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Solar photovoltaic (PV)-based stand-alone systems have evolved as a promising solution to the issue of electrification in areas where the grid is not available. The major challenges in designing such systems are as follows: 1) extraction of maximum power from the PV array; 2) protection of the battery from overcharge and overdischarge; 3) dc to ac conversion; and 4) provision for adequate voltage boosting. As multiple objectives are required to be satisfied, the existing schemes for stand-alone systems require a minimum of three converter stages, leading to considerable reduction in the reliability and efficiency of the system. In order to address this issue, a two-stage stand-alone scheme consisting of a novel transformer-coupled dual-input converter (TCDIC) followed by a conventional full-bridge inverter is proposed in this paper. The proposed TCDIC can realize maximum power point tracking and battery charge control while maintaining the proper voltage level at the load terminal. The small signal mathematical model of the TCDIC is derived. A suitable control strategy for the proposed TCDIC is devised. The operation of the scheme is verified by performing detailed simulation studies. A laboratory prototype of the scheme is developed. Detailed experimental validation of the scheme utilizing the laboratory prototype is carried out to confirm the viability of the scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyzes the interleaved boost with coupled inductors (IBCI) converter, which is an isolated topology that is suitable for high step-up applications. Two main contributions are given: an exhaustive steady-state analysis and an accurate small-signal model. The former allows for deriving a closed-form noniterative design procedure for the power-stage active and passive components. In addition, it reveals an interesting equivalence with an apparently different converter, i.e., the single active bridge. Subsequently, the IBCI converter dynamic behavior is investigated, deriving a nonlinear average model that, under small-signal approximation, can be linearized around a given operating point and used for feedback controller design. A single photovoltaic module interface converter, rated for 300-W output power, is considered as a case study to validate the analysis outcome and the design procedure. Both are fully validated by measurements taken on the laboratory prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes a novel multiple-input bidirectional dc–dc power converter to interface more than two dc sources of different voltage levels. This finds applications in hybrid electric/fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), where different dc sources of unequal voltage levels need to be connected with bidirectional power flow capability. The converter can be used to operate in both the buck and boost modes with bidirectional power control. It is also possible to independently control power flow between any two sources when more than two sources are actively transferring power in either directions. The operation, analysis, and design of the converter are presented with different modes of power transfer. The proposed converter is demonstrated for FCV application using real-time hardware-in-the-loop system. Experimental results for a 5-kW system are presented, validating the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A novel variable reactor based on magnetic flux control is proposed in this paper. The system configuration of the novel variable reactor is presented, while its operational principle and dynamic performance are analyzed. Based on the developed variable reactor, a novel integrated power quality controller (IPQC) suitable for microgrid is proposed, which can cater for the peculiar requirements of microgrid power quality, such as the harmonic high penetration, frequent voltage fluctuation and overcurrent phenomenon, and bidirectional power flow and small capacity. For the fundamental, the equivalent impedance of the primary winding is a variable reactor or capacitor. For the $n$th-order harmonic, the equivalent impedance is very high impedance and acts as a “harmonic isolator.” The system control strategy is also analyzed in detail. A set of three-phase IPQC has been constructed. The experimental test results verify the validity of the novel variable reactor and the IPQC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The average-current-controlled boost power factor correction converter may operate in all-continuous current mode (CCM), part-CCM/discontinuous current mode (DCM), or all-DCM mode in a half line cycle under different input voltage and load conditions, and the conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) spectrum of the converter exhibits differences in these operation modes. In this paper, by analyzing the characteristic of the harmonics of the drain-to-source voltage of the power switch, the characteristics of the common-mode and differential-mode noise of the converter are revealed in different operation modes. The analyzed results can be used to guide the EMI filter design for the converter and ensure the conducted EMI satisfying the standard under all working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bulky electrolytic capacitors, which are often needed in dc systems to filter out voltage ripples, considerably reduce power density and system reliability. In this paper, a ripple eliminator, which is a bidirectional buck–boost converter terminated with an auxiliary capacitor, is adopted to replace bulky capacitors in dc systems. The voltage ripples on the terminals (i.e., the dc bus) can be transferred to the auxiliary capacitor, and the ripples on the auxiliary capacitor can vary in a wide range. Moreover, the average voltage of the auxiliary capacitor can be controlled either lower or higher than the dc-bus voltage, which offers a wide operational range for the ripple eliminator and also the possibility of further reducing the auxiliary capacitance. Hence, the total capacitance required can be much smaller than the originally needed. After proposing a control strategy to transfer the voltage ripples to the auxiliary capacitor, three control strategies are proposed to regulate the auxiliary-capacitor voltage to maintain proper operation. Intensive experimental results are presented to demonstrate the performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A single-switch nonisolated dc/dc converter for a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV)-battery-powered pump system is proposed in this paper. The converter is formed by combining a buck converter with a buck-boost converter. This integration also resulted in reduced repeated power processing, hence improving the conversion efficiency. With only a single transistor, the converter is able to perform three tasks simultaneously, namely, maximum-power-point tracking (MPPT), battery charging, and driving the pump at constant flow rate. To achieve these control objectives, the two inductors operate in different modes such that variable switching frequency control and duty cycle control can be used to manage MPPT and output voltage regulation, respectively. The battery in the converter provides a more steady dc-link voltage as compared to that of a conventional single-stage converter and hence mitigates the high voltage stress problem. Experimental results of a 14-W laboratory prototype converter with a maximum efficiency of 92% confirmed the performance of the proposed converter when used in a PV-battery pump system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conventional matrix converters (MCs) have limited voltage gain that is less than 0.866, whether for direct MC (DMC) or indirect MC (IMC). Existing Z-source (ZS)/discontinuous quasi-Z-source (qZS) DMCs and ZS IMCs achieved larger than 0.866 voltage gain; however, the former inherited the complex commutation from DMC, and the latter involved a ZS network in dc link and led to non-all-silicon solution. In this paper, ZS and discontinuous qZS networks of existing ZS/qZS DMCs are used for an IMC topology for simplifying commutation and having high voltage gain, but they require extra input filter to reduce current harmonics. A new continuous qZS IMC is proposed, where a qZS network integrates the filtering function of the grid side; hence, additional input filter is avoided in the proposed continuous qZS IMC. Three new IMCs are compared in detail, in terms of voltage gain, current ripple, voltage ripple, inductor current and capacitor voltage stresses, ZS/qZS switch current and voltage stresses, filtering function, input current total harmonic distortion (THD), output voltage THD, and efficiency. Their control and modulation methods are presented to achieve the desired performances. Experimental comparisons verify the theoretical analysis and that the proposed continuous qZS IMC is a promising topology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A single-inductor dual-output (SIDO) buck–boost power factor correction (PFC) converter operating in critical conduction mode is proposed in this paper. By multiplexing a single inductor, each output of the SIDO buck–boost converter can be regulated independently. Compared with a conventional two-stage multiple-output converter, the SIDO buck–boost PFC converter benefits from significant overall cost saving, small size, and light weight. Moreover, the efficiency of the SIDO buck–boost PFC converter can be improved due to single-stage power conversion. The control strategy and characteristics of the proposed converter are analyzed. The efficiency, power factor, total harmonic distortion, and output accuracy are verified using the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The propagation delay of a comparator and dead time causes the duty-discontinuity region near the boundary of the step-down and step-up regions in a non-inverting buck–boost (NIBB) converter. The duty-discontinuity region leads to an unstable output voltage and an unpredictable output voltage ripple, which might cause the entire power system to shut down. In this paper, a mode-transition technique called duty-lock control is proposed for a digitally controlled NIBB converter. It locks the duty cycle and eliminates the error between the output voltage and the reference signal by using a proposed fixed reference scheme that ensures the stability of the digital controller and output voltage. The experimental results that were applied to a field-programmable gate array-based platform revealed that the output voltage of the NIBB converter is stable throughout the entire transition region, without any efficiency tradeoffs. The input voltage of the converter that was provided by a Li-ion battery was 2.7–4.2 V, and the output voltage was 1.0–3.6 V, which is suitable for radio-frequency power amplifiers. The switching frequency was 500 kHz, and the maximum load current was 450 mA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a power factor correction (PFC)-based bridgeless canonical switching cell (BL-CSC) converter-fed brushless dc (BLDC) motor drive. The proposed BL-CSC converter operating in a discontinuous inductor current mode is used to achieve a unity power factor at the ac mains using a single voltage sensor. The speed of the BLDC motor is controlled by varying the dc bus voltage of the voltage source inverter (VSI) feeding the BLDC motor via a PFC converter. Therefore, the BLDC motor is electronically commutated such that the VSI operates in fundamental frequency switching for reduced switching losses. Moreover, the bridgeless configuration of the CSC converter offers low conduction losses due to partial elimination of diode bridge rectifier at the front end. The proposed configuration shows a considerable increase in efficiency as compared with the conventional scheme. The performance of the proposed drive is validated through experimental results obtained on a developed prototype. Improved power quality is achieved at the ac mains for a wide range of control speeds and supply voltages. The obtained power quality indices are within the acceptable limits of IEC 61000-3-2. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) strategy for a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) with a switch-type fault current limiter (STFCL) is presented in this paper. The STFCL is composed of fault-current-limiting inductors, isolation transformers, a diode bridge, a semiconductor switch, a snubber capacitor, and a fault energy absorption bypass. The presented STFCL can insert fault-current-limiting inductors in series with the stator branches on occurrence of a grid fault, which can limit the rotor overcurrent and weaken the rotor back electromagnetic force voltage simultaneously. The safety and controllability of the rotor side converter can thus be guaranteed. The STFCL can also absorb the excessive energy stored in the stator during LVRT with the fault energy absorption bypass so as to prevent the semiconductor devices from overvoltage. The feasibility of the proposed approach is validated by simulation studies on a typical 1.5-MW wind-turbine-driven DFIG system. The validity of the proposed approach is further verified by the experimental results on a 2-kW DFIG prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In a photovoltaic (PV)- or fuel-cell-based grid-connected power system, a high step-up dc–dc converter is required to boost the low voltage of a PV or fuel cell to a relatively high bus voltage for the downstream dc–ac grid-connected inverter. To integrate the advantages of the high voltage gain of a switched-capacitor (SC) converter and excellent output regulation of a switching-mode dc–dc converter, a method of combining the two types of converters is proposed in this paper. The basic idea is that when the switch is turned on, the inductor is charged, and the capacitors are connected in series to supply the load, and when the switch is turned off, the inductor releases energy to charge multiple capacitors in parallel, whose voltages are controlled by a pulsewidth modulation technique. Thus, a high voltage gain of the dc–dc converter can be obtained with good regulation. Based on this principle, a series of new topologies are derived, and the operating principles and voltage gains of the proposed converters are analyzed. Finally, the design of the proposed converter is given, and the experiment results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Voltage control based on reactive power compensation is a fundamental aspect of the operation of ac electric power systems. This paper presents a novel shunt compensation scheme based on a virtual air gap variable reactor. The scheme is fully developed, from the adaptation of the virtual air gap principle to high-voltage applications and the determination of its expected performance, to the proposal of a digital cascade control using internal model and proportional–integral controllers. The suitability and flexibility of the device, and the voltage control and reactive power compensation scheme are verified by means of laboratory tests performed in a small-scale prototype. Measured results show that the proposed device and its control provide a robust load compensation scheme for ac systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The quasi-Z-source cascaded multilevel inverter (qZS-CMI) presented many advantages over conventional CMI when applied in photovoltaic (PV) power systems. For example, qZS-CMI provides the balanced dc-link voltage and voltage boost ability, saves one-third modules, etc. However, current research studies only disclosed control of single-phase qZS-CMI-based PV power systems, and there was no literature related to control of three-phase qZS-CMI-based PV power systems. In this paper, for the first time, three-phase qZS-CMI's control is proposed and demonstrated for application to PV power systems. The models of PV-panel-fed qZS H-bridge module and qZS-CMI-based PV power system are built to accurately design control algorithms for each module and the whole system. The proposed control method includes the distributed maximum power point tracking for each module, dc-link peak voltage balance control for all modules, and grid-tie control for the whole system; moreover, a new multilevel space vector modulation method is proposed for the three-phase qZS-CMI. Simulation and experimental results on a test bench with a three-phase seven-level qZS-CMI-based PV power system verify the proposed control and modulation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For a sensorless predictive current controlled boost dc–dc converter, its small-signal model that contains a number of parasitic parameters, is derived in this paper. This model indicates that the type of system becomes type 0 even with the correction of voltage loop proportional–integral controller, leading to the existence of output voltage steady-state error. Then a self-correction differential current observer (SDCO) is proposed to eliminate this steady-state error and gain high transient response speed. The self-correction part of the SDCO makes the system become type 1 to achieve no steady-state error for output voltage, whereas the differential part can guarantee that the intermediate calculation results do not overflow. By carrying out a series of simulation verifications, further investigation proves that the proposed algorithm has good robustness. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a built-in input matching technique capable of handling a wide variation of multi-array thermoelectric generator (TEG) impedances ranging two decades, from 10 s to 1000 s of ohms. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control for a boost converter (BC) is introduced. The analytical expressions derived offer insight on the manner in which MPPT interacts with a BC to achieve best performance. The BC operates in a discontinuous conduction mode under pulse frequency modulation to minimize power consumption and maximize efficiency for light loads. Losses are minimized by implementing a pseudo-zero current switching control via the PMOS switch on/off time, and the output voltage is set using a global clocked comparator. A prototype was fabricated in 0.5 \mu\m CMOS where efficiency measurements showed a maximum value of 61.15% for an RTEG = 33.33\ \Omega, and quiescent power consumption was 1 \mu\W. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes an active front-end solution to balance the dc-link capacitor voltage of the five-level diode-clamped inverter. Capacitor voltage balancing is performed by a three-level boost converter connected to the two inner capacitors of a five-level diode-clamped inverter and additional balancing circuits at the other two outer capacitors. The proposed configuration is tested through simulation and experiment for various load power factor conditions at a high modulation index. The result demonstrates the reliability of the proposed configuration to balance the dc-link capacitor voltage at the desired level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, multiloop interleaved control (MIC) is proposed, and it is combined with conventional multiloop control and the interleaved pulsewidth modulation scheme. The average behavior of the interleaved three-level switch-mode rectifier (SMR) behaves similar to the conventional boost-type SMR even though two capacitor voltages are imbalanced. It implies that conventional multiloop control can be applied to the interleaved three-level SMRs to achieve the desired power factor correction function. The proposed MIC is digitally implemented and verified in a field-programmable-gate-array-based system. The provided results show that MIC stably works and the capacitor voltages are eventually balanced during the system operations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes an adaptive low-dc-link-voltage-controlled LC coupling hybrid active power filter (LC-HAPF) with a neutral inductor, which can compensate both dynamic reactive power and current harmonics in three-phase four-wire distribution power systems. Due to its adaptive low-dc-link-voltage characteristic, it can obtain the least switching loss and switching noise and the best compensating performances, compared with the conventional fixed and newly adaptive dc-voltage-controlled LC-HAPFs. The design procedures of the dc-link voltage controller are discussed, so that the proportional and integral gains can be designed accordingly. Moreover, the general design procedures for the adaptive dc-voltage-controlled LC-HAPF with a neutral inductor are also given. The validity and effectiveness of the adaptive dc-link voltage-controlled LC -HAPF with a neutral inductor are confirmed by experimental results obtained from a 220-V 10-kVA laboratory prototype compared with the conventional fixed and adaptive dc-link voltage-controlled LC-HAPFs without a neutral inductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a power factor corrected (PFC) bridgeless (BL) buck–boost converter-fed brushless direct current (BLDC) motor drive as a cost-effective solution for low-power applications. An approach of speed control of the BLDC motor by controlling the dc link voltage of the voltage source inverter (VSI) is used with a single voltage sensor. This facilitates the operation of VSI at fundamental frequency switching by using the electronic commutation of the BLDC motor which offers reduced switching losses. A BL configuration of the buck–boost converter is proposed which offers the elimination of the diode bridge rectifier, thus reducing the conduction losses associated with it. A PFC BL buck–boost converter is designed to operate in discontinuous inductor current mode (DICM) to provide an inherent PFC at ac mains. The performance of the proposed drive is evaluated over a wide range of speed control and varying supply voltages (universal ac mains at 90–265 V) with improved power quality at ac mains. The obtained power quality indices are within the acceptable limits of international power quality standards such as the IEC 61000-3-2. The performance of the proposed drive is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment, and the obtained results are validated experimentally on a developed prototype of the drive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main theme of this paper is to propose a novel on-line maximum duty point tracking (MDPT) technique to improve the efficiency of the server power. The server power consists of a power factor corrector (PFC) and a phase-shift full-bridge (PSFB) converter. The proposed MDPT technique controls the dc-link voltage of the PFC to retain the maximum duty of the PSFB converter, thereby reducing the circulating loss and switching losses of the converter. It will be shown that the overall efficiency can therefore be significantly improved to meet the 80 PLUS Gold code. Moreover, the impact of the proposed MDPT control on the hold-up time is investigated. It will be shown that the dc-link capacitance should be increased in order to give the same hold-up time. The experimental system is set up using a digital signal processor as the digital controller. The specifications of the server power supply include: \ac\ input\ voltage = 110/220\ \V, \dc\ output\ voltage = 12\ \V, and \output\ power = 480\ \W. Experimental results show that the efficiency can be improved from light-load to full-load conditions. It will be shown that the efficiency can therefore be improved up to 2.52% to meet the 80 PLUS Gold code. These results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed MDPT technique. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper unifies the underlying concepts of all basic single-switch, two-state, dc-to-dc voltage-sourced converters, by duality, as generic related current and voltage-sourced converters. By using ac and dc circuit theory, the three basic converters can be transformed to yield all known transfer functions and realizes a proliferation of 33 topologies, three being previously unidentified topologies with unique characteristics. The circuit based systematic unifying approach offers new insight and an alternative interpretation to the origin of the 33 topologies including the Zeta, Cuk, \pmLuo, CSC, Landsman, and Sepic converters. Converter time-domain simulations and corresponding practical results of the three new topologies extol and culminate the concepts and analysis presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper proposes the pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategy of Z-source inverters (ZSIs) with minimum inductor current ripple. In existing PWM strategy with single-phase shoot-through, the shoot-through time interval is divided into six equal parts, therefore the three phase legs bear the equal shoot-through time interval. In this manner, the allotment and arrangement of the shoot-through state is easy to realize, but the inductor current ripple is not optimized. This causes to use relatively large inductors. In the proposed PWM strategy, the shoot-through time intervals of three phase legs are calculated and rearranged according to the active state and zero state time intervals to achieve the minimum current ripple across the Z-source inductor, while maintaining the same total shoot-through time interval. The principle of the proposed PWM strategy is analyzed in detail, and the comparison of current ripple under the traditional and proposed PWM strategy is given. Simulation and experimental results on the series ZSI are shown to verify the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The pulse-train (PT) control technique for switching dc–dc converters is simple to design and benefits from excellent control performance. Up to now, almost all of the works on PT control are focused on switching dc–dc converters operating in discontinuous conduction mode, with few works reported on PT control of switching dc–dc converters operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM). In this paper, a PT-controlled CCM buck converter is studied and a unique low-frequency oscillation phenomenon is revealed, which results in large undesired inductor-current and output-voltage variations. The effect of equivalent series resistance (ESR) output-capacitor on the low-frequency oscillation is examined. The results indicate that such oscillation occurs when the ESR output-capacitor is relatively small and disappears when it is relatively large. However, a larger ESR will result in a large output-voltage ripple. In order to avoid the low-frequency oscillation and, at the same time, to ensure a small output-voltage ripple, the ICRIF circuit is applied. In this way, a small ESR output-capacitor can be used to decrease the output-voltage ripple. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a photovoltaic (PV)-system maximum power point (MPP) tracking (MPPT) control strategy employing a predictive digital current-controlled converter implemented in conventional hardware resources is presented. Two current programmed controllers (finite-state predictive control and valley current control) have been integrated into a system with current- or voltage-oriented MPPT. The modifications applied to the perturb-and-observe algorithm enable the MPP tracker to interact rapidly with the controller accounting also for abrupt irradiance drops by considering voltage and current limitations. The implementation of digital control in PV systems entails significant advantages of speed and accuracy, although the controller converges correctly at the MPP under irradiance variations featuring fast dynamic response. The proposed controller scheme has been experimentally demonstrated on a digitally current-controlled boost converter delivering power from a PV system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Constant on-time control has been widely used for power supply controllers in industry due to its fast transient response. However, existing stability analysis in literatures can only explain conditions with single type of output capacitor and usually recommend high equivalent series resistance ( \ESR) \ast Co for stable operation. This paper proposes a new stability analysis for constant on-time control with combined output capacitors, which are often used in practical applications. Based on time-domain analysis for the inductor current, the output voltage, and the output capacitor currents, it is revealed that higher ESR and higher capacitance values can deteriorate the stability in many conditions with combined output capacitors. Also, a simple loop compensation solution is provided to improve stability. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes a control design methodology based on output impedance analysis for multiphase synchronous buck converters. This design leads to an optimal output voltage transient response. Two design alternatives are proposed. The first alternative uses an equivalent single-phase converter to design the control parameters. This approximation is valid as long as the deviations between the phases of the converter are within the usual tolerance limits. The second one achieves exact constant resistive output impedance regardless of the differences that exist between the phases. Simulation and experimental results are reported in order to validate the two design approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the analysis and design of a sliding-mode control of a boost converter operating in continuous conduction mode that minimizes the inrush current and provides output voltage regulation in front of input voltage perturbations and load changes. The analytical expression of the inrush current is obtained, and the conditions to minimize the current peak are derived. The resulting controller is implemented analogically and employs two switching surfaces. Namely, one surface is combined with the conventional auxiliary diode branch for the start-up, while another one is used for the voltage regulation in steady state. Experimental results are in perfect agreement with the theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a bee colony optimization (BCO) algorithm is adapted to the current control strategy of power factor (PF) correction for a Sheppard–Taylor converter. The control approach is developed to eliminate the input current harmonics in the converter. The BCO algorithm is a new population-based search algorithm which is one of the metaheuristic techniques based on swarm intelligence. This algorithm depends on modeling the natural behavior of real honey bees. In this approach, duty cycles are generated by the BCO algorithm for the Sheppard–Taylor converter switch to obtain unity PF (UPF) and lower total harmonic distortion of the input current. The duty cycles for half a line period are calculated and stored in a lookup table. By synchronizing the memory with the line, near-unity PFs can be achieved in an operating point. The feedforward is also used into the control algorithm with the maximum value of the input voltage. The implementation of feedforward improves the converter performance. The input current of the converter is operated in continuous conduction mode. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control strategy works well and the UPF can be achieved with wide input voltage, load, and parameter variation. The results are compatible with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61000-3-2 current harmonic standard. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Micro-dc grid is a novel power system focused on the development of renewable resources. However, two-wire transmitting power mode is generally accepted in a micro-dc grid, which is usually not suitable for the requirements of the input voltage levels of different power converters and loads. In order to meet the requirements, a half-bridge voltage balancer was introduced in a micro-dc grid, which can convert a two-wire mode into a three-wire mode in a micro-dc grid via a neutral line. However, the shoot-through problem existing in bridge-type converters degrades the reliability of the voltage balancer. In this paper, a dual-buck half-bridge voltage balancer and a control strategy are proposed, which can avoid the shoot-through problem. The small-signal model of the voltage balancer is derived for designing the control parameters and the current relationships of the inductors; the capacitors and the unbalanced loads are analyzed particularly. Finally, a prototype, which can deal with 2-kW unbalance ability, is built to verify that the proposed voltage balancer may have a good ability of balancing the voltage by building a neutral line. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The interleaved double dual boost (IDDB) is a non-isolated step-up dc–dc converter capable of high voltage gain and suitable to high-power applications. In this paper, the modeling and control design of this converter, valid for an arbitrary number of phases, is presented. The developed approach is then applied to a six-phase IDDB, and experimental results are obtained with a prototype operating with an input voltage of 60 V, an output voltage of 360 V, and with a nominal output power of 2.2 kW. The applications of this converter include electrical vehicles and renewable energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates the feedforward schemes of grid voltages for a three-phase LCL-type grid-connected inverter. The full-feedforward functions of grid voltages are derived for the stationary \alpha - \beta frame, synchronous d - q frame, and decoupled synchronous d - q frame-controlled three-phase LCL-type grid-connected inverters. The derived full-feedforward functions mainly consist of three parts which are proportional, derivative, and second derivative parts. The use of the traditional proportional feedforward function in the three-phase LCL-type grid-connected inverter will result in the amplification of the high-frequency injected grid current harmonics. With the proposed full-feedforward schemes, the injected grid current harmonics and unbalance caused by grid voltages can be greatly reduced. The effectiveness of the proposed feedforward schemes is verified by the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes a theoretical and experimental study on a control strategy for the parallel operation of single-phase voltage source inverters (VSI), to be applied to uninterruptible power supply. The control system for each inverter consists of two main loops, which both use instantaneous values. The first (parallelism control) employs the feedback of the inductor current from the output filter to modify the input voltage of the same filter and, therefore, to control the power flow of each inverter to the load. Additionally, the second loop (voltage control) is responsible for controlling the output voltage of the LC filter, which coincides with the output voltage of the VSI. Due to the fact that there is no exchange of information among the VSIs regarding their operation points, it is easier to obtain redundant systems. Furthermore, the connection (or disconnection) of inverters in a parallel arrangement is carried out directly, without connection impedance, and can occur at any operation point of the system. The proposed control strategy ensures the proper sharing of the load current and avoids current circulation among the inverters during transient and steady-state operation. Moreover, its design and implementation are very simple. The control technique was verified through experimental results with a maximum load of 10 kVA supplied by three parallel-connected inverters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Equivalent series resistance (ESR) of output capacitor has a significant effect on the control performance of constant on-time (COT) controlled switching dc-dc converters. In this paper, a discrete-time model of COT-controlled buck converter, with variable sampling frequency, is established. Based upon which, the dynamical effects of the ESR of output capacitor on COT-controlled buck converter are revealed and analyzed. The time-domain numerical simulations of the exact switched state equations, the bifurcation diagrams, and maximal Lyapunov exponents of the discrete-time model are obtained. These results verified by experimental circuit indicate that the ESR of output capacitor is a critical factor for COT-controlled buck converter, which can eliminate the unique pulse bursting phenomenon and shift operation mode from discontinuous conduction mode to continuous conduction mode, as well as control stability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The voltage-fed Z-source inverter/quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI) has been presented suitable for photovoltaic (PV) applications mainly because of its single-stage buck and boost capability and improved reliability. This paper further addresses detailed modeling and control issues of the qZSI used for distributed generation (DG), such as PV or fuel cell power conditioning. The dynamical characteristics of the qZSI network are first investigated by small-signal analysis. Based on the dynamic model, stand-alone operation and grid-connected operation with closed-loop control methods are carried out, which are the two necessary operation modes of DG in distributed power grids. Due to the mutual limitation between the modulation index and shoot-through duty ratio of qZSI, constant capacitor voltage control method is proposed in a two-stage control manner. Minimum switching stress on devices can be achieved by choosing a proper capacitor voltage reference. Experimental results are presented for validation of the theoretical analysis and controller design. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a cascaded current–voltage control strategy is proposed for inverters to simultaneously improve the power quality of the inverter local load voltage and the current exchanged with the grid. It also enables seamless transfer of the operation mode from stand-alone to grid-connected or vice versa. The control scheme includes an inner voltage loop and an outer current loop, with both controllers designed using the H^\infty repetitive control strategy. This leads to a very low total harmonic distortion in both the inverter local load voltage and the current exchanged with the grid at the same time. The proposed control strategy can be used to single-phase inverters and three-phase four-wire inverters. It enables grid-connected inverters to inject balanced clean currents to the grid even when the local loads (if any) are unbalanced and/or nonlinear. Experiments under different scenarios, with comparisons made to the current repetitive controller replaced with a current proportional–resonant controller, are presented to demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a control of single-phase grid-interactive inverters with nonlinear loads. The utility-connected inverter should operate at both stand-alone and grid-connected modes. However, the waveform qualities of the grid current in grid-connected mode and the output voltage in stand-alone mode are poor under the nonlinear critical load with the conventional control. The impact of the nonlinear load on the grid current is analyzed. The proposed control is illustrated in detail. By adding the load current into the filter inductor current loop, the influence of the nonlinear load on the grid current can be eliminated, and the waveform quality of the output voltage in stand-alone mode can be improved. The control method is simple and easy to be achieved. The grid-connected inverter is stable at both modes. The filter inductor is chosen. Simulation and experimental results from a 1-kW dual-buck full-bridge grid-interactive inverter with a diode rectifier load verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a novel current control technique, implemented in the a–b–c frame, for a three-phase inverter is proposed to control the active and reactive power flow from the renewable energy source to a three-phase generalized microgrid system. The proposed control system not only controls the grid power flow but also reduces the grid current total harmonic distortion in the presence of typical nonlinear loads. The control system shapes the grid current taking into account the grid voltage unbalance, harmonics as well as unbalance in line side inductors. The stability of the control system is ensured by the direct method of Lyapunov. A SRC is also proposed to improve the performance of the current controller by estimating the periodic disturbances of the system. The proposed control system (implemented digitally) provides superior performance over the conventional multiple proportional-integral and proportional-resonant control methods due to the absence of the PARK's transformation blocks as well as phase lock loop requirement in the control structure. A new inverter modeling technique is also presented to take care of unbalances both in grid voltages and line side inductors. Experimental results are provided to show the efficacy of the proposed control system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a magnetically coupled feedback-clamped optimal bidirectional battery charger. The proposed charger acts as a current source, i.e., acts in constant-current (CC) mode with a controlled output current in case of deep discharge of a battery, and as a voltage source, i.e., acts in constant-voltage (CV) mode with a controlled output voltage for near-100% battery state of charge. The proposed circuit is universal from the battery voltage point of view, i.e., can charge a battery with any given voltage rating, and adaptive from the optimum charging current requirement viewpoint, i.e., can adapt to the optimum battery charging current. The presented solution uses a magnetically coupled bidirectional converter topology. In order to make the system feedback controlled during the whole cycle of charging, the regulation loop is clamped, and hence, automatic and smooth transition from the CC to CV mode is achieved without the need of any extra switching circuit or control loop. Experimental and simulation results for a 250-W prototype are presented to verify the proposed system. The prototype shows maximum efficiencies of 90.24% under boost mode and 92.7% under buck mode of operation. The performance of the charger is verified using two different 12-V–7-Ah and 12-V–32-Ah lead–acid batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a control strategy for input-series–output-parallel (ISOP) modular inverters. Each module is a high-frequency (HF) ac link (HFACL) inverter composed of an HF inverter, an HF transformer, and a cycloconverter. A PWM sequence generation based on DSP control is given, with which the circulating currents among all the constituent modules can be avoided automatically. To achieve input voltage sharing (IVS) and output current sharing (OCS) among the constituent inverter modules, a stable OCS scheme, which consists of one common output voltage regulation (OVR) loop and individual inner currents loops, is proposed. The OVR loop provides a common reference for all individual inner current loops, in which the current feedback for an individual module is the sum of all the other output currents instead of its own. The compensator designs of the OVR loop and individual inner current loops are also presented. With this control strategy, excellent IVS and OCS can be obtained. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is verified using the simulation and experimental results of a 1100-VA ISOP two-HFACL inverter system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A simple current sharing control technique for the switching power supply is presented herein, whose basic concept is that the control effort created from the voltage loop is finely tuned by the control effort created from the current sharing loop based on the proposed phase link so as not only to obtain the desired output voltage but also to make the load current distributed among phases as evenly as possible. Such a control method is not only without any current sharing bus as compared with the traditional current sharing methods, but also suitable for multiple phases under the condition that any one phase among multiple phases fails. Moreover, based on phase link, there is no divider used, as compared with the traditional average current method, and hence, the number of logic elements in the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) can be reduced. In this paper, the detailed basic operating principles, together with new mathematical deductions based on the superposition concept, are firstly described, and secondly some experimental results, based on the FPGA to realize the fully digitalized control of the overall system using one-comparator counter-based sampling without any analog-to-digital converter (ADC), are provided to verify the effectiveness of proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Some errors in the three-arm automatic voltage regulator in the paper “Three-Arm AC Automatic Voltage Regulator” by Wu (IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 567–575, Feb. 2011) are pointed out, and a technique for correcting these errors is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of equivalent series resistance (ESR) of an output capacitor on the performance of a constant-on-time (COT)-controlled buck converter is studied, and a pulse bursting phenomenon is revealed. It indicates that the ESR of the output capacitor is one of the key factors causing pulse bursting phenomenon in COT-controlled buck converters, and the critical ESR is derived via time-domain analysis and stability analysis in the s-domain. It is pointed out that, when the ESR of the output capacitor is smaller than the critical ESR, pulse bursting phenomenon occurs; otherwise, it disappears. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional zero-voltage switching phase-shift full-bridge (ZVS PSFB) converter has a large circulating energy during the freewheeling interval caused by the small duty cycle, which could increase the primary-side conduction losses, the turn-off switching losses of lagging-leg switches, and the current ripple through the output inductor. To overcome these problems, this paper proposes a new pulse-frequency-modulated full-bridge direct-current (dc)/dc converter with a series boost capacitor (SBC). The proposed converter controls the output voltage by varying the voltage across the SBC according to the switching frequency and has no freewheeling interval due to a 50% fixed duty operation. As a result, since its freewheeling current is eliminated, the conduction losses can be considerably reduced, as compared with those of the conventional ZVS PSFB converter. Moreover, the ZVS of all power switches cannot only be ensured along wide load ranges, but the current ripple through the output inductor can be also significantly reduced. Therefore, it has very desirable merits such as high efficiency, small output inductor, and improved heat generation. Operational principles, theoretical analysis, and design considerations are presented. To confirm the operation, the validity, and the features of the proposed converter, experimental results from a prototype that is 400–12 V/100 A are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reducing energy consumption is very important in solving the problem of energy crisis and environmental problem. Usually, an elevator with a diode rectifier wastes regenerated power from its electric motor as heat on breaking resistors. This paper proposes an energy feedback digital system used in an elevator of 18.5 kW which is capable of recycling the regenerated power: obtaining near-unity power factor, sinusoid output current, and low total harmonic distortion in generator-operation state. It has reliable protection circuits and cute man–machine interface, and the feedback point of the dc voltage can be set arbitrarily in a certain extent, meeting the large-range variation of power system voltage. Field operation results showed good performance and energy-saving effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel pseudo-continuous conduction mode (PCCM) boost power-factor-correction (PFC) converter and its corresponding control strategy are proposed in this paper. Connecting a power switch in parallel with the inductor makes the boost converter operate in PCCM, which provides an additional degree of control freedom to realize PFC control. Therefore, a simple and fast voltage control loop of the PCCM boost PFC converter can be designed to realize output-voltage regulation. The additional degree of control freedom introduced by inductor current freewheeling operation of the PCCM boost PFC converter has been exploited through the dead-zone control technique, which can be dynamically adjusted in accordance with the output-voltage ripple. Compared with continuous conduction mode (CCM) boost PFC converter, the controller of the proposed PCCM boost PFC converter is much simpler. Moreover, the PCCM boost PFC converter benefits with reduced inductor-current ripple and improved power factor compared with boost PFC converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Analysis, simulation, and a 400-W prototype of the PCCM boost PFC converter have been presented and compared with those of boost PFC converters operating in conventional CCM and DCM. The results show that the dynamic response of the PCCM boost PFC converter is significantly faster than the existing boost PFC converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hexagram inverter is composed of six voltage source inverter (VSI) modules interconnected to form a circle via the inductors, which are required to suppress the possible circulating current in the circle. However, the design of the inductors could be challenging, where the inductance should be large enough to suppress the circulating current and small enough to minimize the effect on the output voltage. This paper proposes the utilization of coupled inductors in between any two connected VSI modules instead of stand-alone ones to optimize the hexagram inverter performance. On the basis of this structure, the circulating current can be maximally suppressed by the magnetizing inductance of the coupled inductor, while in the meantime, the output voltage is minimally affected by the leakage inductance. By sharing the magnetic core, the cost and size of the inductors are also reduced. Simulation and a small-scale experiment have been conducted to verify the proposed hexagram inverter structure with the six-winding coupled inductors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The predictive current controller presented in this paper provides fast current control for thyristor converters without relying on the accurate load model. Unlike load-model-based predictive methods of current control, this method does not use load parameters in the calculations of the firing angle. Instead, thyristors are fired when the sum of the measured instantaneous load current and the load current rise, which is predicted from the voltage–time area on the dc-side inductor, is equal to the current reference. This way, accurate current control is achieved just by knowing the dc-side inductor parameters and by measuring line voltages, the load current, and the load voltage. The proposed predictive current controller exhibits a practically negligible steady-state error, the fastest possible transient response, and the fastest possible and smooth transitions between continuous- and discontinuous-current conduction modes, for both the rectification and inversion modes of operation of the converter. It shows great stability and robustness. The controller also compensates for sudden changes in both line and load voltages, as well as for voltage drops due to the commutation process. Based on the proposed algorithm, the computer simulation model and the laboratory prototype of the system were developed. Both the simulation and experimental results demonstrated an excellent dynamic performance of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A simple current-sharing control technique for the switching power supply is presented herein, which is based on the concept of the differential-mode transformer and which makes the load current evenly shared well among phases all over the line voltage and load current ranges. This current-sharing structure is very simple, and it makes the efficiency relatively high at light load, which is quite suitable for industrial applications with standby power considered. In this circuit, a synchronously rectified switch is used to further upgrade the efficiency, and the coupling output inductors in copolarity are utilized to decrease the phase current ripples. In this paper, the detailed basic operating principles, together with mathematical deductions, are first described, and second, some simulated and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]