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.     

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.     

State-plane analysis of zero-voltage-switching resonant DC/DCconverters

The state-plane analysis technique is established for the zero-voltage-switching resonant DC/DC power converter family of topologies, namely the buck, boost, buck-boost, Cuk, sepic, and dual-sepic converters. The state plane provides a compression of information, which allows the designer to examine the nonlinear dynamics of resonant converter operation. Utilizing the state plane, modes of resonant converter operation are examined. Expressions are derived for the switching frequencies at the boundaries between these modes and at the boundary of energy conversion     

Understanding commutations in switching converters. I. Basic theory and application of the Compensation Theorem

The analysis of synchronous commutations in switching converters is discussed. A reduced resistive circuit for the analysis of synchronous commutations is introduced by applying the Compensation Theorem. Based on a matrix model, a new method for the analysis of both hard and soft synchronous commutations is formulated, which permits a straightforward understanding operation of switching converters. The method of analysis is presented herein in its basic version, for the analysis of nonisolated hard-switching converters, while the general formulation and its applications to the analysis and synthesis of DC-DC regulators is presented in the companion paper Part II.     

Simplified analysis of PWM converters using model of PWM switch.Continuous conduction mode

A circuit-oriented approach to the analysis of pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converters is presented. This method relies on the identification of a three-terminal nonlinear device, called the PWM switch, which consists of only the active and passive switches in a PWM converter. Once the invariant properties of the PWM switch are determined, its average equivalent circuit model can be derived. This model is versatile enough to easily account for storage-time modulation of bipolar junction transistor(s) (BJTs); the DC- and small-signal characteristics of a large class of PWM converters can then be contained by a simply replacing the PWM switch with its equivalent circuit model. The methodology is very similar to linear amplifier circuit analysis, whereby the transistor is replaced by its equivalent circuit model     

Effect of FET output capacitance on ZVS of resonant converters

The analysis of resonant converters including the capacitance of the switches is presented. New dc characteristics are obtained for the series, parallel, and series-parallel resonant converters (SPRC). The operating regions where the converters operate with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) are determined as a function of the switch capacitance. The more pronounced effect can be seen in the series resonant converter (SRC), while the parallel resonant converter (PRC) is the most insensitive. The results of the analysis have been verified on an experimental prototype     

PWM converter with low stresses and zero capacitive turn-on losses

A buck converter operating at constant switching frequency, whose active switches and recovery diode commutate at zero-voltage-switching (ZVS), with zero capacitive turn-on losses, is proposed. By using the parasitic capacitances of the switches as resonant capacitors, multiresonance is created. The resonant stage takes place only after the resonant inductor has been discharged, thus avoiding a resonant current peak; the devices are subjected to the same stresses as their counterparts in conventional hard-switching converters. A high efficiency is obtained.     

Aircraft Power System Harmonics Involving Single-Phase PFC Converters

AC-DC converters with active power factor correction (PFC) are replacing uncontrolled diode rectification circuits on commercial jet airplanes in order to meet harmonic distortion limits imposed by new airborne electrical system power quality standards. The high line frequency of airborne AC power systems presents a major challenge for the design of PFC converters capable of meeting these standards. This paper investigates a new source of harmonic current distortion and the resulting system power quality problems related to dynamic interactions between PFC converters and the AC source. Experimental results are first presented to demonstrate the existence of such interactions and their effects on system power quality. Analytical and numerical simulation results are then presented to explain why such dynamic interactions can lead to significantly increased harmonic current distortion in steady state operation. Elimination of undesirable system interactions through proper damping of the PFC converter input filter is also presented and its effectiveness experimentally validated.     

A strong robustness open-circuit fault diagnosis strategy for novel fault-tolerant electric drive system based on d-q-axis current signal

To diagnose the Open-Circuit (OC) fault in the novel fault-tolerant electric drive system, based on d-q-axis current signal, a strong robustness diagnosis strategy is proposed and investigated. Fewer independent power supplies and converters are required in the novel fault-tolerant electric drive system based on Dual-Winding Permanent Magnet Motor (DWPMM), and the system’s reliability, usage ratio and power density have been improved compared to the conventional fault-tolerant motor drive system. However, the novel fault-tolerant electric drive system has the OC fault diagnostic false alarms issue when load changes suddenly or under light-load condition. And it lacks the research on the diagnostic method when the system encounters intermittent OC fault in power switches. By theory derivation, simulation and experimental verification, it can be concluded that the proposed strong robustness OC fault diagnosis strategy based on d-q-axis current signal can overcome the OC fault diagnostic false alarms issue when load changes suddenly or under light-load condition. And it can detect and locate the OC fault of single-phase winding in real time, and diagnose the intermittent OC fault of power switches.     

MEMS Electronically Steerable Antennas for Fire Control Radars

Large apertures are of great benefit to applications that are prime powered limited as is found on aerostat and other airborne platforms. Electronically scanned array antennas are often proposed for these applications. However, increasing the aperture area with conventional array technology is met with prohibitive cost, weight, and prime power increases because of the dense spacing of phase shifters and/or active T/R modules. This discusses the recent development of RF MEMS (Microelectromechanical System) switch technology and the use of these switches in a Radanttrade lens configuration for arrays of approximately 10 m² at X-band. A proof-of-concept 0.4 m² MEMS Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) containing 25,000 MEMS switches has been successfully designed, fabricated, and tested. The 0.4 m² MEMS ESA was then integrated with an AN/APG-67 radar system to form the MEMS Demonstration Radar System. The MEMS Demonstration Radar System successfully detected both airborne and ground moving targets during a series of extensive radar demonstrations. This is believed to be the first large scale employment of MEMS switches in a scanning antenna and radar system. The low-cost, lightweight, and low power technology demonstrated can enable weight and power constrained platforms with electronic steering.     

High-performance EHA controls using an interior permanent magnetmotor

A controller for a high-performance electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) using an interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous motor to produce servo motion is described. The buried-magnet design of the IPM motor yields desired characteristics such as high efficiency, robust rotor construction, and wide operating speed range. Power converter size is minimized by using insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power switches combined with high-voltage integrated circuit (HVIC) gate drivers in phase-leg power modules. Experimental results for the demonstrator motor-controller hardware rated at 12 hp (continuous) are presented confirming the IPM motor drive's performance     

CIECA: Application to Current Programmed Switching Dc-Dc Converters

Sundstrand Advanced Technology Corporation The current injection equivalent circuit approach (CIECA) to modeling switching converter power stages is extended to model the current programmed converter power stages operating in fixed frequency, continuous inductor conduction mode. To demonstrate the method, modeling is carried out for the buck, boost, and buckboost converters to obtain small-signal linear equivalent circuit models which represent both input and output properties. The results of these analyses are presented in the form of linear equivalent circuit models as well as transfer functions. Though current programmed converters exhibit single-pole response, the addition of artificial ramp changes converters to exhibit well damped two-pole response. This has been investigated for the first time using CIECA. The results of these analyses are presented in the form of linear equivalent circuit models as well as transfer functions.     

同步发电机整流系统带恒功率负载的稳定性分析

 在现代飞行器电源系统负载中,功率变换器和电动机驱动装置大量增加,所表现出的负阻抗特性对系统稳定性产生十分重要的影响。采用状态空间平均法对同步发电机整流系统带恒功率负载(CPL)的稳定性进行了分析研究。建立了同步发电机整流系统同时带阻性负载和恒功率负载时的小信号数学模型,通过讨论负载参数对系统稳定性的影响,得到系统带恒功率负载时的极限值和稳定工作区域,所设计的串联校正环节在一定程度上改善系统响应快速性的同时,使系统的相角裕度增加了53°,有效地提高了系统的稳定性。     

Series of radiation-hardened, high efficiency converters for high voltage bus

A review of common switching techniques for dc/dc power conversion is presented. The evolution of the forward converter is discussed, leading naturally to the introduction of the double forward converter. Technical details for a series of radiation-hardened converters are then provided. This series was designed for space power management and distribution (PMAD) applications. The successful development of the PMAD converter demonstrated the viability of high voltage bus.     

Analysis of a parallel resonant converter with secondary-sideresonance

A high-frequency (HF) link parallel resonant DC/DC converter operating in the lagging power factor mode with the resonating capacitor on the secondary side of the HF transformer is analyzed using a state-space approach. Closed-form solutions (except for the duration of diode conduction) are obtained for steady-state conditions, and design curves are obtained. A method of obtaining optimum operating point under certain constraints is developed and is used as the basis of a simple design procedure. A theoretical study comparing the performance of three MOSFET-based 1-kW converters with different transformer turn ratios under load changes from rated-load to 10% load is carried out. Experimental results obtained with these converters with different transformer turn ratios are also presented     

Design optimization for asymmetrical ZVS-PWM zeta converter

In this paper, a new soft-switching Zeta converter with an asymmetrical pulsewidth modulation (PWM) control is proposed. The proposed Zeta converter has the features of constant frequency operation, zero voltage switching (ZVS), and low voltage stress on the active switches. Moreover, it can achieve high power density, high efficiency, low switching loss, and low component count, which make converter operation at low to medium power level feasible. Operational principle of the Zeta converter is presented in detail, and a specific example is designed and implemented to verify its feasibility.     

Predictive & Adaptive MPPT Perturb and Observe Method

The perturb and observe (P&O) best operation conditions are investigated in order to identify the edge efficiency performances of this most popular maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique for photovoltaic (PV) applications. It is shown that P&O may guarantee top-level efficiency, provided that a proper predictive (by means of a parabolic interpolation of the last three operating points) and adaptive (based on the measure of the actual power) hill climbing strategy is adopted. The approach proposed is aimed at realizing, in addition to absolute best tracking performances, high robustness and promptness both in sunny and cloudy weather conditions. The power gain with respect to standard P&O technique is proved by means of simulation results and experimental measurements performed on a low power system. Besides the performance improvements, it is shown that the proposed approach allows possible reduction of hardware costs of analog-to-digital (A/D) converters used in the MPPT control circuitry.     

Design and technology of compact high-power converters

New material technologies such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) are promising in the development of compact high-power converters for next-generation power electronics applications. This paper presents an optimized converter design approach that takes into consideration non-linear interactions among various converter components, source and load. It is shown that with the development of high-temperature, high-power SiC power module technology, magnetic components and capacitors become important technology challenges, and cannot be ignored. A 50% improvement in power density is calculated for a 100 V-2 kV, 7 kW SiC DC-DC power converter operating at 150°C compared to a silicon power converter. The SiC power converter can be operated at junction temperatures in excess of 300°C (as compared to 150°C for a silicon power converter) with reasonable efficiency that potentially leads to a significant reduction in thermal management     

Single-stage converters for PV lighting systems with MPPT andenergy backup

Single-stage converters (SSCs) are proposed for applications of photovoltaic powered lighting system (PPLS). The synchronous switch technique is employed to develop the SSCs which can fulfill maximum power point tracking (MPPT), battery charging, discharging, and lamp ballasting features. Several typical SSCs are discussed. One of the proposed SSCs, which is the integration of a buck-boost charger/discharger and a class-D series resonant parallel loaded inverter, is analyzed and designed into a PPLS. Both pulsewidth modulation (PWM) and variable-frequency controls are used to govern the system operation. The controller is implemented on a single-chip microprocessor. Simulated and experimental results of the proposed system for driving up to sixteen GE TBX 26 W fluorescent lamps are used to verify the theoretical prediction and feasibility. The proposed system has a simple configuration, as well as a zero voltage switching (ZVS) feature, and can achieve the same functions as those in conventional systems when abrupt insolation changes do not occur frequently. These result in the inherent merits of lower cost, more compact size and possibly achieving higher reliability over conventional systems     

A novel power electronics bidirectional interface

A novel three-phase bidirectional interface using only four power semiconductor switches to simplify the hardware circuit is analyzed and designed. An accurate simulation model is proposed for convenient simulation using common PC software tools. A critical inductance condition is derived for successful current tracking. The capacity to generate maximum active power is also estimated. A systematic design method for the feedback controller is presented to find the parameters of the controller. Some simulation and experimental results are presented for verification.