the prediction of the dc-link voltage pattern and, based on the volt–second balancing principle, modifies the switching instants corresponding to different pulse patterns. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method can significantly eliminate the impact of the fluctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A modular cascade machine (MCM) system is composed of several electric machines instead of a unique one. The MCM system is expected for application in electric vehicles (EVs). This paper aims to compare a MCM-based EV with a classical single drive EV in normal operations. The energetic macroscopic representation formalism is used to organize the system model and control of both studied EVs. An optimal energy management strategy of the MCM-based EV is developed for minimizing its energy consumption. Simulation results demonstrate the interest of the MCM-based EV in terms of energy saving. Different driving cycles are analyzed and the comparison of both vehicles highlights the interest of this new multimachine system despite the increase of its mass and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A flexible, automatic, reliable, and safe charging and discharging system for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid EVs is crucial in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation. The bidirectional inductive wireless power transfer system (BIWPTS) is an ideal solution in this situation. With authentic power-flow models for the BIWPTS in hand, designers and operators can predict, optimize, and analyze the interaction performance between the EV and the grid. Thus, this paper presents a harmonics-based theoretical power-flow model for BIWPTS for charging and discharging EVs in V2G applications. The proposed model provides accurate estimation for the active and reactive power flow during V2G and grid-to-vehicle modes. Moreover, the impact of the circuit losses and harmonics, due to the high-frequency power inverters, on the power-flow performance is investigated. This effect is stated mathematically by four novel power-flow criteria formulas. New conditions for achieving maximum active and reactive power, and unity and zero power-factor system operation, are also developed. The sensitivity of the circuit performance to the variation of its parameters has been studied. For validation purposes, a computer-based model and experimental platform of BIWPTS for EV applications are developed and tested. The comparison between the theoretical, simulation, and experimental results verified the proposed models and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although great effort has been devoted with various approaches on the improvement in energy efficiency of electric vehicles, much of the focus has been on the design of electric devices and power electronic systems and of energy storage systems with energy management strategies. This paper proposes a bus voltage control method that actively and dynamically controls the bus voltage applied to the inverter through a dc/dc converter, such that it tracks the rotational speed of the motor, that aimed to improve the energy efficiency of the inverter, or the overall energy efficiency of power electronic systems. A detailed energy efficiency model is first developed that takes into account the inverter loss and motor iron loss. Some detailed and in-depth analyses on energy efficiency have been conducted that conclude that the inverter's energy efficiency is largely related to the voltage applied, and the voltage is further closely related to the rotational speed of the motor. Simulations and in-vehicle experiments under a New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) have been conducted that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on the improvement in energy efficiency of the inverter, as well as the system as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The impending global energy crisis has opened up new opportunities for the automotive industry to meet the ever-increasing demand for cleaner and fuel-efficient vehicles. This has necessitated the development of drivetrains that are either fully or partially electrified in the form of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs and HEVs), respectively, which are collectively addressed as plug-in EVs (PEVs). PEVs in general are equipped with larger on-board storage and power electronics for charging or discharging the battery, in comparison with HEVs. The extent to which PEVs are adopted significantly depends on the nature of the charging solution utilized. In this paper, a comprehensive topological survey of the currently available PEV charging solutions is presented. PEV chargers based on the nature of charging (conductive or inductive), stages of conversion (integrated single stage or two stages), power level (level 1, 2, or 3), and type of semiconductor devices utilized (silicon, silicon carbide, or gallium nitride) are thoroughly reviewed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a feasibility study into the application of a 100-V, 50-kHz high-frequency ac (HFAC) network for powering automotive electrical auxiliaries. The study is focused on motor-actuated loads and is divided into two sections. First, the investigation indicates the benefits of replacing low-torque dc motors with lighter and more efficient 400-Hz ac machines for applications such as electric fans, fuel pumps, or blower motors. A comparative examination of commercially available machines indicates space and weight reduction of more than 60%, and efficiency savings between 25% and 100% are possible. Second, the inquiry evaluates the viability of replacing existing dc/ac inverters with HFAC/ac converters for high-torque ac machines as employed, for example, in electric-power-assisted steering (EPAS) or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Based on experimental and simulation results for a column-assist EPAS application employing a three-phase permanent-magnet synchronous motor, this paper shows that an HFAC drive is expected to reduce the voltage harmonic content below 50 kHz by at least 10% compared with the dc/ac inverter. However, the disadvantages of the former drive make it less attractive than the existing dc/ac circuit. Specifically, the EPAS motor torque ripple is expected to be approximately 2% higher compared with the dc counterpart drive. Further drawbacks of the HFAC/ac drive include high metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) conduction losses, higher voltage harmonics above 50 kHz, and complex control requirements of the inverter. Conclusively, significant HFAC advantages for motor loads can only be attributed to machines with a nominal torque capability that is limited to 2 \N \cdot \m. However, given the number of such devices within a typical vehicle, this translates into a possible vehicle mass saving of 30 kg and a potential reduction in fuel consumption by 0.8 L/100 km. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The main advantage of asymmetrical multilevel inverters is the optimization of levels with a minimum number of power supplies. However, this optimized multilevel system still needs a large number of isolated and floating dc supplies, which makes these converters complicated to implement in electric vehicles (EVs), because the system will require many independent battery packs. In this paper, a very simple scheme, based on a small and cheap high-frequency link (HFL), allows the utilization of only one power supply for the complete multilevel inverter drive, with an inherent regulation of the voltages supplied among the H-bridges. It also allows voltage control with the full number of levels if the dc source is of a variable voltage characteristic. This paper is focused on a 27-level asymmetric inverter, but the strategy, using only one power supply, can be applied to converters with any number of levels. In particular, an asymmetrical 27-level converter needs nine isolated power supplies, and the proposed system reduces these nine sources to only one: the battery car. The topology also permits full regenerative braking working as a three-level converter. The proposed system is intended for application in EVs from power ratings up to 150 kW. Simulations and experimental results show the feasibility to implement this “one-source” multilevel system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with a control method that adapts the dc bus voltage of electric traction systems using permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) fed by bidirectional $Z$-source inverter (ZSI) or other improved topologies. This control allows reducing both the overestimation of the dc bus voltage and losses in the inverter. The sliding-mode control (SMC) method is used to control the $Z$-source converter, whereas flatness-based control is proposed to drive the actuator and generate the peak dc bus voltage reference. Flatness-based control is chosen because the actuator transients are well mastered. Extra shoot-through zero inverter states are inserted by means of implemented algorithm on a space-vector-modulation (SVM) scheme. Different short-circuit strategies are studied and compared according to constraint criteria. Both simulation and experimental results are presented and discussed to validate the proposed voltage adaptation strategy and the improvement on global efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability prediction of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is of paramount importance for planning, design, control, and operation management of vehicles, since it can provide an objective criterion for comparative evaluation of various configurations and topologies and can be used as an effective tool to improve the design and control of the overall system. This paper presents a mission-profile-dependent simulation model based on MATLAB for quantitatively assessing the reliability of the electric drivetrain of HEVs. This model takes into consideration the variable driving scenarios, dormant mode, electrical stresses, and thermal stresses. Therefore, more reliable and accurate prediction of system reliability has been achieved. The methodology is explained in detail, and the results of reliability assessment based on a series HEV are presented. Based on reliability analysis, two control strategies are proposed to increase the mean time to failure of HEV powertrains: 1) variable dc-link voltage control and 2) hybrid discontinuous pulsewidth modulation scheme. These novel control schemes reduce the power losses and thermal stresses of power converters, and consequently, enhance system reliability. Numerical simulation results verify the benefits of two proposed control strategies in terms of power losses and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a six-phase current reconstruction scheme for dual traction inverters in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) with a single dc-link current sensor. During the phase current reconstruction, one of the inverters is proposed to operate using active vectors, whereas the other inverter operates using nonactive vectors. An advanced phase-shift scheme for all pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) signals based on the sequence of duty cycles is implemented. PWM signals are considered in three types: large, medium, and small duty cycles. Then, the minimum phase-shift scheme is applied to each type of PWM signal to ensure the minimum duration of the active vector for stable current reconstruction. With this proposed phase-shift scheme, the maximum allowable modulation index and dc-link voltage utilization are improved. In addition, the relationship between the minimum required time for stable phase current reconstruction and the maximum allowable modulation index is derived theoretically. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by both simulation and experimental results. With this scheme, cost and volume of dual inverters in HEVs are reduced, considering the lower number of current sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The current research trend to increase the power density of power electronics interfaces in automotive applications is the cost-effective integration of power converters. This paper proposes a reduced-part integrated power electronics interface that is capable of charging the battery and adjusting the voltage levels of a battery and a dc link during propulsion and regenerative braking. In the proposed topology, one inductor is shared between a dc/dc converter and a charger, eliminating the need for an additional magnetic component for the charging stage. A charge nonlinear-carrier control (NLC) method, which reduces the feedback circuitry, is adopted, and different nonlinear reference voltage waveforms are generated for each half-cycle of the grid to ensure a unity power factor and stable operation. To verify the concept, a 750-W prototype has been built and tested for each operation mode. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with a synthesis of space-vector pulsewidth modulation (SVPWM) control methods applied for an H-bridge inverter feeding a three-phase permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) in electric-vehicle (EV) applications. First, a short survey of existing architectures of power converters, particularly those adapted to degraded operating modes, is presented. Standard SVPWM control methods are compared with three innovative methods using EV drive specifications in the normal operating mode. Then, a rigorous analysis of the margins left in the control strategy is presented for a semiconductor switch failure to fulfill degraded operating modes. Finally, both classic and innovative strategies are implemented in numerical simulation; their results are analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cell voltage equalizers are necessary to ensure years of operation for series-connected supercapacitors (SCs) by eliminating cell voltage imbalance. Conventional equalizers require numerous switches and/or magnetic components; hence, the circuit complexity and size tend to increase. In this paper, a double-switch single-transformer equalizer, which is based on the combination of a half-bridge inverter and a voltage multiplier, is proposed. The operation of the proposed equalizer is analyzed in detail, and a dc equivalent circuit is mathematically derived. Experimental equalization tests were performed for eight SCs connected in series under a voltage-imbalanced condition. The energy of the series-connected SCs was preferentially redistributed to SCs with low voltages, and eventually, the voltage imbalance was eliminated, demonstrating the equalization performance. Simulation-based equalizations using the derived dc equivalent circuit were also performed under the same condition as the experiments. The experimental and simulation results were in good agreement, indicating that the derived dc equivalent circuit can adequately express real equalization profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a fuel cell (FC)–supercapacitor traction drive and its power control. The proposed solution allows increasing efficiency and performances of an FC-based powertrain by means of a dual cascaded voltage source inverter and a supercapacitor bank. An optimal control algorithm allows avoiding the fast transition of the FC output power under whatever operating condition. It is based on five operation modes, which are selected as a function of the actual traction power request. This way, both power peaks and slopes are controlled during vehicle accelerations. A supercapacitor charge stabilization strategy, which uses the same cascaded converter power circuit, is also proposed. Experimental implementation has been performed for validation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One of the most important research topics in drive train topologies applied to electric/hybrid vehicles is the efficiency analysis of the power train components, including the global drive efficiency. In this paper, two basic traction electric drive systems of electric/hybrid vehicles are presented and evaluated, with a special focus on the efficiency analysis. The first topology comprises a traditional pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) battery-powered inverter, whereas in the second topology, the battery is connected to a bidirectional dc–dc converter, which supplies the inverter. Furthermore, a variable-voltage control technique applied to this second topology is presented, which allows for the improvement of the drive overall performance. Some simulation results are presented, considering both topologies and a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). An even more detailed analysis is performed through the experimental validation. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of the main drive components efficiency, including the global drive efficiency, presented in the form of efficiency maps. Other parameters such as motor voltage distortion and power factor are also considered. In addition, the comparison of the two topologies takes into account the drive operation under the motoring and regenerative-braking modes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), power electronics plays an increasingly important role in electric power train systems. The economic and reliable design of these power electronic systems, e.g., dc/ac inverter and battery charger, will be the inward search to popularize electric vehicles. As an extension of system-level safe operational areas (SSOAs) proposed in our previous literature, this paper details the criteria and mathematical models of SSOA for a battery charger and a three-phase two-level dc/ac inverter. Operational areas were established based on the SSOA. Thermal characteristics of the semiconductor devices, operational modes, and load characteristics were enclosed to enhance the mathematical models. Experiments on a 5-kW charger and a 55-kW/380-VAC inverter validated the effectiveness of SSOA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For electric and hybrid vehicles that use grid power to charge the battery, traction circuit components are not normally engaged during the charging time; hence, there is a possibility of using the traction circuit components in the charger circuit to have an onboard integrated charger. An isolated high-power integrated charger based on a special electrical machine with a double set of stator windings is described. Through the reconfiguration of the motor stator windings in the charging mode, a six-terminal machine is achieved. The so-called motor/generator acts as an isolated three-phase power source after synchronization with the utility grid in the charging mode. This rotary isolated power source constitutes a three-phase boost rectifier (battery charger) with full utilization of the inverter. The motor windings are reconfigured by a relay-based switching device for the charging and traction modes. This paper presents the mathematical model of the motor/generator and explains the system's functionality for the traction and charging modes. Furthermore, the charger grid synchronization and charge control are described. Finally, the simulation results are presented for a practically designed system with a traction power of 25 kW and a possible charge power of 12.5 kW. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Electrical energy storage has a significant role to play in improving the performance of future electric traction systems. This paper proposes a new power electronics topology that integrates the energy storage power electronics with those of the inverter drive system. This topology reduces weight and component count compared with previous topologies but still allows the use of standard machines. Practical results from a laboratory test system are shown, and indicative energy savings for a full-sized system are presented. A study on a City Class Tram on the public transportation system in Blackpool, U.K., shows that clear energy savings may be made by employing ultracapacitor energy storage with the proposed topology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extensive research done in the recent past has proven that power electronic converters and electric propulsion motors are extremely critical components for modem hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) propulsion applications. Therefore, it is essential that both the traction motor and the associated drive operate at their optimal efficiencies throughout the driving schedule. In typical HEV propulsion applications, the traction motor and the drive are used over the entire torque/speed operational range. In view of this fact, this paper aims at modeling the inverter and motor losses/efficiencies over typical city and highway driving schedules. The noteworthy losses within a typical three-phase dc/ac traction inverter, such as the switching and conduction losses for both the insulated-gate bipolar transistors and the antiparallel diodes, are modeled and simulated over the city and highway driving patterns. An induction motor (IM) is used for a medium-sized sport utility vehicle, which was modeled in the ADvanced VehIcle SimulatOR (ADVISOR) software. The significant IM losses that were considered in the study include the stator copper losses, rotor copper losses, and core losses. Thus, the average efficiencies of both the inverter drive and the induction traction motor are evaluated and summarized under city as well as highway driving conditions. Finally, based on the individual-model-based efficiency analysis, the overall traction motor drive system efficiency is estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]