• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.396-402
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• 2008

This paper presents the structure and performance of a new Integrated magnetics-based transformer, which can be readily adapted to zero-voltage switching full bridge dc-to-dc converters. The proposed transformer features with two paralleled primary windings and a center-tapped secondary winding. The transformer can be fabricated on standard EE or EI cores where the primary and secondary windings are placed on the outer legs while the output filter inductor is wound on the middle leg. The performance of the proposed transformer is demonstrated with a 100 kHz 720 W experimental dc-to-dc converter which recorded a 92% conversion efficiency at 12 V output voltage.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.766-777
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• 2018

In this paper, a sliding mode and proportional plus integral (SM-PI) control combined with self-sustained phase shift modulation (SSPSM) for LLC resonant converters is presented. The proposed control scheme improves the transient response while preserving good steady-state performance. An averaged large signal model of an LLC converter with the ZVS modulation technique is developed for the SM control design. The sliding surface is obtained based on the input-output linearization concept. A system identification method is adopted to obtain the transform function of the LLC resonant converter, which is used to design the PI control. In order to reduce the inherent chattering problem in the steady state, the combined SM-PI control strategy is derived with fuzzy control, where the SM control is responsive during the transient state while the PI control prevails in the steady state. The combination of SSPSM and the SM-PI control provides ZVS operation, robustness and a fast transient response against step load variations. Simulation and experimental results validate the theoretical analysis and the attractive features of the proposed scheme.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2015

This paper focuses on a systematical and in-depth analysis of the reactive power and soft-switching regions of Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converters with dual-phase-shift (DPS) control to achieve high efficiency in a wide operating range. The key features of the DPS operating modes are characterized and verified by analytical calculation and experimental tests. The mathematical expressions of the reactive power are derived and the reductions of the reactive power are illustrated with respect to a wide range of output power and voltage conversion ratios. The ZVS soft-switching boundary of the DPS is presented and one more leg with ZVS capability is achieved compared with the CPS control. With the selection of the optimal operating mode, the optimal phase-shift pair is determined by performance indices, which include the minimum peak or rms inductor current. All of the theoretical analysis and optimizations are verified by experimental tests. The experimental results with the DPS demonstrate the efficiency improvement for different load conditions and voltage conversion ratios.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.478-487
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• 2014

This study presents a new interleaved three-level zero-voltage switching (ZVS) converter for high-voltage and high-current applications. Two circuit cells are operated with interleaved pulse-width modulation in the proposed converter to reduce the current ripple at the input and output sides, as well as to decrease the current rating of output inductors for high-load-current applications. Each circuit cell includes one half-bridge converter and one three-level converter at the primary side. At the secondary side, the transformer windings of two converters are connected in series to reduce the size of the output inductor or switching current in the output capacitor. Based on the three-level circuit topology, the voltage stress of power switches is clamped at $V_{in}/2$. Thus, MOSFETs with 500 V voltage rating can be used at 800 V input voltage converters. The output capacitance of the power switch and the leakage inductance (or external inductance) are resonant at the transition interval. Therefore, power switches can be turned on under ZVS. Finally, experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2000

Buck converter is considered to be one of the most widely used DC-DC converters due to its simple structure and high reliable performance. However, when it be combined with thin-film inductor, its own low inductance requires higher switching frequency in order to maintain optimum output ripple voltage and thus gives rise to extra switching losses. In view to overcoming such a technical inconvenience, soft switching fashion is suggested such as zero-voltage-switching of which an well known example is a Zero-Voltage-Switching clamp voltage(ZVS-CV) converter for which low inductance is imperatively required for ZVS operation. In order to support our suggestion, a 1W ZVS-CV buck converter is built by use of thin-film inductor, and then tested it. From the results of experiment and loss analysis, it is proved that the ZVS operation is well achieved and the measured efficiency of the converter is improved about 4% at full load comparing the conventional buck converter.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2012

This paper is study on a new high efficiency DC-DC converter of discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) with zero voltage switching (ZVS). The converters of high efficiency are generally made that the power loss of the used semiconductor switching devices is minimized. The proposed converter is accomplished that the turn-on operation of switches is on zero current switching (ZCS) by DCM. The converter is also applicable to a new quasi-resonant circuit to achieve high efficiency converter. The control switches using in the converter are operated with soft switching, that is, ZVS and ZCS by quasi-resonant method. The control switches are operated without increasing their voltage and current stresses by the soft switching technology. The result is that the switching loss is very low and the efficiency of the converter is high. The soft switching operation and the system efficiency of the proposed DCM-ZVS converter are verified by digital simulation and experimental results.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2001

This paper presents a Zero Voltage and Zero Current Switching (ZVZCS) 3-Level DC/DC converter. This converter overcomes the drawbacks presented by the conventional Zero Voltage Switching(ZVS) 3-Level converter, such as high circulating energy, severe parastic ringing on the rectifier diodes, and limited ZVS load range for the inner switches. The converter presented in this paper uses a phase shift control with a flying capacitor in the primary side to achieve ZVS for the outer switches. Additionally, the converter uses an energy recovery snubber to reset the primary current during the free-wheeling stage to achieve ZCS for the inner switches. The proposed converters are analyzed and verified on 6kW, 39kHz experimental prototype.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2006

The application areas of traditional push-pull converters are limited because the voltage stress of switches is high (twice of the input voltage). But the push - pull converter topology is suitable for unregulated low-voltage to high-voltage power conversion such as the fuel cell. This paper presents a novel power converter structure that is very suitable for the DC/DC converter in fuel cell systems. Based on this structure, a ZVS- ZCS push-pull converter is proposed. The switches of the proposed push-pull converter can operate under ZVS or ZCS condition with the help of a new passive clamping circuit. The passive clamping techniques solves the voltage overshoot problem. Because the buck converter circuit operates at twice the synchronous switching frequency of the push-pull converter, the peak current in the current-fed inductor and transformer is reduced. The operation principle of the proposed converter is analyzed and verified by simulations and experimental results. A 1 kW DC/DC converter was implemented with DSP TMS320F2812, from which experimental results have shown that efficiency improvement and surge suppression can be achieved effectively.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.128-137
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• 2015

A novel parallel three-level zero voltage switching (ZVS) DC converter is presented for medium voltage applications. The proposed converter includes three sub-circuits connected in parallel with the same power switches to share load current and reduce the current stress of passive components at the output side. Thus, the size of the output chokes is reduced and the switch counts in the proposed converter are less that in the conventional parallel three-level DC/DC converter. Each sub-circuit combines one half-bridge converter and one three-level converter. The transformer secondary windings of these two converters are connected in series in order to reduce the size of output inductor. Due to the three-level circuit topology, the voltage stress of power switches is equal to $V_{in}/2$. Based on the resonant behavior by the output capacitance of power switches and the leakage inductance (or external inductance) at the transition interval, each switch can be turned on under ZVS. Finally, experiments based on a 2 kW prototype are provided to verify the performance of the proposed converter.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2018

In battery-operated systems, an isolated converter is used to interface the utility grid with the system to increase stability when charging and discharging batteries. Systems such as vehicle-to-grids (V2Gs), on-board chargers, and energy storage systems (ESSs) have recently become popular, and the roles of isolated converters have become important considerations in fabricating such devices. A fixed-frequency LLC converter, which is a type of isolated converter, presents the advantages of high efficiency and high power density by performing zero-voltage switching (ZVS) over wide frequency ranges. However, the magnetizing inductance of the LLC converter should be designed to enable ZVS in all switching devices. Therefore, in this study, the operating characteristics of the LLC circuit are analyzed, and an optimal design method for ZVS operation is established. Moreover, an 8 kW LLC high-efficiency and high-power-density resonant converter is designed and tested for ESS application. The LLC converter achieves 98% efficiency at rated power.