Soft switching resonant converter with duty-cycle control in DC micro-grid system

Resonant converter has been widely used for the benefits of low switching losses and high circuit efficiency. However, the wide frequency variation is the main drawback of resonant converter. This paper studies a new modular resonant converter with duty-cycle control to overcome this problem and realise the advantages of low switching losses, no reverse recovery current loss, balance input split voltages and constant frequency operation for medium voltage direct currentgrid or system network. Series full-bridge (FB) converters are used in the studied circuit in order to reduce the voltage stresses and power rating on power semiconductors. Flying capacitor is used between two FB converters to balance input split voltages. Two circuit modules are paralleled on the secondary side to lessen the current rating of rectifier diodes and the size of magnetic components. The resonant tank is operated at inductive load circuit to help power switches to be turned on at zero voltage with wide load range. The pulse-width modulation scheme is used to regulate output voltage. Experimental verifications are provided to show the performance of the proposed circuit.     

DC-DC converter: four switches V/sub pk/=V/sub in//2, capacitive turn-off snubbing, ZV turn-on

A new four-switch full-bridge dc-dc converter topology is especially well-suited for power converters operating from high input voltage: it imposes only half of the input voltage across each of the four switches. The two legs of a full-bridge converter are connected in series with each other, across the dc input source, instead of the usual topology in which each leg is connected across the dc source. The topology reduces turn-off switching losses by providing capacitive snubbing of the turn-off voltage transient, and eliminates capacitor-discharge turn-on losses by providing zero-voltage turn-on. (Switching losses are especially important in converters operating at high input voltage because turn-on losses are proportional to the square of the input voltage, and turn-off losses are proportional to the input voltage). The topology is suitable for resonant and nonresonant converters. It adds one bypass capacitor and one commutating inductor to the minimum-topology full-bridge converter (that inductor is already present in many present-day converters, to provide zero-voltage turn-on, or is associated with one or two capacitors to provide resonant operation), and contains a dc-blocking capacitor in series with the output transformer, primary winding, and some nonresonant converters (that capacitor is already present in resonant power converters). The paper gives a theoretical analysis, and experimental data on a 1.5-kW example that was built and tested: 600-Vdc input, 60-Vdc output at up to 25A, and 50-kHz switching frequency. The measured performance agreed well with the theoretical predictions. The measured efficiency was 93.6% at full load, and was a maximum of 95.15% at 44.8% load.     

High-Frequency Resonant Transistor DC-DC Converters

Transistor dc-dc converters which employ a resonant circuit are described. A resonant circuit is driven with square waves of current or voltage, and by adjusting the frequency around the resonant point, the voltage on the resonant components can be adjusted to any practical voltage level. By rectifying the voltage across the resonant elements, a dc voltage is obtained which can be either higher or lower than the input dc voltage to the converter. Thus, the converter can operate in either the step-up or step-down mode. In addition, the switching losses in the inverter devices and rectifiers are extremely low due to the sine waves that occur from the use of a resonant circuit (as opposed to square waves in a conventional converter); also, easier EMI filtering should result. In the voltage input version, the converter is able to use the parasitic diode associated with an FET or monolithic Darlington, while in the current input version, the converter needs the inverse blocking capability which can be obtained with an IGT or GTO device. A low-power breadboard operating at 200-300 kHz has been built. Two typical application areas are switching power supplies and battery chargers. The converter circuits offer improvements over conventional circuits due to their high efficiency (low switching losses), small reactive components (high-frequency operation), and their step-up/stepdown ability.     

Characteristics of load resonant converters operated in ahigh-power factor mode

The performance of the parallel resonant power converter and the combination series/parallel resonant power converter (LCC converter) when operated above resonance in a high power factor mode are determined and compared for single phase applications. When the DC voltage applied to the input of these converters is obtained from a single phase rectifier with a small DC link capacitor, a relatively high power factor inherently results, even with no active control of the input line current. This behavior is due to the pulsating nature of the DC link and the inherent capability of the converters to boost voltage during the valleys of the input AC wave. With no active control of the input line current, the power factor depends on the ratio of operating frequency to tank resonant frequency. With active control of the input line current, near-unity power factor and low-input harmonic currents can be obtained     

Pseudo-resonant full bridge DC/DC converter

A DC-DC power converter topology that combines the ease of control and wide range of conventional DC-DC converters, with low switching losses, low dv/dt and low electromagnetic interference that is typical of zero voltage switched resonant converters is proposed. Consequently, the ratings of these components are substantially lower than for similarly rated resonant topologies. While resonant elements are used to ensure zero voltage switching of all devices, they have little or no role in the actual power transfer and can thus be reasonably sized. As the resonant elements are not involved in the primary power transfer, the converter is referred to as a pseudo-resonant converter. It is shown that the converter offers significantly higher levels of performance than either the pulse width-modulated (PWM) or typical resonant converters. Operation at very high frequencies is possible and is shown with the fabrication of a 200 W 1 MHz DC-DC converter     

A contactless power transfer system using a series–series–parallel resonant converter

In this article, a contactless power transfer system using a series–series–parallel resonant converter (SSPRC) is proposed. The proposed converter can improve on or eliminate the disadvantages of the contactless system based on conventional resonant converters, since it independently compensates for a primary side leakage inductance, a secondary side leakage inductance and a magnetising inductance. The proposed converter also reduces the circulating currents and the reactive power by controlling the phase angle difference between the inverter output voltage and the current. In addition, the system design can be simplified, since the voltage gain is determined only by the transformer turns ratio for the overall load range without being affected by the other transformer parameters. The proposed converter is analysed with respect to the gain and current margin. The system design procedure is then described for the proposed circuit based on the circuit analysis. Finally, the experimental results are presented in order to verify the proposed contactless power supply.     

New zero voltage switching DC converter with flying capacitors

A new soft switching converter is presented for medium power applications. Two full-bridge converters are connected in series at high voltage side in order to limit the voltage stress of power switches at V_in/2. Therefore, power metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) with 600 V voltage rating can be adopted for 1200 V input voltage applications. In order to balance two input split capacitor voltages in every switching cycle, two flying capacitors are connected on the AC side of two full-bridge converters. Phase-shift pulse-width modulation (PS-PWM) is adopted to regulate the output voltage. Based on the resonant behaviour by the output capacitance of MOSFETs and the resonant inductance, active MOSFETs can be turned on under zero voltage switching (ZVS) during the transition interval. Thus, the switching losses of power MOSFETs are reduced. Two full-bridge converters are used in the proposed circuit to share load current and reduce the current stress of passive and active components. The circuit analysis and design example of the prototype circuit are provided in detail and the performance of the proposed converter is verified by the experiments.     

Performance Comparison of Single-Stage Three-Level Resonant AC/DC Converter Topologies

In this paper, the performance of different three-level resonant converters is studied for single-stage power factor correction operation. These converters are suitable for power ranges higher than that in the currently available single-stage converters, due to their high efficiency and reduced component stresses. All the converters presented here are characterized by their ability to regulate the output voltage as well as the dc bus voltage. This leads to lower voltage stresses, wider input voltage range, higher output power applications, and improved efficiencies compared to existing single-stage topologies. Due to the availability of more degrees of freedom in the presented converters, two types of control strategies can be used for this purpose: variable frequency asymmetrical pulsewidth modulation control and variable frequency phase-shift modulation control. Three resonant converters will be studied in this paper and their performances as well as the applicability of the aforementioned control methods for each converter are compared. A 2.3-kW, 48-V converter with input voltage range of 90-265 V_rms is used to study the performance of each case.     

Robust controller design for a parallel resonant converter usingμ-synthesis

DC-to-DC resonant power converters have been the subject of much attention recently. These power converters have the potential to provide high-performance conversion without some of the problems associated with classical pulse-width modulation (PWM)-based converters, thus allowing for smaller, lighter power supplies. However, in order to achieve this, a suitable control circuit, capable of maintaining the desired output voltage under different operating conditions, is required. In the past, small-signal models obtained around the nominal operating points were used to design controllers that attempted to keep the output voltage constant in the presence of input perturbations. However, these controllers did not take into account either load or components variations, and thus could lead to instability in the face of component or load changes. Moreover, the prediction of the frequency range for stability was done a posteriori, either experimentally or by a trial-and-error approach. In this paper, the authors use μ-synthesis to design a robust controller for a conventional parallel resonant power converter. In addition to guaranteeing stability for a wide range of load conditions, the proposed controller rejects disturbances at the power converter input while keeping the control input and the settling time within values compatible with a practical implementation. These results are validated by means of detailed nonlinear circuit simulations obtained using PSpice     

A double ZVS-PWM active-clamping forward converter: analysis,design, and experimentation

This paper presents an isolated DC-DC converter based on two ZVS-PWM active-clamping forward converters connected in series and coupled by a single high-frequency transformer. The proposed converter features no switching losses from no-load to full-load operation and low conduction losses. This converter is suitable for high input voltage (>400 VDC) and high power applications. Operation principles, theoretical analysis and design example, are presented, as well as experimental results taken from a 3 kW laboratory prototype     

Output plane analysis of load-sharing in multiple-module convertersystems

This paper explores the origin of the DC current-sharing problem of parallel-converter systems and the dual problem of voltage sharing in series-converter systems. Both problems may be studied by examining the output plane (output current versus output voltage) of a particular converter. It is shown that strict current source behavior is unnecessary for good current sharing in parallel-converter systems. Furthermore, a broad class of converters whose output voltage is load-dependent, i.e., those that have a moderate value of output resistance, all exhibit good voltage- and current-sharing characteristics. Such converters are often suitable for a×b arrays of converters that can meet a large range of power-conversion requirements. The output planes of discontinuous mode PWM converters as well as conventional and clamped series resonant converters are examined in detail. A simple small-signal model of the modular converter system is developed. Experimental confirmation of load sharing and the small-signal model is given for the clamped series resonant converter and the series resonant converter for various configurations of four converters     

ZVZCS single-stage PFC AC-to-DC half-bridge converter

A zero-voltage- and zero-current-switched single-stage AC-to-DC half-bridge converter with high power factor is presented to reduce the switching losses and to achieve sinusoidal, unity power factor input currents. The single-stage approach, which combines a boost converter used as power-factor correction with a half-bridge converter used as DC-to-DC conversion into one power stage, has a simple structure and low cost. At the same time, the switching losses could be considerably reduced, because the switches of the proposed converter are designed to be turned on at zero voltage and off at zero current. Detailed analysis and experimental results are presented on the proposed converter, which is operated at constant switching frequency and in discontinuous conduction mode     

Asymmetrical pulse-width-modulated resonant DC/DC convertertopologies

This paper presents asymmetrical pulse-width-modulated (APWM) DC/DC resonant converter topologies that exhibit near-zero switching losses while operating at constant and very high frequencies. The converters include a bridged chopper to convert the DC input voltage to a high-frequency unidirectional AC voltage, which in turn is fed to a high-frequency transformer through a resonant circuit. The bridged chopper has two switches that alternately conduct. The duty cycles of the conduction of the switches are complementary with one another and are varied to control the output voltage. Three resonant circuit configurations suitable for this type of control are presented. Frequency domain analysis of the converter is given, and performance characteristics are presented. Experimental results for a 48-5 V, 30 W converter show an efficiency of 88% at a constant operating frequency of 1 MHz     

An isolated bridgeless AC-DC PFC converter using a LC resonant voltage doubler rectifier

This paper proposed an isolated bridgeless AC–DC power factor correction (PFC) converter using a LC resonant voltage doubler rectifier. The proposed converter is based on isolated conventional single-ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC) PFC converter. The conduction loss of rectification is reduced than a conventional one because the proposed converter is designed to eliminate a full-bridge rectifier at an input stage. Moreover, for zero-current switching (ZCS) operation and low voltage stresses of output diodes, the secondary of the proposed converter is designed as voltage doubler with a LC resonant tank. Additionally, an input–output electrical isolation is provided for safety standard. In conclusion, high power factor is achieved and efficiency is improved. The operational principles, steady-state analysis and design equations of the proposed converter are described in detail. Experimental results from a 60 W prototype at a constant switching frequency 100 kHz are presented to verify the performance of the proposed converter.     

An AC VRM topology for high frequency AC power distribution systems

In this paper, a series resonant converter with pulse-width modulation (PWM) control is presented as an ac voltage regulator module (VRM) for high frequency ac power distribution systems. The proposed topology has close-to-unity rated power factor, low total harmonic distortion in input current, zero voltage switching under all load conditions, low voltage stress of the active switch and high overall efficiency. Simulation and experimental results are presented to prove the performance of the proposed ac VRM converter.     

A PFC voltage regulator with low input current distortion derived from a rectifierless topology

This paper presents an ac-dc converter topology for realization of power factor correction (PFC) voltage regulators for applications where the mains frequency is high and a low input current harmonic is required, e.g., in aircraft power systems. The proposed converter represents a minimal configuration consisting of two basic converters, which can be systematically derived from a previously proposed general synthesis procedure for rectifierless ac-dc converters. The proposed PFC converter has incorporated a control method which drastically reduces the circulating power and hence raises the efficiency to a level comparable to existing PFC converters. The proposed PFC converter can completely eliminate any crossover distortion, which can be significant for supply systems having a high mains frequency. In addition, the proposed converter allows bidirectional energy flow ensuring all inductors work in continuous conduction mode hence eliminating the distortion due to the abrupt change of dynamic response when the operating mode changes. Analysis and design of the power and control circuits will be given and discussed. An experimental system will be presented for verification purposes.     

Self-sustained phase-shift modulated resonant converters: modeling, design, and performance

This paper presents an improved control technique for the full bridge series, parallel, and series-parallel resonant converters. This control technique combines a self-sustained oscillation mode with a phase shift modulation technique that can significantly reduce the range of frequency variation necessary for obtaining zero voltage switching in the resonant converters. This frequency reduction provides optimized component ratings and operating frequency. A simple and accurate low order mathematical model based on the sampled data technique that fully describes the steady-state, and dynamic performance of the resonant converters, has been developed. A refinement algorithm is developed to enhance the accuracy of the modeling technique and the converter design. The improved converter performance and the feasibility of the developed dynamic model have been investigated using the series-parallel resonant converter topology with a capacitive output filter. Finally, MATLAB numerical solutions, PSIM simulation results, and experimental results are given to highlight the merits of the proposed work.     

A Novel High-Power-Density Three-Level LCC Resonant Converter With Constant-Power-Factor-Control for Charging Applications

This paper proposes a variable-frequency zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) three-level LCC resonant converter that is able to utilize the parasitic components of the high turns-ratio transformer. By applying a three-level structure to the primary side, the voltage stress of the primary switches is half of the input voltage. Low-voltage MOSFETs with better performance can be used in this converter, and zero-current-switching (ZCS) is achieved for rectifier diodes. By applying a magnetic integration technique, only one magnetic component is required in this converter. The power factor concept of resonant converters is proposed and analyzed, and a novel constant power-factor control scheme is proposed. Based on this control strategy, the circulating energy of resonant converters is considerably reduced. High efficiency can be obtained for high-voltage high-power charging applications. The operation principle of the converter is analyzed and verified on a 700-kHz, 3.7-kW prototype, with which a power density of 72 ${hbox {W/inch}}^{3}$ is achieved.      

An Analysis of the ZVS Two-Inductor Boost Converter under Variable Frequency Operation

The two-inductor boost converter has been previously presented in a zero-voltage switching (ZVS) form where the transformer leakage inductance and the MOSFET output capacitance can be utilized as part of the resonant elements. In many applications, such as maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in grid interactive photovoltaic systems, the resonant two-inductor boost converter is required to operate with variable input output voltage ratios. This paper studies the variable frequency operation of the ZVS two-inductor boost converter to secure an adjustable output voltage range while maintaining the resonant switching transitions. The design method of the resonant converter is thoroughly investigated and explicit control functions relating the circuit timing factors and the voltage gain for a 200-W converter are established. The converter has an input voltage of 20V and is able to produce a variable output voltage from 169V to 340V while retaining ZVS with a frequency variation of 1MHz to 407kHz. Five sets of theoretical, simulation and experimental waveforms are provided for the selected operating points over the variable load range at the end of the paper and they agree reasonably well. The converter has achieved part load efficiencies above 92% and an efficiency of 89.6% at the maximum power of 200W     

一种宽输入电压范围软开关电流型DC/DC转换器

针对太阳能光伏及燃料电池等领域电源需要较宽输入电压范围的需求,提出一种通用的具有较宽输入电压范围的软开关电流型DC/DC转换器。该转换器采用了固定频率混合调制设计,可以在所有工作条件下实现半导体器件的软开关工作,并采用电流馈电技术以便适用于低电压高电流的电源。相较于传统转换器,该转换器更为通用,能够实现零电压开关和零电流开关,并且能够在输入电压和负载变化出现较大变化时控制输出电压。实验结果显示,在20-60V输入电压范围内且负载出现变化时,该转换器均表现出良好的性能。