• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.1639-1649
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• 2016

This paper presents a family of soft-switching DC-DC converters with a simple auxiliary circuit consisting of a coupled winding and a pair of auxiliary switch and diode. The auxiliary circuit is activated in a short interval and thus the circulating conduction losses are small. With the auxiliary circuit, zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) and zero-current-switching are achieved for the main and auxiliary switches respectively, over wide input voltage range and load variation. In addition, the reverse-recovery problem of diodes is significantly alleviated because of the leakage inductor. Furthermore, the coupled inductor simultaneously serves as the main and auxiliary inductors, contributing to reduced magnetic component in comparison with the conventional zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) converters. Experimental results based on a 500 W prototype buck circuit validate the advantages and effectiveness of the proposed magnetic coupling ZVS converter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.499-506
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• 2011

This paper presents an interleaved active-clamping zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) forward-flyback converter without an output choke. The presented topology has two active-clamping circuits with two separated transformers. Because of the interleaved operation of the converter, the output current ripple will be reduced. The proposed converter can approximately share the total load current between the two secondaries. Therefore, the transformer copper loss and the rectifier diodes conduction loss can be decreased. The output capacitor is made of two series capacitors which reduces the peak reverse voltage of the rectifier diodes. The circuit has no output inductor and few semiconductor elements, such that the adopted circuit has a simpler structure, a lower cost and is suitable for high power density applications. A detailed analysis and the design of this new converter are described. A prototype converter has been implemented and experimental results have been recorded with an ac input voltage of 85-135Vrms, an output voltage of 12V and an output current of 16A.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.606-611
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• 2011

Power electronics is a key technology for electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. Typical power electronics converters used in electric drive vehicles include dc/dc converters, inverters, and battery chargers. New semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and novel topologies such as the Z-source inverter (ZSI) have a great deal of potential to improve the overall performance of these vehicles. In this paper, a Z-source inverter for fuel cell vehicle application is examined under three different scenarios. 1. a ZSI with Si IGBT modules, 2. a ZSI with hybrid modules, Si IGBTs/SiC Schottky diodes, and 3. a ZSI with SiC MOSFETs/SiC Schottky diodes. Then, a comparison of the three scenarios is conducted. Conduction loss, switching loss, reverse recovery loss, and efficiency are considered for comparison. A conclusion is drawn that the SiC devices can improve the inverter and inverter-motor efficiency, and reduce the system size and cost due to the low loss properties of SiC devices. A comparison between a ZSI and traditional PWM inverters with SiC devices is also presented in this paper. Based on this comparison, the Z-source inverter produces the highest efficiency.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.662-671
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• 2018

This paper presents a new structure for a step up dc-dc converter, which has several advantageous features. Firstly, the input dc source and the clamped capacitor are connected in series to transfer energy to the load through dual voltage multiplier cells. Therefore, the proposed converter can produce a very high voltage and a high conversion efficiency. Secondly, a double voltage clamped circuit is introduced to the primary side of the coupled inductor. The energy of the leakage inductance of the coupled inductor is recycled and the inrush current problem of the clamped circuits can be shared equally by two synchronous clamped capacitors. Therefore, the voltage spike of the switch tube is solved and the current stress of the diode is reduced. Thirdly, dual voltage multiplier cells can absorb the leakage inductance energy of the secondary side of the coupled inductor to obtain a higher efficiency. Fourthly, the active switch turns on at almost zero current and the reverse-recovery problem of the diodes is alleviated due to the leakage inductance, which further improves the conversion efficiency. The operating principles and a steady-state analysis of the continuous, discontinuous and boundary conduction modes are discussed in detail. Finally, the validity of this topology is confirmed by experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.579-589
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• 2017

In this study a new high step-up dc-dc converter is presented. The operation of the proposed converter is based on the capacitor switching and coupled inductor with a single active power switch in its structure. A passive voltage clamp circuit with two capacitors and two diodes is used in the proposed converter for elevating the converter's voltage gain with the recovered energy of the leakage inductor, and for lowering the voltage stress on the power switch. A switch with a low $R_{DS}$ (on) can be adopted to reduce conduction losses. In the generalized mode of the proposed converter, to reach a desired voltage gain, capacitor stages with parallel charge and series discharge techniques are extended from both sides of secondary side of the coupled inductor. The proposed converter has the ability to alleviate the reverse recovery problem of diodes with circuit parameters. The operating principle and steady-states analyses are discussed in detail. A 40W prototype of the proposed converter is implemented in the laboratory to verify its operation.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.379-387
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• 2019

A bidirectional flyback converter is a suitable topology for use in a PV-to-bus differential power processing (DPP) module for PV applications due to its electrical isolation capability, bidirectional power transfer, high step-up ratio, and simple circuit structure. However, the bidirectional flyback converter design should consider the effect of the output-side power switch utilized for bidirectional operation compared with that of the conventional flyback converter. This study presents the structure and design methodology of the bidirectional flyback converter for a PV DPP module. Magnetizing inductance is designed by calculating the power loss of converter components within the rated load range under the discontinuous conduction mode, which is unaffected by the reverse recovery characteristics of the anti-parallel diode of the output-side power switch. The validity of the proposed design methodology is verified using a 25 W bidirectional flyback converter prototype. The operational principles and the performance of the DPP operation are verified using practical DPP modules consisting of bidirectional flyback converters implemented according to the proposed design methodology.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.514-521
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• 2010

A new one-shot process was employed to fabricate proton exchange membranes (PEMs) over conventional solvent-casting process. Here, PEMs containing nano-dispersed silica nanoparticles were fabricated using one-shot process similar to the bulk-molding compounds (BMC). Different components such as reactive dispersant, urethane acrylate nonionmer (UAN), styrene, styrene sulfuric acid and silica nano particles were dissolved in a single solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) followed by copolymerization within a mold in the presence of radical initiator. We have successfully studied the water-swelling and proton conductivity of obtained nanocomposite membranes which are strongly depended on the surface property of dispersed silica nano particles. In case of dispersion of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles, the nanocomposite membranes exhibited an increase in water-swelling and a decrease in methanol permeability with almost unchanged proton conductivity compared to neat polymeric membrane. The reverse observations were achieved for hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. Hence, hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were effectively dispersed in hydrophilic and hydrophobic medium respectively. Hydrophobic silica nanoparticles dispersed in hydrophobic domains of PEMs largely suppressed swelling of hydrophilic domains by absorbing water without interrupting proton conduction occurred in hydrophilic membrane. Consequently, proton conductivity and water-swelling could be freely controlled by simply dispersing silica nanopartilces within the membrane.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.449-455
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• 2019

This paper proposes a flyback diode of bridgeless PFC converter as SiC SBD (Schottky Barrier Diode) to achieve high efficiency. In addition, through the explanation of the operation principle of the bridgeless PFC converter, the conduction section of the freewheel diode is shown in the bridgeless PFC converter to verify the contribution of system loss due to the loss of the freewheel diode. The advantages of the SiC SBD device's physical properties and the reverse recovery characteristics are explained, and the efficiency is measured by measuring the turn-on and turn-off losses. The loss was calculated. The simulation results were calculated in consideration of device characteristics and verified through the waveform analysis and comparison of the actual system. In order to consider the device characteristics, the simulation was conducted using the thermal module of PSIM. As a result of the prototype test, the turn-on loss was 0.608W and the turn-off loss was 21.62W, resulting in the total switching loss of 22.228W. The comparison of the two results proved the validity of the experimental method. In addition, a high efficiency of 94.58% is achieved.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.499-506
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• 2019

This paper is concerned with the operating stability of 7kW inverter using SIC hybrid module and verifies the validity of the simulation results by comparing the result of the loss equation and the simulation result, Simulation results using Si module and SiC hybrid module are compared to compare switch loss and diode loss. Through the loss equation calculation, the conduction loss of SiC Hybrid module is 168W, switching loss is 9.3W, diode loss is 10.5nW, When compared with the simulation results, similar values were shown. As a result of comparing the simulation results of the Si module and the SiC Hybrid module, The total device loss of the Si module was 246.2W, and the total device loss of the SiC Hybrid module was 189.9W. The loss difference was 56.3W, which was about 0.8W. thereby verifying the reverse recovery characteristics of the SiC SBD. In addition, temperature saturation test was conducted to confirm the stability of SiC Hybrid module and Si module under high temperature saturation, In the case of the Si module, the output power was stopped at 4kW, and the SiC Hybrid module was confirmed to operate at 7kW. Based on this, an efficiency graph and a temperature graph are presented, and the Si module is graphed up to 4kW and the SiC Hybrid module is graphed up to 7kW.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2011

Purpose: As clinical manifestations of thoracic outlet syndrome are vague pain or symptoms in upper extremity, the diagnosis of the disease is delayed or misdiagnosed as cervical HNP, shoulder pathologies, or peripheral neuropathies. In that reason, many patients spend time for unnecessary or ineffective treatments. We report the results of our thoracic outlet syndrome cases, which were treated by conservative care or surgical treatment. Materials & Methods: Twenty five cases, diagnosed as thoracic outlet syndrome since 1999, were reviewed retrospectively. Physical examinations including Adson's and reverse Adson's test, hyperabduction test, costoclavicular maneuver, and Roo's test, plain radiography of shoulder and cervical spine, MRI of neck or brachial plexus, and EMG were checked. If subjective symptoms were not improved after conservative treatments over three months, surgical treatment were performed. Nine patients were performed operative treatment and the others had conservative treatment in outpatient clinic. Postoperative improvement of symptoms and the follow up period, and the results of conservative care were reviewed. Results: Among five physical examinations, mean 1.75 tests were positive, and EMG has little diagnostic value. MRI were performed in twenty cases and compression of brachial plexus were found in 6 cases (30%). Ten patients out of 16 conservative treatment group had excellent improvement of symptoms, and 5 had good results. Eight patients out of 9 operative treatment group had excellent improvement with mean 5.1 months of follow-up period. Conclusion: Diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome is difficult due to bizarre and vague symptoms. However if the diagnosis is suspected by careful physical examinations, radiologic studies, or nerve conduction studies, conservative care should be done as initial treatment and at least after three months, reassess the patient's condition. If the results of conservative treatment is not satisfactory and still the thoracic outlet syndrome is suspected, surgical treatment should be considered. Conservative treatment and operative technique are the valuable for the treatment of this disease.