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This paper presents a new isolated auxiliary current pump module (ACPM), to improve the dynamic response of dc–dc converters under load transients. The developed isolated ACPM can be used as a generic auxiliary module for both isolated and nonisolated step-up/step-down dc–dc converters. The isolated ACPM is a low-power bidirectional converter, designed with higher bandwidth and operates only during the load transients. The performance of the developed auxiliary power converter has been evaluated in conjunction with an interleaved boost converter as main converter, which suffers from poor dynamic performance due to inherent right half plane zero effect. A suitable control scheme is designed and implemented for interleaved boost converter operating in conjunction with proposed isolated ACPM. Load current injection circuit employed in the proposed control scheme eliminates the requirement of complex nonlinear control algorithms. The proposed control scheme in particular suits for current-mode controlled converters operating along with isolated ACPM. Experimental results for a 250-W 100-kHz interleaved boost converter prototype with ACPM are presented. The peak overshoot/undershoot and the transient recovery time are reduced significantly with the incorporation of developed isolated ACPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new topology named the active-switched-capacitor/switched-inductor quasi-Z -source inverter (ASC/SL-qZSI), which is based on a traditional qZSI topology. Compared to other qZSI-based topologies under the same operating conditions, the proposed ASC/SL-qZSI provides higher boost ability, requires fewer passive components such as inductors and capacitors, and achieves lower voltage stress across the switching devices of the main inverter. Another advantage of the topology is its expandability. If a higher boosting rate is required, additional cells can easily be cascaded at the impedance network by adding one inductor and three diodes. Both the simulation studies and the experimental results obtained from a prototype built in the laboratory validate proper operation and performance of the proposed ASC/SL-qZSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In existing half/full-bridge high-precision amplifiers, output distortion is present due to the required switch blanking time. The OCC topology does not require this blanking time but has a much higher total inductor volume compared to the half bridge. In this paper, a patented new topology is introduced that has the advantages of the OCC but with a much lower total inductor volume. The basic operation and properties of the ELOCC topology are explained including an extended optimization of the total inductor volume and an average model for control design. A prototype ELOCC current amplifier has been developed. The behavior of this prototype is in good agreement with the obtained simulation results. Even though the prototype is not fully optimized, the linearity compared to a full bridge is already impressive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harmonic filter for a three-level neutral-point-clamped (NPC) grid interface converter is designed in this paper with good filtering performance and small component size. LCL topology is selected because of the attenuation and size tradeoff. The design of the inverter-side inductor L1 is emphasized due to its cost. A detailed inductor current ripple analysis is given based on the space vector modulation. The analysis derives the inductor volt-second and the maximum current ripple equation in line cycle. It also reveals the switching cycle current ripple distribution over a line cycle, with the consideration of power factor. The total system loss is calculated with different ripple current. Inductor L1 is determined by the loss and size tradeoff. Also the capacitor- and grid-side inductor L2 is designed based on attenuation requirement. Different damping circuits for LCL filter are compared and investigated in detail. The filter design is verified by both simulation and 200-kVA three-level NPC converter hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuously innovated topologies of the nonisolated multiphase dc–dc converter (NMDC) demand generalized and flexible models for the controller design. However, the increased phase number, coupling of inductors, stray circuit parameters, and asymmetric problems make the modeling work difficult. In this paper, a novel switching period averaging method aiming to simplify the modeling process is proposed. The method takes full advantage of the linear characteristic of the circuit differential equations to find out the relationship between averaged state variables and switch duty cycles. Then, the generalized model applicable to several different topologies of the NMDC is derived. The analytical solutions of steady-state model, dynamic model in both time and frequency domain are all approached. In order to verify the results, a MATLAB/Simulink model and the corresponding experimental prototype of a four-phase boost converter with two groups of two-phase coupled inductors are built. Both results coincide with the theoretical derivation, which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, a design process of the H\infty controller for the NMDC is presented to show the application of this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a nonsuperconducting fault current limiter (NSFCL) topology and control strategy. The switched impedance transformer-type NSFCL topology is optimized to protect against short transients and to work in conjunction with other fuses or circuit breakers, hence has the merits of being simple, low cost, and compact. A prototype has been designed and built for a three-phase 600-VRMS,L-L system. It has been tested in a UL-certified high-power test lab with 5-A normal current and 100-kA potential fault current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust controller design to obtain output voltage regulation in a quadratic boost converter with high dc gain is discussed in this paper. The proposed controller has an inner loop based on sliding-mode control whose sliding surface is defined for the input inductor current. The current reference value of the sliding surface is modified by a proportional-integral compensator in an outer loop that operates over the output voltage error. The stability of the two-loop controller is proved by using the Routh-Hurwitz criterion, which determines a region in the Kp-Ki plane, where the closed-loop system is always stable. The analysis of the sliding-mode-based control loop is performed by means of the equivalent control method, while the outer loop compensator is derived by means of the Nyquist-based Robust Loop Shaping approach with the M-constrained Integral Gain Maximization technique. Robustness is analyzed in depth taking into account the parameter variation related with the operation of the converter in different equilibrium points. Simulations and experimental results are presented to validate the approach for a 20-100-W quadratic boost converter stepping-up a low dc voltage (15-25-V dc) to a 400-V dc level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For low-cost isolated ac/dc power converters adopting high-voltage dc-link, research efforts focus on single-stage multilevel topologies. This paper proposes a new single-stage three-level isolated ac/dc PFC converter for high dc-link voltage low-power applications, achieved through an effective integration of ac/dc and dc/dc stages, where all of the switches are shared between two operations. With the proposed converter and switching scheme, input current shaping and output voltage regulation can be achieved simultaneously without introducing additional switches or switching actions. In addition, the middle two switches are turned on under zero current in discontinuous conduction mode operation, and the upper and bottom switches are turned on under zero voltage. Due to the flexible dc-link voltage structure, high power factor can be achieved at high line voltage. A 500 W/48 V prototype is designed to serve as the proof of concept, which exhibits 90.8% peak efficiency at low input line voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a digitally controlled single-phase rectifier with power factor correction (PFC) based on a modified three-level boost converter topology. In comparison with the conventional boost-based systems, the new PFC rectifier has about three times smaller inductor and significantly lower switching losses. The improvements are achieved by replacing the output capacitor of the boost converter with a nonsymmetric active capacitive divider, with a 3:1 division ratio, and by utilizing the downstream converter stage for the capacitive divider's center-tap voltage regulation. The nonsymmetric voltage divider and applied switching sequence effectively provide four-level converter behavior using the same number of components as three-level converters. As a result, a 66% reduction of the inductor compared to the conventional boost-based PFC and a 33% compared to the standard three-level solutions operating at the same effective switching frequencies are also achieved. Experimental results obtained with a 400 W, 200 kHz, universal input voltage (85 Vrms-265 Vrms) PFC prototype demonstrate three times smaller inductor current ripple than that of the conventional boost converter allowing for the same inductor reduction. Efficiency improvements of up to a 6% are also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High voltage gain dc-dc converters are required in many industrial applications such as photovoltaic and fuel cell energy systems, high-intensity discharge lamp (HID), dc back-up energy systems, and electric vehicles. This paper presents a novel input-parallel output-series boost converter with dual coupled inductors and a voltage multiplier module. On the one hand, the primary windings of two coupled inductors are connected in parallel to share the input current and reduce the current ripple at the input. On the other hand, the proposed converter inherits the merits of interleaved series-connected output capacitors for high voltage gain, low output voltage ripple, and low switch voltage stress. Moreover, the secondary sides of two coupled inductors are connected in series to a regenerative capacitor by a diode for extending the voltage gain and balancing the primary-parallel currents. In addition, the active switches are turned on at zero current and the reverse recovery problem of diodes is alleviated by reasonable leakage inductances of the coupled inductors. Besides, the energy of leakage inductances can be recycled. A prototype circuit rated 500-W output power is implemented in the laboratory, and the experimental results shows satisfactory agreement with the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differential-mode Ćuk inverter (DMCI) is a single-stage inverter with low device count. It offers advantages over other topologies because of compactness, higher power density, and reduced cost. It is a promising topological configuration for renewable-/alternative-energy applications with isolated as well as nonisolated structures. The continuous modulation scheme (CMS), which was introduced originally for this inverter, activates all the modules of the DMCI. The new discontinuous modulation scheme (DMS) deactivates one module in each half line-cycle leading to discontinuous operation of modules. This paper outlines the DMS and a mechanism to realize it. The experimental open-loop and closed-loop results of the DMCI using CMS and DMS are provided along with a comparison of their performances. It is shown that, the DMS reduces the circulating power and hence mitigates the losses. The voltage ratings of the devices also are reduced with the DMS. In contrast, the CMS has wider linearity in its normalized dc-voltage gain and yields reduced harmonic distortion of the output voltage. For DMS, to achieve comparable linearity in normalized dc-voltage gain and distortion, harmonic compensation under closed-loop control is a pathway that has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High efficiency and high power density can be achieved with a dc-dc transformer by operating all the switches at a fixed 50% duty cycle. However, the output voltage of the dc-dc transformer cannot be regulated. Novel rectifiers named active boost rectifiers (ABRs) are proposed in this paper. Basically, an ABR is composed of a traditional diode rectifier and a bidirectional switch. By adopting phase-shift control between the primary- and secondary-side switches, the output voltage regulation can be achieved when introducing the ABR to a dc-dc transformer. As a result, a family of novel soft-switching dc-dc converters is harvested. When the proposed converter operates in the soft-switching continuous conduction mode, zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) performance for all the primary- and secondary-side switches is achieved. When the converter operates in the discontinuous conduction mode, zero current switching (ZCS) for the primary-side switches and ZVS for the secondary-side switches are achieved. Furthermore, the diode reverse-recovery problem is alleviated by employing the ABR and phase-shift control scheme. As an example, the full-bridge converter with voltage-doubler ABR is analyzed to verify the proposed ABR concept and converters. The operation principles, voltage conversion ratio, and output characteristics are analyzed in depth. Finally, experimental results are provided to verify the feasibility and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic method for derivation of a multiport converter (MPC) based on the dc-link inductor (DLI) concept is proposed in this paper. The MPC is generated by interconnecting multiple pulsating voltage cells (PVCs) through the DLIs. The PVCs can be input type, output type, and bidirectional type, and bidirectional MPC topologies can be harvested if all the PVCs are bidirectional type. As a result, a family of novel MPCs, including multiinput converters, multioutput converters, and bidirectional MPCs, are derived. With the proposed MPCs, step-up and step-down voltage conversion between any two of the ports can be implemented. As an example, the three-port bidirectional buck-boost (TP-B 3) converter is analyzed and applied to a stand-alone renewable power system for interconnection of three dc subsystems. The operation principles, pulse width modulation, and feed-back control strategies are presented and analyzed in depth. The analysis indicates that, compared to the traditional common dc-bus-based solution, bulky dc-link capacitor is eliminated and single-stage conversion between any two of the three dc-buses are achieved with the TP-B 3 converter, which is beneficial for higher efficiency, power density, and reliability. Experimental results are given to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the developed TP-B 3 converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an improved bidirectional LLC resonant topology with a new control scheme. All the switches in the proposed topology can achieve soft switching. Compared with traditional isolated bidirectional dc-dc converters such as dual active bridge converter, the reverse energy and turn-off loss are reduced dramatically, and the conversion efficiency can be much improved. With the proposed new control scheme, the power flow direction and output power of the proposed converter can be changed automatically and continuously, which is attractive for energy storage systems to balance the energy and to keep the dc-bus voltage constant. Performance of the proposed circuit is validated by the experimental results from a 1-kW prototype. Over 97% efficiency is achieved at full load condition based on the prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a hybrid amplifier for an ac power source (ACPS). The topology is composed of a modular multilevel converter (MMC), operating as main amplifier, connected in series with a linear power amplifier (LPA), which operates as correction amplifier. This way, it is possible to gather the modularity, reliability, and high efficiency provided by the MMC and the high waveform fidelity provided by the LPA. Additionally, it is possible to reproduce a voltage waveform with a high bandwidth and, differently from previous works, with a topology that requires a unique dc voltage source for the main amplifier. The inner current and the submodule capacitor voltages are controlled in the MMC. Meanwhile, the LPA is controlled to define the output voltage. A design methodology and experimental results are included to demonstrate the operation of the ACPS topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel bidirectional modular multilevel dc-dc converter is proposed. The proposed topology, named the triangular modular multilevel dc-dc converter (TMMC), can achieve equal power sharing among its modules over a broad range of conversion ratios. The proposed control algorithm provides localized control of modules which enhances the converter's dynamic performance and design flexibility. A 1.7-kW experimental implementation of the converter is shown to achieve an efficiency of 95.9% and 96.2% in step-up and step-down modes, respectively. Significant reductions in the input current and output voltage ripples are observed through the interleaved operation of the converter. The TMMC also provides multiple fixed voltage nodes which makes it suitable as a multiple-input multiple-output converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the classical Z-source inverter (ZSI), this paper presents a novel ZSI which only contains inductors and diodes in Z-source network. The inverter uses a unique inductor and diode network for boosting its output voltage, provides a common ground for the dc source and inverter, and avoids the disadvantage causing by capacitor in the classical ZSI and SL-ZSI, especially in prohibiting the inrush current at startup and the resonance of Z-source capacitors and inductors. The inverter can increase the boost factor through adjusting shoot-through duty ratio and increasing the number of inductor. The working principle of the proposed ZSI and comparison with the classical ZSI and SL-ZSI are analyzed in detail. Simulation and experimental results are given to demonstrate the operation features of the inverter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a simple circuit to recover the energy that otherwise would be lost due to the partial shadings on photovoltaic (PV) modules. Since the circuit can be readily retrofitted to an existing PV system, no modification on the central inverter is required. The main idea of the scheme is that, during partial shading, parts of the current from the nonshaded modules are harvested by an energy recovery circuit using power electronic switches and storage components. In doing so, the current of the PV string is maintained at the level generated by the shaded module. There is no need for the shaded module to be short-circuited; as a result, it can still actively produce output power (despite being partially shaded). To investigate the idea, the proposed circuit is retrofitted to a prototype PV system using eight modules. The partial shading conditions are emulated using a solar simulator with a controllable irradiance capability. The results are validated by a good agreement between the experimental and simulation works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new bridgeless single-phase ac-dc converter with a natural power factor correction (PFC) is proposed. Compared with existing single-phase bridgeless topologies, the proposed topology has the merits of less component counts. The absence of an input diode bridge and the presence of only one diode in the current path during each stage of the switching cycle result in higher power density and less conduction losses; hence, improved thermal management compared to existing PFC rectifiers is obtained. The proposed topology is designed to work in resonant mode to achieve an automatic PFC close to unity in a simple and effective manner. The resonant mode operation gives additional advantages such as zero-current turn-on in the active power switches, zero-current turn-off in the output diode and reduces the complexity of the control circuitry. Principle of operation and the feasibility of the proposed converter are provided. Detailed experimental and simulation results are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's life and industry are intimately dependent on the electric energy. This dependence in future will be still intensified, especially due to the appearance of electric-dependent vehicles overriding conventional fossil-fuel-based vehicles in the societies. Electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) carry battery storages to store the electrical energy they need. The batteries have recharging and discharging capabilities. A parking lot hosting multiple EVs could be considered as important aggregators for them. In this paper, a novel dc-dc multiport (MP) bidirectional converter (MPBC) is suggested to function in a parking lot integrating EVs as either electric load or source of energy. The switching strategies of MPBC and power sharing flowchart are presented and then its operation in the presence of three plug-in EV batteries is studied through simulation and verified through experimental testbench. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel transformer-less adjustable voltage quadrupler dc-dc converter with high-voltage transfer gain and reduced semiconductor voltage stress is proposed. The proposed topology utilizes input-parallel output-series configuration for providing a much higher voltage gain without adopting an extreme large duty cycle. The proposed converter cannot only achieve high step-up voltage gain with reduced component count but also reduce the voltage stress of both active switches and diodes. This will allow one to choose lower voltage rating MOSFETs and diodes to reduce both switching and conduction losses. In addition, due to the charge balance of the blocking capacitor, the converter features automatic uniform current sharing characteristic of the two interleaved phases for voltage boosting mode without adding extra circuitry or complex control methods. The operation principle and steady analysis as well as a comparison with other recent existing high step-up topologies are presented. Finally, some simulation and experimental results are also presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel three-port converter (TPC) with high-voltage gain for stand-alone renewable power system applications is proposed. This converter uses only three switches to achieve the power flow control. Two input sources share only one inductor. Thus, the volume can be reduced. Besides, the conversion ratio of the converter is higher than other TPCs. Thus, the degree of freedom of duty cycle is large. The converter can have a higher voltage gain for both low-voltage ports with a lower turns ratio and a reasonable duty ratio. The voltage stress of switches is low; thus, conduction loss can be further improved by adopting low Rds(on) switches. Therefore, the converter can achieve a high conversion ratio and high efficiency at the same time. The operation principles, steady-state analysis, and control method of the converter are presented and discussed. A prototype of the proposed converter with a low input voltage 24 V for photovoltaic source, a battery port voltage 48 V, and an output voltage 400 V is implemented to verify the theoretical analysis. The power flow control of the converter is also built and tested with a digital signal processor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage balancing between series-connected cells of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is important for battery life, autonomy, and safety. Active balancing is the designated choice for applications that are sensitive to energy losses and maximized autonomy. First, a well-known next-to-next balancing technique is presented and its design and operating limitations are analyzed. Then, the paper focuses on an evolution of the converter's architecture offering better performances while being more compact, requiring fewer and smaller filtering needs and still, being simple to implement. The experimental results of the balancing operation of a pack of eight cells connected in series show demonstrative and satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Module integrated converters (MICs) in single phase have witnessed recent market success due to unique features such as improved energy harvest, improved system efficiency, lower installation costs, plug-and-play operation, and enhanced flexibility and modularity. The MIC sector has grown from a niche market to mainstream, especially in the United States. Assuming further expansion of the MIC market, this paper presents the microinverter concept incorporated in large size photovoltaic (PV) installations such as megawatts (MW)-class solar farms where a three-phase ac connection is employed. A high-efficiency three-phase MIC with two-stage zero voltage switching (ZVS) operation for the grid-tied PV system is proposed which will reduce cost per watt, improve reliability, and increase scalability of MW-class solar farms through the development of new solar farm system architectures. The first stage consists of a high-efficiency full-bridge LLC resonant dc-dc converter which interfaces to the PV panel and produces a dc-link voltage. A center points iteration algorithm developed specifically for LLC resonant topologies is used to track the maximum power point of the PV panel. The second stage is comprised of a three-phase dc-ac inverter circuit which employs a simple soft-switching scheme without adding auxiliary components. The modeling and control strategy of this three-phase dc-ac inverter is described. Because the dc-link capacitor plays such an important role for dual-stage MIC, the capacitance calculation is given under type D voltage dip conditions. A 400-W prototype was built and tested. The overall peak efficiency of the prototype was measured and found to be 96% with 98.2% in the first stage and 98.3% in the second stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive procedure for the derivation of optimal, full-operating-range zero voltage switching (ZVS) modulation schemes for single-phase, single-stage, bidirectional and isolated dual active bridge (DAB) ac-dc converters is presented. The converter topology consists of a DAB dc-dc converter, receiving a rectified ac line voltage via a synchronous rectifier. The DAB comprises primary and secondary side full bridges, linked by a high-frequency isolation transformer and a series inductor. ZVS modulation schemes previously proposed in the literature are either based on current-based or energy-based ZVS analyses. The procedure outlined in this paper for the calculation of optimal DAB modulation schemes (i.e., combined phase-shift, duty-cycle, and switching frequency modulation) relies on a novel, more accurate, current-dependent charge-based ZVS analysis, taking into account the amount of charge that is required to charge the nonlinear parasitic output capacitances of the switches during commutation. Thereby, the concept of “commutation inductance(s)” is shown to be an essential element in achieving full-operating-range ZVS. The proposed methods are applied to a 3.7 kW, bidirectional, and unity power factor electric vehicle battery charger which interfaces a 400 V dc-bus with the 230 Vac, 50-Hz utility grid. Experimental results obtained from a high-power-density, high-efficiency converter prototype are given to validate the theoretical analysis and practical feasibility of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-frequency-link (HFL) power conversion systems (PCSs) are attracting more and more attentions in academia and industry for high power density, reduced weight, and low noise without compromising efficiency, cost, and reliability. In HFL PCSs, dual-active-bridge (DAB) isolated bidirectional dc-dc converter (IBDC) serves as the core circuit. This paper gives an overview of DAB-IBDC for HFL PCSs. First, the research necessity and development history are introduced. Second, the research subjects about basic characterization, control strategy, soft-switching solution and variant, as well as hardware design and optimization are reviewed and analyzed. On this basis, several typical application schemes of DAB-IBDC for HPL PCSs are presented in a worldwide scope. Finally, design recommendations and future trends are presented. As the core circuit of HFL PCSs, DAB-IBDC has wide prospects. The large-scale practical application of DAB-IBDC for HFL PCSs is expected with the recent advances in solid-state semiconductors, magnetic and capacitive materials, and microelectronic technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new topology of a nonisolated boost converter with zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) capabilities is proposed. In order to realize ZVS conditions, the auxiliary circuit only consists of a coupled inductor and a diode, which operates with a zero-current-switching (ZCS) condition. Due to ZVS, the reverse recovery problem of MOSFET antiparallel body diodes can be resolved, and the voltage and current stresses on the switch components are also reduced. The detailed operating analysis of the proposed converter and the design method of the main circuit are presented. With the aim to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed boost converter, a 500 W experimental prototype is built up, and the related experimental waveforms and the efficiency curve are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel cell stacks and photovoltaic panels generate rather low dc voltages and these voltages need to be boosted before converted to ac voltage. Therefore, high step-up ratio dc-dc converters are preferred in renewable energy systems. A new Z-source-based topology that can boost the input voltage to desired levels with low duty ratios is proposed in this paper. The topology utilizes coupled inductor. The leakage inductance energy can efficiently be discharged. Since the device stresses are low in this topology, low-voltage MOSFETs with small RDS(on) values can be selected to reduce the conduction loss. These features improve the converter efficiency. Also, the converter has a galvanic isolation between source and load. The operating principles and steady-state analysis of continuous and discontinuous conduction modes are discussed in detail. Finally, experimental results are given for a prototype converter that converts 25 V dc to 400 V dc at various power levels with over 90% efficiency to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the efficiency and power factor performance of improved power factor correction (PFC) topologies suitable for a high density and efficient design are compared. Several topologies, including a conventional average current mode control boost PFC, an interleaved boost PFC, a back-to-back bridgeless boost PFC, and a semi-bridgeless boost PFC, are assessed through loss analysis and simulation using whole height 1 U and 2 kW class prototypes. Based on this, an optimal topology is selected for which an additional comparative analysis involving input line measure improvement control is conducted. The results of these experiments can be adapted for use in the circuit selection of high-performance converters with power factor improvement circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an innovative any cell(s) to any cell(s) active balancing converter for lithium battery stack management is presented. Based on multiphase converter legs connected to each lithium battery potential, it is able to transfer energy from any cell(s) to any cell(s). First, a basic “natural” balancing control strategy is presented. Then, based on the perspective of a high level of integration, an interleaved topology is proposed as an evolution of the converter for the downsizing of the passive components. It is explained how the large increase in the number of components is compensated by the high level of integration obtained for the given converter topology. Simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the interest of the converter for active balancing of lithium-based battery stacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a boundary-mode forward-flyback converter (BMFFC) with zero-voltage switching that is able to process power efficiently. The theoretical analysis and operating principle of the BMFFC are presented in detail. A nondissipative LC snubber that recycles energy to the input source is employed in order to suppress the voltage spike caused by the leakage inductance of the transformer. The relatively large snubber capacitor also significantly reduces turn-off loss. Following a detailed design procedure, a 200 W prototype with a 25-50 V dc input and 230 V dc output was constructed and tested in order to evaluate the performance of the BMFFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an isolated on-board vehicular battery charger that utilizes silicon carbide (SiC) power devices to achieve high density and high efficiency for application in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs). The proposed level 2 charger has a two-stage architecture where the first stage is a bridgeless boost ac-dc converter and the second stage is a phase-shifted full-bridge isolated dc-dc converter. The operation of both topologies is presented and the specific advantages gained through the use of SiC power devices are discussed. The design of power stage components, the packaging of the multichip power module, and the system-level packaging is presented with a primary focus on system density and a secondary focus on system efficiency. In this work, a hardware prototype is developed and a peak system efficiency of 95% is measured while operating both power stages with a switching frequency of 200 kHz. A maximum output power of 6.1 kW results in a volumetric power density of 5.0 kW/L and a gravimetric power density of 3.8 kW/kg when considering the volume and mass of the system including a case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel high-voltage gain boost converter topology based on the three-state commutation cell for battery charging using PV panels and a reduced number of conversion stages. The presented converter operates in zero-voltage switching (ZVS) mode for all switches. By using the new concept of single-stage approaches, the converter can generate a dc bus with a battery bank or a photovoltaic panel array, allowing the simultaneous charge of the batteries according to the radiation level. The operation principle, design specifications, and experimental results from a 500-W prototype are presented in order to validate the proposed structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic power electronic interfaces rendering volume and weight of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are an inverter, an on-board charger, and a bidirectional dc/dc converter. This paper proposes an innovative integrated bidirectional converter with a single-stage on-board charger to reduce the number of switches, size, and weight of the power electronic interfaces. The analyses show that 266 cm^3 and 1.1 kg can be saved due to the elimination of the inductor core used for power factor correction in charging mode, in addition to the reduction achieved through removal of inductor winding, power switches, diodes, and additional heat sink of the conventional structures. A proof-of-concept prototype with power limits of 8.4 kW in charging and 20 kW in propulsion modes has been designed and validated at various power levels. The peak efficiencies for propulsion and regenerative braking operations are measured as 96.6% and 94.1%, respectively. The power factor is recorded as 0.995 at 1.8 kW charging power, where crest factor and peak efficiency are recorded as 1.49 and 91.6%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel control approach for a current-driven full-bridge dc/dc converter, which is able to significantly improve the converter performance over a very wide range of operating conditions. The proposed control approach is based on the self-sustained oscillating control (SSOC) scheme, in order to adaptively change the phase shift and the switching frequency of the converter for different operating points. In this control technique, the timing signal is produced based on the transformer primary current, which is a feedback to the control system to determine the switching instants of the power MOSFETs. Therefore, the control system automatically tunes the control variables for different operating conditions. The comprehensive mathematical analysis of the proposed SSOC scheme is presented in detail. The mathematical analysis is based on the geometric viewpoint of the control system, which provides a very good insight into designing the control system. Experimental results provided from a 3 kW prototype confirm the feasibility of the proposed scheme and prove the superiority of the performance compared to the conventional phase-shift control approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flyback converter is a popular topology for implementing low power and multiple output power supplies. However, the high leakage inductance of the flyback transformer causes high voltage spikes that can damage the main transistor when the switch is turned OFF. Therefore, a turn-off snubber is needed to limit the peak voltage stress. This paper presents the analysis of an energy regenerative snubber using the graphical state-plane technique. The undertaken approach yields a clear-cut design procedure for minimum switch voltage stress. Experimental evaluation of the energy regenerative snubber in comparison with other common snubbers shows that under the same voltage stress the efficiency of energy regenerative snubber has 8% improvement on average over an RCD snubber and 2% improvement over the nondissipative LC snubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a single-stage ac–dc power electronic converter is proposed to efficiently manage the energy harvested from electromagnetic microscale and mesoscale generators with low-voltage outputs. The proposed topology combines a boost converter and a buck-boost converter to condition the positive and negative half portions of the input ac voltage, respectively. Only one inductor and capacitor are used in both circuitries to reduce the size of the converter. A 2 cm × 2 cm, 3.34-g prototype has been designed and tested at 50-kHz switching frequency, which demonstrate 71% efficiency at 54.5 mW. The input ac voltage with 0.4-V amplitude is rectified and stepped up to 3.3-V dc. Detailed design guidelines are provided with the purpose of minimizing the size, weight, and power losses. The theoretical analyses are validated by the experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-port dc–dc converter integrating photovoltaic (PV) and battery power for high step-up applications is proposed in this paper. The topology includes five power switches, two coupled inductors, and two active-clamp circuits. The coupled inductors are used to achieve high step-up voltage gain and to reduce the voltage stress of input side switches. Two sets of active-clamp circuits are used to recycle the energy stored in the leakage inductors and to improve the system efficiency. The operation mode does not need to be changed when a transition between charging and discharging occurs. Moreover, tracking maximum power point of the PV source and regulating the output voltage can be operated simultaneously during charging/discharging transitions. As long as the sun irradiation level is not too low, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm will be disabled only when the battery charging voltage is too high. Therefore, the control scheme of the proposed converter provides maximum utilization of PV power most of the time. As a result, the proposed converter has merits of high boosting level, reduced number of devices, and simple control strategy. Experimental results of a 200-W laboratory prototype are presented to verify the performance of the proposed three-port converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an integrated three-port bidirectional dc–dc converter for a dc distribution system is presented. One port of the low-voltage side of the proposed converter is chosen as a current source port which fits for photovoltaic (PV) panels with wide voltage variation. In addition, the interleaved structure of the current source port can provide the desired small current ripple to benefit the PV panel to achieve the maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Another port of the low-voltage side is chosen as a voltage source port interfaced with battery that has small voltage variation; therefore, the PV panel and energy storage element can be integrated by using one converter topology. The voltage port on the high-voltage side will be connected to the dc distribution bus. A high-frequency transformer of the proposed converter not only provides galvanic isolation between energy sources and high voltage dc bus, but also helps to remove the leakage current resulted from PV panels. The MPPT and power flow regulations are realized by duty cycle control and phase-shift angle control, respectively. Different from the single-phase dual-half-bridge converter, the power flow between the low-voltage side and high-voltage side is only related to the phase-shift angle in a large operation area. The system operation modes under different conditions are analyzed and the zero-voltage switching can be guaranteed in the PV application even when the dc-link voltage varies. Finally, system simulation and experimental results on a 3-kW hardware prototype are presented to verify the proposed technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an interleaved boost converter (IBC) with ripple cancellation network (RCN). Based on the conventional IBC, two capacitors, two coupled inductors, and two inductors are added as RCN in the proposed converter. Therefore, the proposed converter shares the same advantages of the conventional IBC and achieves input current ripple cancellation without significantly increasing the current stress and loss of the converter. Finally, a 36-V input voltage, 50-V output voltage, and 1-kW output power prototype circuit operating at 100 kHz is implemented in the laboratory to verify the expected performance. The proposed converter can achieve input current ripple cancellation in all power range with the efficiency higher than 96%. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed IBC with RCN has great potential to be applied in high-power, high-efficiency dc/dc conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares different cascaded and multilevel topologies to interface supercapacitors to a dc bus in regenerative braking applications. It is shown that the modular multilevel dc/dc converter (MMC) can benefit from both reduced voltage and increased frequency across the inductor to reduce its weight and volume when using phase shifting modulation. The proposed control method is able to balance supercapacitor voltage while providing precise output current control. The converter topology and control method are validated with simulations and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a soft-switching pulsewidth modulation (PWM) nonisolated boost dc–dc converter embedding an edge-resonant switched capacitor (ER-SWC) cell and its interleaved circuit topology. The conceptual boost dc–dc converter treated herein can achieve high-frequency zero-current soft-switching turn-on and zero-voltage soft-switching turn-off operations in the active switches and minimization of a reverse recovering current in the freewheeling diode under discontinuous conduction mode partially including critical conduction mode in the input current. Those advantageous properties enable a wide range of soft-switching operations together with a high-voltage step-up conversion ratio with a reduced current stress. Circuit design guideline based on the soft-switching range is introduced; then, a theoretical analysis is carried out for investigating the step-up voltage conversion ratio. For demonstrating the effectiveness of the ER-SWC soft-switching PWM boost dc–dc converter and its newly developed interleaved topology, laboratory prototypes are evaluated in experiments; then, their performances are discussed from a practical point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents simplified nonlinear averaged large-signal and linear small-signal models of the three basic dc–dc converter topologies, boost, buck, and noninverting buck–boost, respectively, operating in peak current-mode control. Models have been derived for the continuous and discontinuous conduction mode. The modeling methodology used is the equivalent current injected method. The derived models have been compared to the existing full-order large-signal nonlinear models and have been found to exhibit simulation time reduction by a few magnitudes in complex distributed power systems, such as today’s popular microgrids. The models developed have been experimentally verified on a custom-built 120-W boost converter prototype, showing great accuracy in steady state and in dynamical behavior in all operating points, as determined by the output resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a low-voltage high-current dc power source with a linear V–I characteristic, and therefore, it is desirable to create a power converter with a topology and control method suited to these attributes. Due to the TEG’s low voltage, a topology that produces a high step-up gain for a moderate duty cycle is required to reduce voltage and current stresses within the converter. The linear V–I characteristic produces a P–I characteristic with a flatter peak relative to other sources. This can result in large operating point variations while performing maximum power point tracking (MPPT); thus, an algorithm with low steady-state error is desired. This paper presents a novel high step-up dc/dc converter topology operating with a fractional short-circuit MPPT algorithm for use with a 4.2-V, 3.4-A (for matched load at \Delta T = \270\,^\circ C) TEG module and a converter output of 180 V. Compared to existing high step-up dc/dc converters, the proposed converter achieves higher gain with similar component count. Experimental results are reported to confirm the converter analysis and better performance of the short-circuit MPPT algorithm over the perturb and observe algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a single-phase, single-stage current source inverter-based photovoltaic system for grid connection is proposed. The system utilizes transformer-less single-stage conversion for tracking the maximum power point and interfacing the photovoltaic arrays to the grid. The maximum power point is maintained with a fuzzy logic controller. A proportional-resonant controller is used to control the current injected into the grid. To improve the power quality and system efficiency, a double-tuned parallel resonant circuit is proposed to attenuate the second- and fourth- order harmonics at the inverter dc side. A modified carrier-based modulation technique for the current source inverter is proposed to magnetize the dc-link inductor by shorting one of the bridge converter legs after every active switching cycle. Simulation and practical results validate and confirm the dynamic performance and power quality of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive review of step-up single-phase non-isolated inverters suitable for ac-module applications. In order to compare the most feasible solutions of the reviewed topologies, a benchmark is set. This benchmark is based on a typical ac-module application considering the requirements for the solar panels and the grid. The selected solutions are designed and simulated complying with the benchmark obtaining passive and semiconductor components ratings in order to perform a comparison in terms of size and cost. A discussion of the analyzed topologies regarding the obtained ratings as well as ground currents is presented. Recommendations for topological solutions complying with the application benchmark are provided [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Solid-state transformer (SST) has been proposed by researchers to replace the regular distribution transformer in the future smart grid. The SST provides ports for the integration of storage and distributed generation (DG), e.g., photovoltaic (PV), and enables the implementation of power quality features. This paper proposes a SST topology based on a quad-active-bridge (QAB) converter which not only provides isolation for the load, but also for DG and storage. A gyrator-based average model is developed for a general multiactive-bridge (MAB) converter, and expressions to determine the power rating of the MAB ports are derived. These results are then applied to analyze the QAB converter. For the control of the dc-dc stage of the proposed QAB-based SST integrating PV and battery, a technique that accounts for the cross-coupling characteristics of the QAB converter in order to improve the regulation of the high-voltage-dc link is introduced. This is done by transferring the disturbances onto the battery. The control loops are designed using single-input single-output techniques with different bandwidths. The dynamic performance of the control strategy is verified through extensive simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents three topological classes of dc-to-dc converters, totaling nine converters (each class with three buck, boost, and buck-boost voltage transfer function topologies), which offer continuous input and output energy flow, applicable and mandatory for renewable energy source, maximum power point tracking and maximum source energy extraction. A current sourcing output caters for converter module output parallel connection. The first class of three topologies employs both series input and output inductance, while anomalously the other two classes of six related topologies employ only either series input (three topologies) or series output (three topologies) inductance. All nine converter topologies employ the same elements, while additional load shunting capacitance creates a voltage sourcing output. Converter time-domain simulations and experimental results for the converters support and extol the concepts and analysis presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved buck power factor correction (PFC) converter topology is proposed in this paper. By adding an auxiliary switch and two diodes, the dead zones in ac input current of traditional buck PFC converter can be eliminated. An improved constant ON-time control is proposed and utilized in this improved buck PFC converter to force it that operates in critical conduction mode (CRM). With optimal control parameters, nearly unit power factor can be achieved and the input current harmonics can meet the IEC61000-3-2 class C standard within the universal input voltage range. Moreover, the efficiency of the proposed converter is not deteriorated compared to the conventional buck converter. Detailed theoretical analysis and optimal design considerations for the proposed converter are presented and verified by a 100-W lab-made prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a soft-switching bidirectional dc/dc converter with a LC series resonant circuit is proposed. The proposed converter has been obtained by adding LC series resonant tank in the conventional bidirectional dc/dc converter. The proposed topology performs soft switching at both buck and boost operations. Through the theoretical boost and buck mode analysis, zero voltage switching operation is explained. Moreover, characteristics of the proposed topology are verified with simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]