Journal of Robotics, Networking and Artificial Life
Vol. 7(1); June (2020), pp. 7–11
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2991/jrnal.k.200512.002; ISSN 2405-9021; eISSN 2352-6386
https://www.atlantis-press.com/journals/jrnal

Research Article

Research on a Bridgeless Interleaved PFC Boost Converterwith Voltage Doubler Feature
Chih-Chiang Hua1, Ching-Chun Chuang1,*, Hung-Chi Lee2, Chih-Wei Chuang1, Chuan-Ming Niu1
Department of Electronical Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, No. 123, University Rd., Section 3, Douliu,
Yunlin 64002 Taiwan2
Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 43, Section 3, Keelung Rd.,
Taipei City 106, Taiwan
1

ARTICLE INFOABSTRACT

Article History

A current-fed bridgeless interleaved power factor correction rectifier with voltage-doubler characteristic is proposed for a hybrid
electric vehicle charging system. The simulated efficiencies, Total current Harmonics current Distortion (THDi), and Power
Factor (PF) for the bridgeless interleaved Power Factor Correction (PFC) converter are presented in this paper. The differencesof the simulated THD and PF between the proposed PFC boost converter and the conventional interleaved PFC boost converter aresignificant. The simulation results included a prototype boost converter converting universal AC input voltage 85–264 V to 400 VDC output at up to 3.4 kW load. The simulation results also demonstrate a power factor greater than 0.99 from a universal ACline input 85–264 Vrms; THD <10% from a universal AC-line input 85–264 Vrms. The proposed converter achieved an average
efficiency of 97% at 70 kHz switching frequency, 264 V input, and 0.5–3.4 kW output power. The proposed interleaved boost PFC
rectifier exhibits an improved low-line efficiency compared with that of its conventional counterpart under 1.5 kW output power.

Received 17 October 2019
Accepted 10 May 2020
Keywords
Current-fed
voltage doubler
power factor correction rectifiers
hybrid electric vehicle
charging system© 2020 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

1. INTRODUCTION

2. OPERATING ANALYSISThe low transfer efficiency occurs in low line condition for generalconventional power factor correction rectifier. This drawback can
be improved by proposing Power Factor Correction (PFC) withvoltage doubler characteristic and the topology can be seen onSalmon [1] and Maksimovic and Erickson [2]. The Voltage doubler circuit applied in boost PFC converter to gain 400 V output
was reported on Musavi et al. [3]. However, PFC circuit shouldhave multiple switches to realize function of double voltage in low
line condition, it is not suitable for server power due to the issuesof efficiency, reliability, and cost. Besides, the electric vehicle withplug-in charging storage system can be charged through outside
recycling system. The charging infrastructure always composes ofAC/DC converter with power factor correction function in conjunction with series DC/DC buck converter structure. Preliminary
stage AC/DC converter is important power stage module of electric vehicle (EV) battery charger as stated in Musavi et al. [3] isredrawn as Figure 1. The other literatures as Lai and Ho [4], Ryuet al. [5], Moon et al. [6] are the controlled the algorithm methodology related to EV application circuits and converters. The
proposed PFC boost converter with voltage double characteristic
improves efficiency of current interleave bridgeless PFC operated
in low line and light load condition and meet input current harmonics specification as well. It can reach high power factor andhigh efficiency and suitable to apply for EV battery storage andcharging system to have power reaching 3.4 kW.

The proposed current fed bridgeless interleave PFC boost converterwith voltage doubler characteristic is shown in Figure 2. The operating and steady-state circuit analysis of the novel PFC converter
was implemented with the AC line input during the positive halfcycle. In the symmetrical control operating period of positive halfcycle, the test condition of duty cycle (0 < D < 0.5) is analyzed, andthe test condition of duty cycle (0.5 < D < 1) will be neglected due tothe similar behavior. We supposed that the semiconductor components are ideal and then the circuit operating of the proposed PFC
in one switching cycle will be discussed.

Corresponding author. Email: austincc@yuntech.edu.tw*A. The range of duty cycle (0 < D < 0.5)
In order to easy to obtain the stable analysis of the proposed PFC
converter, the voltage and current operational waveforms areshown in Figure 3.
Period 1[t0 − t1]: The ripple current of L1, L3
Vo - VAC æ 1ö- D÷ Tsø
L1 + L3 çè 2

(1)[(1 - D)Vo - VAC ] æ 1
öç 2 - D ÷Ts
L2 + L4
èø

(2)

DiL1 =The ripple current of L2, L4


DiL2 =

Period 2[t1 − t2]: The ripple current of Q1, Q3 and current of L1, L3
increase linearly.

C.-C. Hua et al. / Journal of Robotics, Networking and Artificial Life 7(1) 7–118

Period 3[t2 − t3]: The ripple current of L1, L3
Vo - VAC æ 1ö- D÷ Tsø
L1 + L3 çè 2

(6)[(1 - D)Vo - VAC ] æ 1
öç 2 - D ÷Ts
L2 + L4
èø

(7)

DiL1 =The ripple current of L2, L4


Figure 1 | Bridgeless interleave PFC converter.

DiL2 =Period 4[t3 − t4]:
The ripple current of Q2, Q4 and current of L2, L4 increase linearlyas well.
DiL2 =VACDTsL2 + L4(8)When Q1, Q3 turn off, current of Q1 is zero and ripple current of Q3is the same as that of L3 current of L1 turns to increase linearly

Figure 2 | The proposed current fed bridgeless interleave PFC boost
converter with voltage doubler characteristic.

DiL1 =(VAC - DVo )DTs
L1 + L3(9)Advance to combine (8) and (9), the total input ripple current ΔIin
is the current of addition of L2, L4 and L1 and L3
DI in =

2VAC - DVoDTs
L1 + L3(10)B. The range of duty cycle (0.5 < D < 1)
In this state, the voltage and current operational waveforms areshown in Figure 4.

Figure 3 | Operational waveforms of proposed converter during duty
cycle 0 < D < 0.5.

VAC
DTs
L1 + L3(3)[VAC - (1 - D)Vo ]DTs
L2 + L4(4)DiL1 =The ripple current of L2, L4


DiL2 =

Combine (3) and (4), the total input ripple current ΔIin is the ripple
current of addition of L1, L3 and L2, L4
DI in =

[2VAC - (1 - D)Vo ]DTs
L1 + L3(5)Figure 4 | Operational waveform of proposed converter during duty cycle
0.5 < D < 1.

C.-C. Hua et al. / Journal of Robotics, Networking and Artificial Life 7(1) 7–11

Period 1[t0 − t1]: The ripple current of Q1, Q3 and current of L1, L3
increase linearly.
DiL1 =VAC æ1ö
D - ÷ Ts2ø
L1 + L3 çè(11)The ripple current of Q2, Q4 and current of L2, L4 also increaselinearly, as (12) stated

DiL2 =VAC æ1öD - ÷ Tsç2ø
L2 + L4 è(12)DiL1 =VAC
(1 - D)TsL1 + L3(13)At the meantime, the ripple current of L2, L4æ Voö
ç 2 - VAC ÷ø (1 - D)TDiL3 = èsL2 + L4

(14)

(15)

Period 3[t2 − t3]: current of L1, L3 increase linearly, as (16) stated

V1ö
æ
DiL1 = AC ç D - ÷Ts2ø
L1 + L3 è(16)The ripple current of L2, L4 increase linearly as well.
VAC æ1ö
DiL2 =D - ÷ Ts2ø
L2 + L4 çè(17)Period 4[t3 − t4]: The ripple current of L1, L3 isæ Voöç 2 - V3c ÷ø (1 - D)TDiL1 = èsL1 + L3(18)The ripple current of L2, L4


DiL2 =VAC(1 - D)Ts
L2 + L4(19)Combine (18) and (19), the total input ripple current ΔIin is theripple current of addition of L2, L4 and L1, L3

VoDI in = 2 (1 - D)Ts
L1 + L3

According to the circuit analysis of the proposed PFC converter, theequivalent equation will reveals when the current of L2, L4 increase
VAC = L2

diL2dt+ L4

diL4dt(21)Based on Equation (21), we suppose L = L2 = L4 anddiL2dt=VAC
2L

(22)

When current of L2, L4 decrease, the equivalent equation refer to(23) as

Combine (13) and (14), the total input ripple current ΔIin is thecurrent of addition of L1, L3 and L2, L4Vo
DI in = 2 (1 - D)Ts
L1 + L3

3. SYSTEM VOLTAGE CONVERSIONANALYSIS

Period 2[t1 − t2]: The ripple current of L1, L3 is9VAC =diLdiLVo- L2 2 - L4 42dtdt(23)

From Equation (23), we suppose L = L2 = L4 anddiL2dt=1 æ Voö
ç - VAC ÷
2L2 è 2ø(24)To analyze the current of L2 via the volt-second balance principle
in Figure 4.
V öæ
VAC DTs + ç VAC - o ÷ (1 - D)Ts = 02 øè(25)

The voltage conversion ratio is obtainedVo
2=VAC 1 - D(26)

According to the above voltage conversion equation, higher voltage
gain ratio can be obtained while duty ratio D > 0.5 and the current of L2 decrease relatively according to Equation (24). Moreover,
we can actually implement the similar derivation for the range ofduty cycle (0 < D < 0.5). Eventually, the voltage conversion ratio is
obtained in below
Vo1=VAC D - D 2(27)According to Equation (27), we can probably set up the lowest limitof duty ratio for avoiding the uncontrolled duty ratio in the proposed converter. Setting the duty ratio to 10%, and then the output
voltage Vo is 11 times of VAC. As a result, the minimum duty ratio of
the proposed converter will be 10% and the voltage gain is raised
to 11. Figure 5 illustrates the voltage conversion gain ratio of theproposed converter.

4. SIMULATION RESULT(20)

A set of 3.4 kW prototype was designed including design includes
full range input 85–264 Vrms and 400 V/8.5 Å output electrical10C.-C. Hua et al. / Journal of Robotics, Networking and Artificial Life 7(1) 7–11

Figure 7 | The simulation waveforms of output voltage Vo at Po = 3.4 kW
and Vo = 400 V; input voltage Vin and input current Iin for the proposedconverter.

Figure 5 | Voltage conversion gain ratio of the proposed converter.

Figure 8 | The comparison of THD simulation result of Po = 3.4 kW and
Vo = 400 V for both converters.
Figure 6 | Simulation result of comparison of efficiency of the proposed
converter and conventional interleave bridgeless PFC converter.

characteristic. Figure 6 was the efficiency comparison for AC inputof 85 and 264 Vrms respectively. In this Figure, when the power
lower than 1.5 kW at 85 Vrms input condition, the efficiency ofthe proposed converter higher than the conventional one. The
reason is that the proposed converter operates in double voltage
mode (voltage conversion ratio Vo/VAC = 2/(1 − D)) at duty ratio
D > 0.5. The switches conduction loss of the proposed converter
is about two-third of the conventional one. The switching loss ofthe switches and reverse recovery loss of the diodes are lower aswell. This is because the voltage of switches and diodes are half ofthe output voltage. Furthermore, the efficiency of the proposed
converter is higher than the conventional one when the converters
operate in high line condition (264 Vrms).
In this condition, the duty ratio is always higher than 0.5 and the voltage doubler characteristic is revealed. The simulation waveforms ofoutput voltage Vo at Po = 3.4 kW and Vo = 400 V; input voltage Vin andinput current Iin was stated in Figure 7. Based on the result that theefficiency of the proposed converter can reach 98% during 264 Vrms
input voltage and out power of 0.5–3.4 kW condition, heat sinks andactive cooling system can be reduced. Charging time and cost of power
conversion can be reduced as well. Figures 8 and 9 simulate THDiand PF during input voltage range 85–264 Vrms. In Figure 8, it canbe observed that the low line operated THD of proposed converter
is lower than the conventional one while it is opposite when operated
in high line. The PF of the proposed converter revealed in Figure 9 islower than the conventional one.

Figure 9 | The comparison of PF simulation result of Po = 3.4 kW and
Vo = 400 V for both converters.

5. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a current fed PFC boost converter with voltage doubler characteristic was proposed to apply for preliminary stage
AC to DC converter of hybrid electric vehicle. The proposed PFC
converter possesses high conversion efficiency when operates inlow line condition. The proposed converter prototype was simulated and analyzed including efficiency, THD, and PF. Comparison
was made for full-range input voltage, full load 3.4 kW and 400

C.-C. Hua et al. / Journal of Robotics, Networking and Artificial Life 7(1) 7–11

V output test conditions. The efficiency reaches 97% when it wasoperated at 70 kHz switching frequency, 264 V input voltage, and0.5–3.4 kW output power. The proposed converter possesses higher
efficiency than conventional converter and suitable for applying asoption of electric vehicle industry.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

[3]

[4]

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES[1][2]

J.C. Salmon, Circuit topologies for single-phase voltagedoubler boost rectifiers, IEEE Trans. Power Electron. 8 (1993),
521–529.
D. Maksimovic, R. Erickson, Universal-input, high-power-­factor,
boost doubler rectifiers, Proceedings of 1995 IEEE Applied

[5]

[6]

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Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), IEEE,Dallas, TX, USA, 1995, pp. 459–465.
F. Musavi, W. Eberle, W.G. Dunford, A high-performance single-­phase bridgeless interleaved PFC converter for plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle battery chargers, IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl. 47 (2011),1833–1843.
Y.S. Lai, K.M. Ho, FPGA-based digital-controlled power converter with universal input meeting 80 plus platinum efficiency
code and standby power code for server power applications, 2012
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S.H. Ryu, D.H. Kim, M.J. Kim, J.S. Kim, B.K. Lee, Adjustablefrequency-duty-cycle hybrid control strategy for full-bridge­series resonant converters in electric vehicle chargers, IEEETrans. Ind. Electr. 61 (2014), 5354–5362.
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AUTHORS INTRODUCTION
Prof. Chih-Chiang Hua
He (S’91–M’92) received the BS degree
in Electrical Engineering from National
Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan,
in 1984, and the MS and PhD degrees inElectrical Engineering from the Universityof Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, in 1990
and 1992, respectively. Since 1992, he has
been with the National Yunlin Universityof Science and Technology, Douliou,
Taiwan, where he is currently a Professor at the Departmentof Electrical Engineering. His research interests include powerelectronics converters, uninterruptible power supplies, andphotovoltaic/wind energy systems. He is a Member of the IEEE
Power Electronics and the IEEE Industrial Electronics Societies.
Prof. Ching-Chun Chuang
He received the PhD degree in Electronics
Engineering from National Taiwan
University of Science and Technology,
Taiwan, in 2013. Since 2017, he has
been an Associate Professor at Facultyof College of Future, Yunlin Universityof Science and Technology, Taiwan. His
research interests include power electronics, digital control androbot applications.

Dr. Hung-Chi Lee
He received the MS and PhD degrees
in Electronics Engineering fromNational Taiwan University of Scienceand Technology, Taiwan, in 2007 and2013, respectively. He is currently a
Postdoctoral Researcher of National
Taiwan University of Science andTechnology, Taiwan. His research interests include power electronics and EMC.
Prof. Chih-Wei Chuang
He (1979) received the PhD degree inElectrical Engineering from National Yunlin
University of Science and Technology,Taiwan, in 2017. Since 2017, he has beenan Associate Professor at Faculty of Collegeof Future, Yunlin University of Science andTechnology, Taiwan. His research interests
include the design and implementation ofrenewable energy sources and active power filters.
Mr. Chuan-Ming Niu
He received Bachelor’s degree inEngineering (Energy Information Group)from Southern Taiwan University ofScience and Technology in Taiwan in 2019.
He currently study in a Master’s degreefrom the Graduate School of Engineering,
National Yunlin University of Science andTechnology, Taiwan. His research interests
include Power Electronics and Power Systems.