Pulse current regenerative resonant snubber‐assisted two‐switch flyback‐type ZVS PWM DC‐DC converter

In this paper, a two‐switch high‐frequency flyback transformer‐type zero voltage soft‐switching PWM DC‐DC converter using IGBTs is proposed. Effective applications for this power converter can be found in auxiliary power supplies of rolling stock transportation and electric vehicles. This power converter is basically composed of two active power switches and a flyback high‐frequency transformer. In addition to these, two passive lossless snubbers with power regeneration loops for energy recovery, consisting of a three‐winding auxiliary high‐frequency transformer, auxiliary capacitors and diodes are introduced to achieve zero voltage soft switching from light to full load conditions. Furthermore, this power converter has some advantages such as low cost circuit configuration, simple control scheme, and high efficiency. Its operating principle is described and to determine circuit parameters, some practical design considerations are discussed. The effectiveness of the proposed power converter is evaluated and compared with the hard switching PWM DC‐DC converter from an experimental point of view, and the comparative electromagnetic conduction and radiation noise characteristics of both DC‐DC power converter circuits are also depicted. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 152(3): 74–81, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20081     

Filter‐based perturbation control of low‐frequency oscillation in voltage‐mode H‐bridge DC–AC inverter

This paper presents a new additional perturbation control method for suppressing low‐frequency oscillation in voltage‐mode H‐bridge DC–AC inverter. The stability boundary of the H‐bridge inverter is investigated from its small‐signal averaged model. High input voltage and light load would cause low‐frequency oscillation in this system. To this end, a filter‐based perturbation control (FBPC) is proposed for eliminating this oscillation, by using an analog filter to extract the unexpected signal and applying it to the control loop. Theoretical results show a larger stability range of the controlled system with the proposed FBPC. The simulation and experiment results show that the proposed controller can control the low‐frequency oscillation in H‐bridge DC–AC inverter well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stability Analysis for Grid‐Connected LCL‐Type Inverter with Digital Control

A grid‐connected inverter is indispensable for photovoltaic power generation and smart grid systems, and it must be designed for stable operation. The impedance method based on the Nyquist criterion is often utilized to analyze the stability of grid‐connected inverter systems. The impedance method is based on the eigenvalues of the product of the inverter output admittance and the line impedance matrices in the frequency domain. However, the frequency characteristics have so far been derived only for inverters with analog control systems. A new frequency analysis method for inverters with digital control systems is proposed in this paper. First, a stability analysis example for a three‐phase LCL‐type inverter controlled digitally is shown and the results are compared and validated with those by simulation using a Saber simulator. Finally, they are also compared and validated with experimental results digitally controlled by a DSP‐based system.     

Dynamic modeling of DC–DC converters with peak current control in double‐stage photovoltaic grid‐connected inverters

In photovoltaic (PV) double‐stage grid‐connected inverters a high‐frequency DC–DC isolation and voltage step‐up stage is commonly used between the panel and the grid‐connected inverter. This paper is focused on the modeling and control design of DC–DC converters with Peak Current mode Control (PCC) and an external control loop of the PV panel voltage, which works following a voltage reference provided by a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. In the proposed overall control structure the output voltage of the DC–DC converter is regulated by the grid‐connected inverter. Therefore, the inverter may be considered as a constant voltage load for the development of the small‐signal model of the DC–DC converter, whereas the PV panel is considered as a negative resistance. The sensitivity of the control loops to variations of the power extracted from the PV panel and of its voltage is studied. The theoretical analysis is corroborated by frequency response measurements on a 230 W experimental inverter working from a single PV panel. The inverter is based on a Flyback DC–DC converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) followed by a PWM full‐bridge single‐phase inverter. The time response of the whole system (DC–DC + inverter) is also shown to validate the concept. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Frequency domain analysis of beatless control method for converter‐inverter driving systems applied to AC electric cars

In inverter‐converter driving systems for AC electric cars, the DC input voltage of an inverter contains a ripple component with a frequency that is twice the line voltage frequency, due to the use of a single‐phase converter. The ripple component of the inverter input voltage causes pulsations in the torque and current of driving motors. To decrease the pulsations, a beatless control method, which modifies the slip frequency depending on the ripple component, is applied to the inverter control. In the present paper, the beatless control method is analyzed in the frequency domain. In the first step of the analysis, transfer functions which revealed the relationship among the ripple component of the inverter input voltage, the slip frequency, the motor torque pulsation, and the current pulsation were derived with a synchronous rotating model of induction motors. An analytical model of the beatless control method was then constructed using the transfer functions. The optimal setting of the control method was obtained according to the analytical model. The transfer functions and the analytical model were verified by simulations. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 174(4): 51–57, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21050     

A simple method for output voltage control of a three‐phase multilevel inverter considering DC voltage fluctuation

Multilevel inverter circuit generates the stair‐like voltage without using transformer and interphase reactor, and it is the circuit which realizes reduction in the harmonics and enlargement of the capacity. In addition, the application of PWM control improves the waveform, and reduces the switching component to the conventional half, and the filter capacity is reduced. In this paper, improvement on the voltage utilization factor and feedback control of output voltage are applied to multilevel inverter circuit. For the DC power supply with the intense fluctuation, it is necessary to construct inverter circuit which can supply stabilized AC voltage. One‐chip microcomputer with various functions is used for the control equipment of this circuit, and miniaturization and cost reduction of the control equipment are realized. Here, the control principle and experimental results of this equipment are mainly reported. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 170(3): 40–47, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20906     

Experimental investigation of a speed‐sensor‐less IM drive system under Inverter fault‐tolerant control

This paper proposes an algorithm for fault tolerance of three‐phase, inverter‐fed, speed‐sensor‐less control of a three‐phase induction motor drive system. The fault tolerance of the inverter when one switch is open or one leg of six‐switch inverter is lost is considered. The control of the drive system is based on indirect rotor field‐oriented control theory. Also, the speed estimator is based on model reference adaptive system (using stator current and rotor flux as state variables for estimating the speed). The fault‐tolerant algorithm is able to adaptively change over from a six‐switch inverter to a four‐switch inverter topology when a fault occurs; also, it makes a smooth transition of the motor speed, torque, and current when changing over from a faulty condition to a new healthy status, which is four‐switch three‐phase inverter (FSTPI) topology; thus, the six‐switch three‐phase inverter (SSTPI) topology (pre‐fault status) is almost retained for the medium‐power range of induction motor applications. The proposed algorithm is simulated by using the MATLAB/SIMULINK package. Also, the proposed control system is tested experimentally using a digital signal processor (DSP1104). The obtained results from the simulation model and experimental system demonstrate the performance enhancement and good validity of the fault‐tolerance control for the speed‐sensor‐less induction motor drive system. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

LLC resonant DC–DC converter with series‐connected primary windings of transformer

This paper proposes a zero‐voltage switching (ZVS) LLC resonant step up DC–DC converter with series‐connected primary windings of the transformer. The series resonant inverter in the proposed topology has two power switches (MOSFETs), two resonant capacitors, two resonant inductors, and only one transformer with center‐tapped primary windings. The power switches are connected in the form of a half‐bridge network. Resonant capacitors and inductors along with the primary windings of the transformer form two series resonant circuits. The series resonant circuits are fed alternately by operating the power switches with an interleaved half switching cycle. The secondary winding of transformer is connected to a bridge rectifier circuit to rectify the output voltage. The converter operates within a narrow frequency range below the resonance frequency to achieve ZVS, and its output power is regulated by pulse frequency modulation. The converter has lower conduction and switching losses and therefore higher efficiency. The experimental results of a 500‐W prototype of proposed converter are presented. The results confirm the good operation and performance of the converter. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Efficiency improvement of high‐frequency inverter for wireless power transfer system using series compensator

This paper proposes a wireless power transfer system using a series compensator GCSC (gate‐controlled series capacitor) as a primary side capacitor. The GCSC is a circuit module that functions as a series variable capacitor by controlling semiconductor switches. The advantage of applying the GCSC to the primary side capacitor is that it provides controllability of the output power factor for a high‐frequency inverter. Therefore, optimum operation of the high‐frequency inverter can be achieved irrespective of the coil parameters by controlling the output power factor. Experimental results with a 1 kW laboratory prototype confirmed that the proposed system can achieve optimum operation and high efficiencies of the high‐frequency inverter.     

Series resonant ZCS‐PFM DC‐DC power converter with high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer link for high‐power magnetron drive

This paper presents a single lossless inductive snubber‐assisted ZCS‐PFM series resonant DC‐DC power converter with a high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer link for industrial‐use high‐power magnetron drive. The current flowing through the active power switches rises gradually at a turned‐on transient state with the aid of a single lossless snubber inductor, and ZCS turn‐on commutation based on overlapping current can be achieved via the wide range pulse frequency modulation control scheme. The high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer primary side resonant current always becomes continuous operation mode, by electromagnetic loose coupling design of the high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer and the magnetizing inductance of the high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer. As a result, this high‐voltage power converter circuit for the magnetron can achieve a complete zero current soft switching under the condition of broad width gate voltage signals. Furthermore, this high‐voltage DC‐DC power converter circuit can regulate the output power from zero to full over audible frequency range via the two resonant frequency circuit design. Its operating performances are evaluated and discussed on the basis of the power loss analysis simulation and the experimental results from a practical point of view. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(3): 79–87, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20126     

An accurate time‐domain model of transmission lines with frequency‐dependent parameters

Linear lossy two‐conductor transmission line can be modelled as dynamic two ports in the time domain, via the describing input and transfer impulse responses. This convolution technique is very effective when dealing with networks composed of transmission lines with frequency‐dependent parameters and non‐linear and/or time‐varying circuits. The paper carries out an accurate analysis of this model, in the most general case of lines with frequency‐dependent parameters. For such lines it is not possible to evaluate analytically the impulse responses, nor is it possible to catch them numerically, due to the presence of irregular terms, such as Dirac pulses, terms that numerically behave as Dirac pulses, and functions of the type 1/t^ρ with 0 < ρ <1. A simple method is proposed to evaluate exactly all the irregular terms of the impulse responses: once these irregular parts have been extracted, the regular remainders are easily evaluated numerically. This method is applied to analyse lines with frequency‐dependent parameters of practical interest, such as superconductor transmission lines, power lines above a finite conductivity ground, lines with frequency‐dependent dielectric losses and lines with normal and anomalous skin‐effect. Numerical simulations are carried out for illustration. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A three‐phase voltage‐source PWM inverter system characterized by sinusoidal output voltage with neither common‐mode voltage nor normal‐mode voltage

This paper deals with an inverter system integrating a small‐rated passive EMI filter with a three‐phase voltage‐source PWM inverter. The purpose of the EMI filter is to eliminate both common‐mode and normal‐mode voltages from the output voltage of the inverter. The motivation of this research is based on the well‐known fact that the higher the carrier or switching frequency, the smaller and the more effective the EMI filter. An experimental system consisting of a 5‐kVA inverter, a 3.7‐kW induction motor, and a specially designed passive EMI filter was constructed to verify the viability and effectiveness of the EMI filter. As a result, it is shown experimentally that both three‐phase line‐to‐line and line‐to‐neutral output voltages look purely sinusoidal as if the inverter system were an ideal variable‐voltage, variable‐frequency power supply when viewed from the motor terminals. This results in complete solution of serious issues related to common‐mode and normal‐mode voltages produced by the inverter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 145(4): 88–96, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10206     

A phase synchronization control scheme for LCL‐T type high‐frequency current source in parallel connection

Considering the applications of high voltage gate driving system and contactless power transmission, a current‐based power distribution is adopted as a kind of replacement of voltage based high‐frequency Alternating Current (AC) power distribution system. In order to implement high‐frequency current source, an LCL‐T resonant inverter is examined with constant current characteristic and high conversion efficiency. First, the resonant topology is studied as a high‐frequency power source, including circuit principle, operational cycle analysis, and AC analysis. The effective control and high conversion efficiency are both achieved by LCL‐T resonant inverter. Second, the phase angle control scheme is explored to improve the synchronization performance in parallel system formed by multiple of LCL‐T resonant inverters. Lastly, a prototype of parallel system is evaluated by simulation and experiment results, both of which are constructed by two resonant inverters with rated peak current of 2 A, rated output frequency of 30 kHz, and rated output power of 100 W. The experimental results in accordance with simulation prove that the better phase synchronization of output currents is achieved by the phase angle control. Hence, the high‐frequency resonant topology and phase control scheme are a feasible realization of current source that can be used to feed current‐based high‐frequency power distribution system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Index Terms—high‐frequency AC (HFAC), power distribution system (PDS), LCL‐T resonant inverter, current source, phase angle control.     

Trans‐admittance control for eliminating the temperature effect of piezoelectric transformer in the CCFL backlight module

A half‐bridge (HB) resonant inverter for driving a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight module with a piezoelectric transformer (PT) is analyzed in this paper. The resonant inductance of the HB inverter is expressed as a function of the load current, the load resistance and the PT circuit parameters. Also, the trans‐admittance of the PT‐CCFL combination network is measured to track the operating frequency for the HB resonant inverter, which may be varied due to the temperature rise of PT. The lamp driving current and power can thus remain almost constant in a wide temperature range. Experiments show that the observed results match the theoretical analyses. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A New PV Converter for Grid Connection Through a High‐Leg Delta Transformer Using Cooperative Control of Boost Converters and Inverters

This paper proposes a new high‐efficiency photovoltaic (PV) converter for grid connection through a high‐leg delta transformer, which is composed of a symmetrically connected boost converter and three half‐bridge inverters. One of the three half‐bridge inverters is connected to the boost converter, and the others are directly connected to the PV terminals. This circuit configuration enables to reduce the power losses in both boost converter and inverter. This paper also proposes a new cooperative control method between the symmetrically connected boost converter and inverter. The control method can reduce the average switching frequency to 75% of that in a conventional one, resulting in a great reduction in switching power loss. Experimental results show that the proposed circuit improves its European efficiency from 91.6% to 94.5%.     

Novel current‐source multilevel inverter driven by single gate drive power supply

This paper proposes a novel current‐source multilevel inverter, which is based on a current‐source half‐bridge topology. Multilevel inverters are effective for reducing harmonic distortion in the output voltage and the output current. However, the multilevel inverters require many gate drive power supplies to drive switching devices. The gate drive circuits using a bootstrap circuit and a pulse transformer can reduce the number of the gate drive power supplies, but the pulse width of the output PWM waveform is limited. Furthermore, high‐speed power switching devices are indispensable to create a high‐frequency power converter, but various problems, such as high‐frequency noise, arise due to the high dv/dt rate, especially in high‐side switching devices. The proposed current‐source multilevel inverter is composed of a common emitter topology for all switching devices. Therefore, it is possible to operate it with a single power supply for the gate drive circuit, which allows stabilizing the potential level of all the drive circuits. In this paper, the effectiveness of the proposed circuit is verified through experimental results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(2): 88–95, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20475     

有源箝位正激式高频脉冲直流环节逆变器大信号特性

有源箝位正激式高频脉冲直流环节逆变器具有优良的综合性能。然而 ,当输入电源电压或负载大信号瞬变时 ,有源箝位电路的动态特性严重影响了变压器最大磁化电流和功率开关承受的最大峰值电压。本文采用平均状态轨迹法深入分析了闭环反馈控制、输入电压前馈控制有源箝位正激式高频脉冲直流环节逆变器瞬态大信号特性 ,获得了瞬态大信号特性与系统控制带宽、箝位支路谐振频率参数间的关系。     

Walsh function‐based position sensorless control for interior permanent magnet motor drives using ripple‐current of high‐frequency triangular‐wave‐carrier PWM inverter

This paper proposes the Walsh function‐based position sensorless drive method of a PM motor by using high‐frequency 20‐kHz triangular‐wave‐carrier PWM inverter ripple current. The proposed method uses the Walsh harmonic of PWM inverter ripple current to estimate the motor rotor position. By using the high‐frequency switching ripple current, the period of the rotor position estimation has been decreased and improves the step response of PM motor. The Walsh function makes it possible to use a definite integrator as the Walsh harmonic detector that can separate the small ripple‐current signal from the motor drive‐current signal. The Walsh harmonic detector circuit consists of less parts than the Fourier harmonic detector circuit. The validity of the proposed method was clarified by several experimental results. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 145(3): 80–88, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10205     

Double‐Switch Series‐Resonant Cell‐Voltage Equalizer Using a Voltage Multiplier for Series‐Connected Energy Storage Cells

Series connections of energy storage cells, such as lithium‐ion cells and electric double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs), require cell‐voltage equalizers to ensure years of operation. Conventional equalizers require multiple switches, magnetic components, and/or secondary windings of a multiwinding transformer in proportion to the number of series connections, which usually makes them complex, expensive, bulky, and less extendable with increasing series connections. A double‐switch series‐resonant equalizer using a voltage multiplier is proposed in this paper. The double‐switch operation without a multiwinding transformer achieves simplified circuitry and good modularity at reduced size and cost, compared to conventional equalizers. Operational analyses were separately performed for the following two functional parts of the proposed equalizer: a series‐resonant inverter and a voltage multiplier. The mathematical analyses derived a dc‐equivalent circuit of the proposed equalizer, with which simulation analyses of even an hour's duration can be completed in an instant. Simulation analyses were separately performed for both the original and equivalent circuits. The simulation results of the derived circuit correlated well with those of the original circuit, thus verifying the derived dc‐equivalent circuit. A 5‐W prototype of the proposed equalizer was built for eight cells connected in series and an experimental equalization was performed for series‐connected EDLCs from an initially voltage‐imbalanced condition. The voltage imbalance was gradually eliminated over time, and the standard deviation in the cell voltages decreased to approximately 5 mV at the end of the experiment, thus demonstrating the equalization performance of the proposed equalizer.