Tapped-inductor filter assisted soft-switching PWM DC-DC power converter

A novel high-frequency transformer linked full-bridge type soft-switching phase-shift pulsewidth modulated (PWM) controlled dc-dc power converter is presented, which can be used as a power conditioner for small-scale photovoltaic and fuel cell power generation systems as well as isolated boost dc-dc power converter for automotive ac power supply. In these applications with low-voltage large-current sources, the full-bridge circuit is the most attractive topology due to the possibility of using low-voltage high-performance metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and achieving high efficiency of the dc-dc power converter. A tapped-inductor filter including the freewheeling diode is newly implemented in the output stage of the full-bridge phase-shift PWM dc-dc converter to achieve soft-switching operation for the wide load variation range. Moreover, in the proposed converter circuit, the circulating current is effectively minimized without using additional resonant circuit and auxiliary power switching devices. The practical effectiveness of the proposed soft-switching dc-dc power converter was verified in laboratory level experiment with 1 kW 100 kHz breadboard setup using power MOSFETs. Actual efficiency of 94-97% was obtained for the wide duty cycle and load variation ranges.     

New ZVT-PWM DC/DC converters using active snubber

A novel active snubber soft switching method is proposed. The unique location of the resonant inductor and capacitor ensures low current and voltage stresses in the converter. An analytical study of a boost dc-dc converter with the proposed active snubber method is presented in detail to illustrate its operation principles and design considerations. By simple modification, this soft switching method is also suitable for ac-dc boost topology, especially for high power-factor-correction (PFC) universal interface applications. A 500 W prototype system has been made to simulatively and experimentally verify the performance of the soft switching.     

Full control of a PWM DC-AC converter for AC voltage regulation

The design and implement action of a DSP-based fully digital-controlled single-phase pulsewidth modulated (PWM) dc-ac converter for ac voltage regulation is described. The proposed multiloop digital controller (MDC) consists of a current controller, a voltage controller, and a feedforward controller. This MDC was realized using a single-chip digital signal processor (DSP). The PWM gating signals are determined at every sampling instant by the proposed multiloop digital control scheme using a set of detected feedback signals. A software current control; scheme has been developed to achieve fast current control of the PWM inverter and decouple the inductor of the output filter. Experimental results have been given to verify the proposed digital control scheme. The constructed DSP-based PWM dc-ac converter system can achieve fast dynamic response and with low total harmonic distortion (THD) for rectifier type of loads     

Current Injected Equivalent Circuit Approach to Modeling Switching DC-DC Converters

A new current injected equivalent circuit approach (CIECA) to modeling switching dc-dc converter power stages is developed, which starts with the current injected approach and results in either a set of equations which completely describe input and out-put properties or an equivalent linear circuit model valid at small signal, low frequency levels. This approach to modeling switching dc-dc converter power stages has the merits but not the demerits of both the electronic equivalent circuit state space average approach and the current injected control type approach, namely, 1) the modeling is very clear and is simple whether the converter operates in continuous or discontinuous inductor conduction modes, 2) the modeling results in an equivalent circuit which is very close to the actual converter, and 3) the equivalent circuit can be used directly in the computer for theoretical predictions like SPICE, etc.     

Improved ZCS-PWM commutation cell for IGBTs application

An improved zero-current-switching pulsewidth-modulated (ZCS-PWM) commutation cell is presented, which is suitable for high-power applications using insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) as the power switches. It provides ZCS operation for active switches and zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) operation for passive switches. Besides operating at constant frequency and reducing commutation losses, the proposed ZCS-PWM switch cell has no additional current stress and conduction loss in the main switch. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed ZCS-PWM commutation cell, it was applied to a boost converter. Operating principle, theoretical analysis, design guidelines, and a design example are described and verified by experiment results obtained from a prototype rated 1 kW and operating at 40 kHz. The PWM switch model and state-space averaging approach is also used to estimate and examine the steady-state and dynamic character of ZCS-PWM boost converter system. Finally, the application of the proposed soft-switching technique in the dc-dc nonisolated converters is presented.     

Modeling of a new ZVS bi-directional dc-dc converter

A dual half-bridge (DHB) bidirectional dc-dc converter is a new proposed topology that has the advantages of decreased number of devices, soft-switching implementation, low cost, and high efficiency. Typical applications of this converter are the auxiliary power supply in fuel cell vehicles and battery charging and discharging systems where the power density, cost, weight, and reliability are critical factors. A switching-frequency-dependent state-space averaged model of the converter is developed here for either direction of power flow. This averaged model can be used to derive the steady-state characteristics and small signal dynamics of the proposed topology. It also provides a fast simulation tool to investigate the transient response of the converter. The simulated waveforms of the mathematical model are compared with the detailed circuit simulation to verify the accuracy of the modeling.     

ZCS-PWM boost rectifier with high power factor and low conduction losses

A new single-phase high power factor rectifier is proposed, which features regulation by conventional pulsewidth modulation (PWM), soft commutation, and instantaneous average line current control. A new zero-current-switching PWM (ZCS-PWM) auxiliary circuit is configured in the presented ZCS-PWM rectifier to perform ZCS in the switches and zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) in the diodes. Furthermore, soft commutation of the main switch is achieved without additional current stress by the presented ZCS-PWM auxiliary circuit. A significant reduction in the conduction losses is achieved, since the circulating current for the soft switching flows only through the auxiliary circuit and a minimum number of switching devices are involved in the circulating current path and the proposed rectifier uses a single converter instead of the conventional configuration composed of a four-diode front-end rectifier followed by a boost converter. Seven transition states for describing the behavior of the ZCS-PWM rectifier in one switching period are described. The PWM switch model is used to predict the system performance. A prototype rated at 1 kW, operating 60 kHz, with an input ac voltage of 220 V/sub rms/ and an output voltage 400 V/sub dc/ has been implemented in laboratory. An efficiency of 97.2% and power factor near 0.99 has been measured. The analysis and design of the control circuitry are also presented.     

Novel AC-DC and DC-DC converters with a diode-capacitor multiplier

This paper presents a transformerless ac-dc and or dc-dc converter with a high output voltage multiplicity, which contains only one switch. The converter consists of an inverter and a diode-capacitor multiplier (DCM) and provides a voltage gain equal to double the number of multiplier steps. In the case of ac-dc conversion the proposed converter offers a practically unit power factor and provides a sine wave input current. The analysis of the steady state as well as the transient behavior of the DCM is given and simplified equivalent circuits are proposed. The prototype of the DCM has been built and tested to show the validity of the proposed converter. The theoretical analysis, the computer simulation results, and the experimental testing results are in good agreement.     

Single-Stage Single-Switch Switched-Capacitor Buck/Buck-Boost-Type Converter

A new dc-dc converter featuring a steep step-down of the input voltage is presented. It answers a typical need for on-board aeronautics modern power architectures: power supplies with a large conversion ratio able to deliver an output voltage of 1–1.2 V. The proposed structure is derived from a switched-capacitor circuit integrated with a buck converter; they share the same active switch. The proposed solution removes the electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission due to the large di/dt in the input current of the switched-capacitor power supplies. Compared with a quadratic buck converter, it presents a similar complexity, a smaller reduction in the line voltage at full load (but less conduction losses due to smaller input inductor current and capacitor voltage), lower voltage stresses on the transistor and diodes, lower current stresses in the diodes, and smaller size inductors. A similar structure using a buck-boost converter as the second stage is also presented. The experimental results confirm the theoretical developments.     

Single-stage ZVS PWM full-bridge converter

A new soft-switched ac-dc single-stage pulse width modulation (PWM) full-bridge converter is proposed. The converter operates with zero-voltage switching (ZVS), fixed switching frequency, and with a continuous input current that is sinusoidal and in phase with the input voltage. This is in contrast with other ac-dc single-stage PWM full-bridge converters that are either resonant converters operating with variable switching frequency control and high conduction losses, converters whose switches cannot operate with ZVS, or converters that cannot perform power factor correction (PFC) unless the input current is discontinuous. All converter switches operate with soft-switching due to a simple auxiliary circuit that is used for only a small fraction of the switching cycle. The operation of the converter is explained and analyzed, guidelines for the design of the converter are given, and its feasibility is shown with results obtained from an experimental prototype.     

Current-fed multiresonant isolated DC-DC converter

A novel topology, current-fed multiresonant dc-dc converter (CF-MRC) was studied theoretically and experimentally. The new topology differs from previously described current-fed push-pull parallel-resonant topologies in the fact that the output is coupled to the current of the resonant inductor and in the addition of a second capacitor across the transformer. The main features of the proposed converter are an inherent protection against a short and open circuit at the output, a high voltage gain and zero voltage switching (ZVS) over a large range of output voltage. These characteristics make it a viable choice for applications, such as a high voltage capacitor charger, that require controllable current sourcing over a wide output voltage swing.     

Alternate forms of the PWM switch models

Vorperian's pulsewidth modulation (PWM) switch model consists of a PWM transformer and a nonlinear resistor. The recognition that any of the three transformer terminals can serve as the common terminal leads to two alternate PWM transformer models and the corresponding two alternate PWM switch models. For a given PWM dc-dc converter, one of the three PWM switch models is more “natural” for graphic-oriented analysis/design, e.g., it allows the idealized converter to be analyzed by inspection. Furthermore, all three PWM transformers may be used to graphically manipulate the converter circuit to a form that can be analyzed by inspection. The alternate forms of the PWM transformers and the PWM switch models are effective as graphic-oriented teaching and learning tools for PWM converters. This is demonstrated using examples based on the boost converter and the Cuk converter     

Suitability of pulse train control technique for BIFRED converter

Pulse Train/spl trade/ control scheme is presented and applied to a boost integrated flyback rectifier/energy storage dc-dc (BIFRED) converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), which avoids the light-load high-voltage stress problem. In contrast to the conventional control techniques, the principal idea of Pulse Train technique is to regulate the output voltage using a series of high and low energy pulses generated by the current of the inductor. The applicability of the proposed technique to both the input and magnetizing inductances of BIFRED converter is investigated. Analysis of BIFRED converter operating in DCM as well as the output voltage ripple estimation is given. Experimental results on a prototype converter are also presented.     

An efficient active ripple filter for use in DC-DC conversion

When low ripple is required from a switched mode dc-dc converter, dissipative active filters offer an alternative to passive LC and coupled inductor filters. Analytical and experimental results are presented for a simple active ripple filter. The filter employs a pair of current transformers as sensors for feedforward and feedback control and two metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) as cancellation current drivers. Measurements demonstrate good ripple attenuation up to 5 MHz, more than 70 dB being obtained at 100 kHz, the switching frequency of a test converter. The overall efficiency was measured as 95%, with room for further improvement. The filter is suitable for input and output smoothing in dc-dc converters for aerospace and other critical applications     

A New Resonant Mode Amplifier Produces Clean AC Power

A new resonant mode power amplifier design is described which has a number of advantages over the power amplifiers available today. In particular, it has low or no EMI because of the nature of its operation. The new amplifier design is based upon a resonant mode dc-dc converter used in a push-pull configuration. All the advantages of the resonant mode power converters, such as high efficiency, small size and weight, excellent dynamic performance, low or no EMI (compared to PWM switch mode power converter), etc., are present in this new design.     

Single-phase three-level rectifier and random PWM inverter drives

A novel ac/dc/ac converter topology with three-level pulsewidth modulated (PWM) scheme for the single-phase ac/dc rectifier and random PWM scheme for ac drives is proposed. In order to improve the power quality in the single-phase rectifier, a ROM-based (read-only memory) control scheme, based on hysteresis current comparator, region detector, and capacitor compensator, is used to achieve a sinusoidal line current with low current distortion. The control scheme of the adopted three-level rectifier is easy to implement. The blocking voltage of power switches is clamped to half of the dc bus voltage. To reduce the mechanical vibration from an induction motor, random pulse position PWM scheme is adopted to spread the harmonics in a wide frequency range which results in the reduction of torque pulsation in the ac motor drives. Simulation and experimental results based on the laboratory prototype circuit are presented to verify the proposed control scheme     

General rules for signal flow graph modeling and analysis of dc-dc converters

Signal flow graph (SFG) nonlinear modeling approach is well known for modeling dc-dc converters. However, all possible SFGs of a given dc-dc converter system will not yield the generalized graph. A systematic procedure and guidelines for developing unified flow graph models of the dc-dc boost converters, from which complete behavior can be determined is presented. Usefulness of the proposed method is demonstrated through examples. As an illustration a 2-cell cascade boost and interleaved boost converter systems are taken as examples. Derivation of large, small-signal and steady-state models from generalized flow graph is also demonstrated. Large-signal model is developed and programmed in TUTSIM simulator. Large-signal, responses against supply and load disturbances are obtained. Experimental observations are provided to validate the proposed algorithm.     

PWM full-bridge converter with natural input power factor correction

A pulsewidth modulated (PWM) full-bridge converter that simultaneously performs input power factor correction (PFC) and DC-DC conversion is proposed. The converter is the same as the standard voltage-fed PWM full-bridge converter with a diode-bridge low-pass filter front end, but with a slight modification that results in an improvement in power factor that is sufficient to satisfy the EN61000-3-2 requirements for electrical equipment. The operation of the converter is explained and analyzed, and the results of the analysis are used to determine the converter's steady-state characteristics, which are discussed in detail. A design procedure for the selection of components is then derived and demonstrated with an example. The feasibility of the converter and its ability to satisfy EN61000-3-2 requirements on electrical equipment is shown with results obtained from an experimental prototype.     

Power factor correction circuits with robust current control technique

A dynamically robust current control method to synthesize a sinusoidal input current for AC-to-DC converters with boost type topology is presented. Under this control strategy, the inductor current and the diode current of the boost converter are fed back and combined in a special way which makes the input current of the AC-to-DC converter stable and robust. The input current is solely determined by the reference current. When the reference current signal is derived from the sinusoidal input voltage, the input current is sinusoidal and in phase with the input voltage. Theoretical analysis is first provided. Small signal analysis shows that the current loop is inherently stable and has a fast dynamic response. Large signal analysis reveals that the control system is not affected by large disturbances in supply voltage or output load. Computer simulations have been carried out and experimental prototype models have been built to verify the analysis and demonstrate the feasibility of the control strategy. A power factor of 0.998 and a total harmonic distortion (THD) of 3.18% are measured.     

Implementation of nondeterministic pulsewidth modulation forinverter drives

A single-phase power factor preregulator to improve the power quality in the input side of an ac/dc/ac converter and a random pulsewidth modulation (PWM) to reduce the emitted noise energy and the mechanical vibration for an induction motor drive is proposed. The hysteresis current control (HCC) technique for a voltage source switching mode rectifier (SMR) is adopted. A control scheme is presented such that the line current is driven to follow the reference current which is derived from the dc bus voltage regulator and the output power estimator. A random pulse position technique for a three-phase voltage source inverter system to reduce the noise energy and resonant vibration from ac machine drive is described. By randomly varying the instantaneous pulse position in each switching frequency, the frequency distribution of harmonics is spread in a wide frequency range which results in reduction of torque pulsations in the ac motor drive systems. To investigate the proposed control scheme, experimental tests based on a laboratory prototype were implemented to show the nearly unity power factor at the SMR and reduce the noise energy concentrated at the specific tones