Feasible enhancement of a three‐phase soft‐switching inverter with an auxiliary resonant DC link snubber

The purpose of this paper is to improve power conversion efficiency of a three‐phase voltage source type soft‐switching inverter with a single auxiliary resonant DC link (ARDCL) snubber. First, the operating principle of an ARDCL snubber discussed here is described. Second, this paper proposes an effective pulse pattern generation method of the zero voltage space vector of the three‐phase soft‐switching inverter using IGBTs or power modules that can reduce power losses in the ARDCL snubber treated here. In particular, a zero voltage holding interval in the DC rail busline of this three‐phase soft‐switching inverter is to be regulated according to the generation method of the zero voltage space vector. Third, the maximum modulation depth M_max under the condition of correction of the instantaneous voltage space vector can be improved by using a new zero voltage space vector generation method. Finally, the feasible experimental results of this inverter are obtained confirming the operating characteristics such as power conversion actual efficiency, as well as conventional efficiency THD and RMS value of the balanced three‐phase output voltage for an experimentally built three‐phase voltage source type soft‐switching pulse modulated inverter using the latest IGBT modules and evaluated from the standpoint of practical applications in industry UPS and new energy systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 146(1): 89–99, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10234     

A novel prototype of auxiliary edge resonant bridge leg link snubber‐assisted soft‐switching sine‐wave PWM inverter

This paper proposes a new circuit topology of the three‐phase soft‐switching PWM inverter and PFC converter using IGBT power modules, which has the improved active auxiliary switch and edge resonant bridge leg‐commutation‐link soft‐switching snubber circuit with pulse current regenerative feedback loop as compared with the typical auxiliary resonant pole snubber discussed previously. This three‐phase soft‐switching PWM double converter is more suitable and acceptable for a large‐capacity uninterruptible power supply, PFC converter, utility‐interactive bidirectional converter, and so forth. In this paper, the soft‐switching operation and optimum circuit design of the novel type active auxiliary edge resonant bridge leg commutation link snubber treated here are described for high‐power applications. Both the main active power switches and the auxiliary active power switches achieve soft switching under the principles of ZVS or ZCS in this three‐phase inverter switching. This three‐phase soft‐switching commutation scheme can effectively minimize the switching surge‐related electromagnetic noise and the switching power losses of the power semiconductor devices; IGBTs and modules used here. This three‐phase inverter and rectifier coupled double converter system does not need any sensing circuit and its peripheral logic control circuits to detect the voltage or the current and does not require any unwanted chemical electrolytic capacitor to make the neutral point of the DC power supply voltage source. The performances of this power conditioner are proved on the basis of the experimental and simulation results. Because the power semiconductor switches (IGBT module packages) have a trade‐off relation in the switching fall time and tail current interval characteristics as well as the conductive saturation voltage characteristics, this three‐phase soft‐switching PWM double converter can improve actual efficiency in the output power ranges with a trench gate controlled MOS power semiconductor device which is much improved regarding low saturation voltage. The effectiveness of this is verified from a practical point of view. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 155(4): 64–76, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20207     

Improvement of power conversion efficiency of soft‐switching inverter in range of low output power by adjustable dead time control

The power conversion efficiency of soft‐switching inverters can be improved by using loss‐less snubber commutation; however, the main switches of the inverter fail in zero‐voltage turn‐on when the output current is small. As a solution to this problem, adjustable dead time control in a loss‐less snubber commutation according to the magnitude of output current has been proposed. Adjustable dead time control achieves zero‐voltage turn‐on of the inverter main switches in a loss‐less snubber commutation in the range of low output current; however, waveforms of the output current of the inverter become distorted. In this paper, we propose a scheme for adjustable dead time control with dead time compensation for soft‐switching inverters. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by experiments. Experimental results demonstrate that when the proposed control scheme is adopted, the power conversion efficiency in the range of low output power improves up to about 3% and the THD is improved within 3%. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(1): 57–64, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21282     

一种新型的零电压谐振极型逆变器

为实现一种结构简单，高效，高频，低的电压应力，易于控制的软开关三相逆变器。该文提出一种新型的三相谐振极逆变器，它可以实现逆变器主开关的零电压开通，辅助开关管的零电流开关，谐振电路功率小，与传统的辅助谐振变换极逆变器(ARCPI)不同，它避免了ARCPI使用的2个大电容，也没有中性点电位的变化问题。与三角形或星型谐振吸收逆变器(RSI)的三相谐振电路之间互相耦合不同，它的三相之间是互相独立的，这就使得逆变器易于应用各种控制策略。该文选取一相电路，对其工作原理进行了分析，给出了在不同工作模式下的等效电路图，仿真和实验结果都验证了原理的正确性。     

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     

Hybrid DC–DC converter with high efficiency,wide ZVS range,and less output inductance

In this paper, a new soft switching direct current (DC)–DC converter with low circulating current, wide zero voltage switching range, and reduced output inductor is presented for electric vehicle or plug‐in hybrid electric vehicle battery charger application. The proposed high‐frequency link DC–DC converter includes two resonant circuits and one full‐bridge phase‐shift pulse‐width modulation circuit with shared power switches in leading and lagging legs. Series resonant converters are operated at fixed switching frequency to extend the zero voltage switching range of power switches. Passive snubber circuit using one clamp capacitor and two rectifier diodes at the secondary side is adopted to reduce the primary current of full‐bridge converter to zero during the freewheeling interval. Hence, the circulating current on the primary side is eliminated in the proposed converter. In the same time, the voltage across the output inductor is also decreased so that the output inductance can be reduced compared with the output inductance in conventional full‐bridge converter. Finally, experiments are presented for a 1.33‐kW prototype circuit converting 380 V input to an output voltage of 300–420 V/3.5 A for battery charger applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dead‐time elimination SVPWM of six‐leg inverter

We present a six‐leg voltage source inverter (VSI) with a single DC link to feed a three‐phase inductive load. The space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) of the six‐leg inverter is studied in detail. The novel switching strategy in one sampling period for H bridge is proposed to avoid the 180° phase shift of the PWM signals for upper and lower side switches. Based on the novel switching strategy, a dead‐time elimination SVPWM is proposed, which can be easily implemented on a digital signal processor. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the validity and features of the proposed novel SVPWM. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

一种带有软开关缓冲电路的变流器

为提高变流器的能量转移能力,降低控制电路的复杂性,提出一种适用于升压变流器的新的有源软开关缓冲电路。该电路利用辅助开关来参与能量转移;且升压变流器和缓冲器的开关能以零电压切换(ZV S)关断和零电流切换(ZCS)导通的方式工作。虽然流过升压变流器和缓冲器开关的电流不同,但这些开关在导通的大部分时间里并联运行,因此缓冲器开关参与了从电源到输出的能量转移。两个开关采用相同的控制信号和非隔离的门极驱动电路,控制电路十分简单、可靠。该方法通过一个3.2 kW升压变流器原型的实验结果得到证实。     

Analysis and implementation of a high‐efficiency zero‐voltage‐zero‐current‐switching DC–DC converter

A high‐efficiency zero‐voltage‐zero‐current‐switching DC–DC converter with ripple‐free input current is presented. In the presented converter, the ripple‐free boost cell provides ripple‐free input current and zero‐voltage switching of power switches. The resonant flyback cell provides zero‐voltage switching of power switches and zero‐current switching of the output diode. Also, it has a simple output stage. The proposed converter achieves high efficiency because of the reduction of the switching losses of the power switches and the output diode. Detailed analysis and design of the proposed converter are carried out. A prototype of the proposed converter is developed and its experimental results are presented for validation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steady‐state analysis of a novel ZVT interleaved boost converter

In this paper, a novel soft‐switched interleaved boost converter composed of two‐cell boost conversion units and an auxiliary circuit is proposed and investigated. The proposed auxiliary circuit is implemented using only one auxiliary switch and a minimum number of passive components without an effective increase in the cost and the complexity of the converter. The main advantage of this auxiliary circuit is that it not only provides zero‐voltage‐transition (ZVT) for the main switches but also provides soft switching for the auxiliary switch and diodes. Though all semiconductor devices operate under soft switching, they do not have any additional voltage and current stresses. The proposed converter operates successfully in soft‐switching operation mode for a wide range of input voltage level and the load. In addition, it has advantages such as fewer structure complications, lower cost and ease of control. Since the two‐cell interleaved boost units are identical, operational analysis and design for the converter module become quite simple. In this study, the detailed steady‐state theoretical analysis of the proposed converter is presented, which is verified exactly by simulation and experiments carried out on a prototype of a 120 W and 50 kHz/cell interleaved boost converter. The practical results confirm the results obtained from theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种高效率软开关三相并网逆变器

提出一种只采用一个辅助开关,即能实现所有开关的零电压开通,并能抑制二极管反向恢复的高效率软开关三相并网逆变器.逆变器可以采用空间矢量调制(SVM)策略,主开关和辅助开关具有相同且固定的开关频率.分析了软开关三相并网逆变器的开关过程,给出了谐振参数设计步骤.研制了20 kW实验样机并完成了实验验证,实验结果表明,并网逆变...     

A soft‐switching high step‐up DC‐DC converter with a single magnetic component

A soft‐switching high step‐up DC‐DC converter with a single magnetic component is presented in this paper. The proposed converter can provide high voltage gain with a relatively low turn ratio of a transformer. Voltage doubler structure is selected for the output stage. Due to this structure, the voltage gain can be increased, and the voltage stresses of output diodes are clamped as the output voltage. Moreover, the output diode currents are controlled by a leakage inductance of a transformer, and the reverse‐recovery loss of the output diodes is significantly reduced. Two power switches in the proposed converter can operate with soft‐switching due to the reflected secondary current. The voltages across the power switches are confined to the clamping capacitor voltage. Steady‐state analysis, simulation, and experimental results for the proposed converter are presented to validate the feasibility and the performance of the proposed converter. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐performance doubly fed induction machine drive system using predictive direct torque control drive system fed by indirect matrix converters

This paper presents a novel predictive direct torque control for doubly fed induction machine based on indirect matrix converter (IMC), which is characterized by its simple structure, minimal‐torque ripple, and constant switching frequency. Nowadays, the control strategies based on predictive methods have proved their efficiency to improve drive systems capabilities. So, in this paper, one of the best predictive methods that have recently been suggested for doubly fed induction machine drive systems is applied to IMC. The purpose of this combination is to modify the control parameters and size/volume reduction of drive system structure, which is difficult to achieve in conventional systems based on voltage source inverters. The good tracking behavior with reduced torque and flux ripple for both motoring and generating modes as well as removing bulky electrolytic capacitor from the DC link of a converter resulted by using three vectors, two active vectors together with one zero vector per switching period, and applying these vectors to the inverter stage of IMC. To improve the motor drive system performance and reduce losses caused by snubber circuits, the rectifier four‐step commutation method in rectifier bridge is used. In the inverter stage, the predictive direct torque control method is employed. The simulation results of the proposed model confirm its effectiveness and accuracy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel active auxiliary circuit for efficiency enhancement integrated with synchronous buck converter

In this paper, a novel auxiliary circuit is introduced for the synchronous buck converter. This auxiliary circuit provides zero‐current, zero‐voltage switching conditions for the main and synchronous switches while providing zero‐current condition for the auxiliary switch and diodes. The proposed active auxiliary circuit integrated with synchronous buck converter that emanates to zero‐voltage transition (ZVT)–zero‐current transition (ZCT) pulse width‐modulated (PWM) synchronous buck converter is analyzed, and its operating modes are presented. The additional voltage and current stresses on main, synchronous and auxiliary switches get decimated because of the resonance of the auxiliary circuit that acts for a small segment of time in the proposed converter. The important design feature of soft‐switching converters is the placement of resonant components that mollifies the switching and conduction losses. With the advent of ZVT–ZCT switching, there is an increase in the switching frequency that declines the resonant component values in the converters and also constricts the switching losses. The characteristics of the proposed converter are verified with the simulation in the Power Sim (PSIM) software co‐simulated with MATLAB/SIMULINK environment and implemented experimentally. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A High‐Frequency Cycloconverter Based on a Phase‐Shift Control Method

This paper proposes a new control method for a high‐frequency cycloconverter consisting of two half‐bridge inverters and a series–resonant circuit. This cycloconverter acts as an ac‐to‐ac direct power conversion circuit without any dc stage. This circuit does not require a diode bridge rectifier, and thus, can be used to reduce forward voltage drops and power losses in the diodes. A new phase‐shift control method is proposed to regulate the capacitor voltage in each half‐bridge inverter and to achieve zero‐voltage switching. The proposed phase‐shift control is theoretically discussed and is also verified by an experimental circuit consisting of superjunction power MOSFETs. As a result, the proposed high‐frequency cycloconverter exhibits a good power conversion efficiency as high as 97.7% at the rated power of 1.3 kW.     

Space vector pulse‐width modulation theory and solution for Z‐source inverters with maximum constant boost control

The theory of space vector pulse‐width modulation (SVPWM) technique for the three‐phase Z‐source inverter has been introduced in detail, and a novel implementation scheme based on the maximum constant boost control method is presented in this paper. Like the traditional carrier‐based maximum constant boost control strategy, the proposed control method is able to achieve the maximum voltage boost ability while always keeping the shoot‐through duty ratio constant. Besides, it inherits the advantages from the SVPWM technique. Compared with carrier‐based strategies, it has wider linear operation range and is easier for digital implementation. The number of switching transition in each switching cycle is reduced, which significantly decreases switching losses. To investigate the advantages of lessening switching losses, three optimal switching patterns are proposed and compared with the carrier‐based strategy. It is demonstrated that the number of switching transition can be reduced by 60% at most by the proposed SVPWM‐based control method. All the theoretical analysis has been validated by the simulation results in MATLAB/Simulink at last. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A high step‐up half‐bridge DC/DC converter with a special coupled inductor for input current ripple cancelation and extended voltage doubler circuit for power conditioning of fuel cell systems

This paper presents a high step‐up soft switched dc–dc converter having the feature of current ripple cancelation in the input stage that is specialized for power conditioning of fuel cell systems. The converter comprises a special half‐bridge converter and a rectifier stage based upon the voltage‐doubler circuit, in which the coupled‐inductor technology is amalgamated with switched‐capacitor circuit. The input current with no ripple is the principal characteristics of this topology that is achieved by utilizing a small coupled inductor. In addition, the low clamped voltage stress across both power switches and output diodes is another advantage of the proposed converter, which allows employing the metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effect transistors with minuscule on‐state resistance and diodes with lower forward voltage‐drop, and thereby, the semiconductors' conduction losses diminish considerably. The inherent nature of this topology handles the switching scheme based on the asymmetrical pulse width modulation in order for switches to establish the zero voltage switching, leading to lower switching losses. Besides, because of the absence of the reverse‐recovery phenomenon, all diodes turn off with zero current switching. At last, a 250‐W laboratory prototype with the input voltage 24 V and output voltage 380 V is implemented to verify the especial features of the proposed converter. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

PDM Control Method for a Matrix Converter Converting Several‐Hundred‐kHz Single‐Phase Input to Commercial Frequency Three‐Phase Output

This paper discusses pulse density modulation (PDM) control methods for a single‐phase to three‐phase matrix converter (MC) in high‐frequency applications. The proposed circuit is used as an interface converter for a wireless power transfer system. This converter can input a frequency of several hundred kilohertz and output a low frequency, that is, 50 Hz or 60 Hz, for a commercial power grid. The proposed circuit implements zero voltage switching (ZVS) operation by using PDM control methods and obtains high efficiency. In this paper, two PDM control strategies are compared: delta–sigma conversion and the PDM pattern generation method based on space vector modulation (SVM), which is proposed here. Also, the experimental results obtained with the proposed system will be presented and discussed. The total harmonic distortions (THDs) of the output voltage with delta–sigma conversion and the PDM pattern generation method based on SVM are found to be 5.96% and 2.15%, respectively. In addition, the maximum efficiencies with delta–sigma conversion and the PDM control based on SVM are 93.4% and 97.3%, respectively. From the results, the validity of the PDM control based on SVM has been confirmed for improvement of the output waveforms and reduction of the switching loss.     

一种新型无刷直流电机谐振极软开关逆变器

永磁无刷直流电机具有高功率密度、高转矩/电流比和控制简单等优势,得到了广泛应用。然而,无刷直流电机通常采用硬开关逆变器驱动,硬开关逆变器的系统效率较低,散热器的体积和重量较大,限制了大功率无刷直流电机驱动系统功率密度和性能的进一步提升。针对硬开关逆变器问题,提出了一种无刷直流电机专用的谐振极软开关电压源逆变器。通过在传统硬开关逆变器的三相输出端添加辅助谐振网络,实现了逆变桥主开关器件的零电压(ZVS)开关动作,辅助双向开关在零电流开关(ZCS)条件开通和关断。针对新型软开关逆变器,提出了一种新的脉宽调制(PWM)控制策略——TPWM TON,逆变桥上下侧开关器件轮流进行PWM调制,保持了直流母线中点电位的平衡,且使主开关和辅助开关的开关频率降到PWM调制频率的一半。对提出的软开关逆变器进行了实验研究,实验结果验证了电路结构、理论分析和控制策略的正确性与可行性。