Source: http://www.kpubs.org/article/articleMain.kpubs?articleANo=E1PWAX_2015_v15n2_389
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 08:14:36+00:00

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This paper presents a 1.92 kW resonant converter for medium voltage applications that uses low voltage stress MOSFETs (500V) to achieve zero voltage switching (ZVS) turn-on. In the proposed converter, four MOSFETs are connected in series to limit the voltage stress of the power switches at half of the input voltage. In addition, three resonant circuits are adopted to share the load current and to reduce the current stress of the passive components. Furthermore, the transformer primary and secondary windings are connected in series to balance the output diode currents for medium power applications. Split capacitors are adopted in each resonant circuit to reduce the current stress of the resonant capacitors. Two balance capacitors are also used to automatically balance the input capacitor voltage in every switching cycle. Based on the circuit characteristics of the resonant converter, the MOSFETs are turned on under ZVS. If the switching frequency is less than the series resonant frequency, the rectifier diodes can be turned off under zero current switching (ZCS). Experimental results from a prototype with a 750-800 V input and a 48V/40A output are provided to verify the theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed converter.
Full-bridge converters with a simple structure, constant frequency pulse-width modulation and soft switching turn-on  -  have been adopted in medium power applications. However, power switches should suffer the input voltage due to the full-bridge structure. High input DC/DC converters have been developed for ship electric power distribution systems  , three-phase AC/DC converters and the traction systems for light trains  -  . Three-level DC/DC converters  -  with low voltage and current stresses were presented to reduce the voltage stress on active switches. However, the power switches are operated at hard switching. High switching losses on the power switches reduce the circuit efficiency. In order to achieve soft switching and reduce switching losses, three-level zero voltage switching (ZVS) converters for high input voltage applications were proposed in  -  . In  , four power switches with Vin /2 voltage stress and two power switches with Vin voltage stress are used in the three-level ZVS hybrid full bridge converter. The drawback of this circuit is that two power switches with high voltage stress are used in this converter. Resonant converters  -  have been proposed for the advantages of high conversion efficiency and high power density. Power switches are turned on under ZVS from low load to full load. If the switching frequency is less than the series resonant frequency, the rectifier diodes at output side are turned off under zero current switching (ZCS). The series-parallel connection techniques have been discussed in  -  . In  , two transformers are adopted in three-level converter with current double rectifier for medium voltage application. However, the high current rating of rectifier diodes and large size of filter inductors are needed in this circuit topology for high load current application. The circuit efficiency will be drop at light load due to the high circulating current in conventional three-level PWM converter. The input split capacitor voltages cannot be automatically balanced. An active clamp forward converter with parallel connection in primary side was presented in  to achieve soft switching. However, this circuit topology cannot be used for medium voltage applications due to its high voltage stress on the power switches. A three-level resonant converter with duty cycle control has been presented in  to have ZVS turn-on for all of the power switches and ZCS turn-off for all of the rectifier diodes. The output currents of the two secondary sides are automatically balanced due to the series connection of the transformers. However, the input split capacitor voltages cannot be balanced automatically and the duty cycle is decreased under a light load case. Thus, the circuit efficiency under a light load is decreased.
A ZVS DC/DC converter for high input voltage and load current applications is studied in this paper. Two half-bridge legs with split capacitors are connected in series at the high voltage side to clamp the voltage stress of the power switches at half of the input voltage. Two balance capacitors are used between the AC sides of the two half-bridge legs to automatically balance the input split capacitor voltages. Three resonant circuits are used at the high voltage side in order to reduce the current stress of the resonant components. The secondary windings of the transformers are connected in series to automatically balance the output diode currents. Since the input impedance of the resonant tank is an inductive load at the switching frequency, the power switches are turned on under ZVS. As a result, the switching losses on the power switches are reduced. Finally, experiments from a 750-800 Vin put and 48V/40A output prototype were provided to verify the performance of the proposed converter.
For three-phase power factor corrector converters with a 380V or 480V utility voltage or a DC traction system, the input voltage of the DC/DC converter is equal to or higher than 750V. Fig. 1 gives the circuit topology of the proposed converter for medium voltage applications. The circuit components at the high voltage side include the input voltage Vin , power MOSFETs S 1 - S 4 with their body diodes and parallel capacitors C oss 1 - C oss 4 , resonant capacitors C r 1 - C r 6 , resonant inductors L r 1 - L r 3 , and transformers T 1 - T 4 . Two center-tapped rectifiers are used at the low voltage side to share the load current and to reduce the current stress of the passive components. The secondary windings of T 1 and T 3 are connected in series so that the primary currents i Lr 1 and i Lr 3 are balanced. Similarly, the primary currents i Lr 2 and i Lr 3 are balanced since the secondary windings of T 2 and T 4 are connected in series. Thus, the primary and secondary winding currents of T 1 - T 4 are balanced. ( S 1 and S 3 ) and ( S 2 and S 4 ) have the same PWM waveforms with a 0.5 duty cycle. However, the driving signals of S 2 and S 4 are complementary with the driving signals of S 1 and S 3 with a short dead time. The components S 1 - S 4 and C r 1 - C r 6 establish a switched capacitor circuit  . Therefore, the input capacitor voltages are balanced, v Cr 1 + v Cr 2 = v Cr 3 + v Cr 4 = v Cr 5 + v Cr 6 = Vin /2. The proposed converter includes three resonant circuits at the high voltage side. A variable frequency scheme is adopted to regulate the output voltage.
Circuit configuration of the proposed converter.
The following assumptions are presumed to simplify the system analysis of the three resonant circuits. The transformers T 1 - T 4 have the magnetizing inductances Lm 1 = Lm 2 =2 Lm 3 =2 Lm 4 = Lm and the turns ratios n 1 = n 2 =2 n 3 =2 n 4 = n . The resonant capacitances are C r 1 = C r 2 = C r 3 = C r 4 = C r 5 = C r 6 = Cr . The resonant inductances are identical L r 1 = Lr 2 = L r 3 = Lr . The power MOSFETs S 1 - S 4 have the same output capacitances C oss 1 = C oss 2 = C oss 3 = C oss 4 = Coss . The capacitor voltages v Cr 1 + v Cr 2 = v Cr 3 + v Cr 4 = v Cr 5 + v Cr 6 = Vin /2. If the switching frequency fsw is less than the series resonant frequency fr , there are six operating modes in a switching cycle. The main PWM waveforms of the proposed converter under fsw < fr are shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 . They give the corresponding equivalent circuit for each operation mode. If the switching frequency fsw > fr , then the resonant circuit has only four operation modes (modes 1, 3, 4 and 6) in a switching cycle. In the following statements, the six modes of operation are discussed in each switching cycle. Before time t0 , S 1 - S 4 , D 2 and D 4 are in the off-state. C oss 1 and C oss 3 are discharged, and C oss 2 and C oss 4 are charged.
Key waveforms of the proposed converter.
Operation modes of the proposed converter in a switching cycle. (a) Mode 1. (b) Mode 2. (c) Mode 3. (d) Mode 4. (e) Mode 5. (f) Mode 6.
Mode 3 [t2 - t3]: At time t 2 , S 1 and S 3 are turned off. Diodes D 2 and D 4 are conducting, v Lm 1 - v Lm 4 are negative, and i Lm 1 - i Lm 4 decrease. Since i Lr 1 ( t 2 )>0, i Lr 2 ( t 2 )>0 and i Lr 3 ( t 2 )>0, C oss 1 and C oss 3 are charged and C oss 2 and C oss 4 are discharged. C oss 2 and C oss 4 can be discharged to zero voltage if the energy stored in L r 1 - L r 3 at t 2 is greater than the energy stored in C oss 1 - C oss 4 .
Mode 6 [t5 - T+t0]: At time t 5 , S 2 and S 4 are turned off. Diodes D 1 and D 3 are conducting. The magnetizing voltages v Lm 1 - v Lm 4 are positive and the magnetizing currents i Lm 1 - i Lm 4 increase. Since i Lr 1 ( t 5 )<0, i Lr 2 ( t 5 )<0 and i Lr 3 ( t 5 )<0, C oss 1 and C oss 3 are discharged and C oss 2 and C oss 4 are charged. C oss 1 and C oss 3 can be discharged to zero voltage if the energy stored in L r 1 - L r 3 at t 5 is greater than the energy stored in C oss 1 - C oss 4 . Then, the operating modes of the proposed converter in a switching period are completed.
Three resonant circuits are included in the proposed converter to share the load power. The power transferred through the three resonant circuits is a function of the switching frequency. The input terminal of the resonant circuit is a square wave voltage. If the bandwidth of the resonant circuit is less than the switching frequency, the harmonics of the input square wave voltage can be neglected at the output terminal. The secondary side currents i D 1 + i D 2 and i D 3 + i D 4 are quasi-sinusoidal currents. If the primary inductor currents are greater than the magnetizing currents, then diodes D 1 and D 3 are conducting and v Lm 1 = v Lm 2 = nVo /2 and v Lm 3 = v Lm 4 = nVo /4. On the other hand, v Lm 1 = v Lm 2 =- nVo /2, v Lm 3 = v Lm 4 =- nVo /4 and rectifier diodes D 2 and D 4 are conducting when the primary inductor currents are less than the magnetizing currents. Since the charge/discharge time of output capacitors C oss 1 - C oss 4 in modes 3 and 6 and the time intervals in modes 2 and 5 are much less than the time intervals in modes 1 and 4, the magnetizing inductor voltages v Lm 1 - v Lm 4 approximate quasi-square waveforms.
Equivalent circuit of the proposed converter for the derivation of steady state model.
k = Lr/Lm and fs is the switching frequency. The DC voltage gain Gdc of the proposed converter is given as Gdc = 2 nVo/Vin . The AC voltage gain at the no-load condition ( Q =0) and fs =∞ is given as |Gac(f)|NLfs =∞ =1/(1+ k ). In order to regulate the output voltage from no-load to full load, the minimum DC voltage gain must be greater than the AC voltage gain at the no-load condition. Thus, the minimum turns ratio of transformers T 1 and T 2 is given in (9).
A design example of the prototype circuit is provided in order to verify the system analysis of the proposed converter. A laboratory prototype was constructed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter. The electric specifications are Vin =750-800 V, Vo =48 V, and Io,rated =40 A. The selected series resonant frequency fr is 120 kHz. The selected inductance ratio Lm / Lr =1/ k =7.
The actual primary and secondary turns used in T 1 - T 4 are n p,T 1 = n p,T 2 =66 turns, n s,T 1 = n s,T 1 =8 turns, n p,T 3 = n s,T 4 =33 turns and n s,T 3 = n s,T 4 =8 turns. The actual turns ratios of T 1 and T 2 are 8.25, and the turns ratios of T 3 and T 4 are 4.125.
AC voltage gain and DC voltage gain at different frequency ratio fs/fr.
The input maximum voltage is 800 V and the voltage stresses of S 1 - S 4 are equal to Vin /2=400 V. Power MOSFETs (IRFP460) with a 500 V voltage rating and a 13 A current rating at 100℃ are used for power switches S 1 - S 4 . The output voltage is 48 V and the load current is 40 A. The average currents of D 1 - D 4 are equal to 40 A/4=10 A. The voltage stresses of D 1 - D 4 are equal to 2 Vo =96 V. Fast recovery diodes (KCU30A20) with a 200 V voltage rating and a 30 A current rating are adopted for D 1 - D 4 in the prototype circuit.
Based on the derived circuit parameters in the previous section, experimental verification is provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed circuit. The measured PWM waveforms of S 1 - S 4 at different input voltages and load conditions are given in Fig. 6 . S 1 and S 3 have the same PWM waveforms, and S 2 and S 4 have identical PWM signals. However, the PWM signals of S 1 and S 2 are complementary each other to avoid short circuits at each half-bridge leg. At the same load power, the switching frequency at a low input voltage Vin =750 V is less than the switching frequency at a high input voltage Vin =800 V. At the same input voltage, Vin =800 V, the switching frequency at a full load is less than the switching frequency at a light load. Fig. 7 gives the measured switching frequency of the proposed converter at different input voltages and load conditions. The measured waveforms of the gate voltage and drain voltage of S 1 and S 2 at different input voltages and load conditions are illustrated in Fig. 8 . In the same manner, Fig. 9 gives the test results of the gate voltage and drain voltage of S 3 and S 4 at different input voltages and load conditions. Before S 1 - S 4 are turned on, the drain voltages are decreased to zero voltage. Therefore, the ZVS turn-on of S 1 - S 4 is achieved. Fig. 10 shows the test waveforms of i Lr 1 - i Lr 3 at a full load and different input voltages. It is clear that inductor currents i Lr 1 and i Lr 2 are balanced. Fig. 11 (a) shows the test waveforms of v Cr 1 - v Cr 6 at a full load and Vin =750 V. It is clear that v Cr 1 , v Cr 3 and v Cr 6 have the same voltage waveforms and that the voltage waveforms of v Cr 2 , v Cr 4 and v Cr 5 are balanced. Fig. 11 (b) shows the test results of v Cr 1 + v Cr 2 , v Cr 3 + v C 4 and v Cr 5 + v Cr 6 . From the test results in Fig. 11 (b), it can be seen that the three voltages v Cr 1 + v Cr 2 , v Cr 3 + v Cr 4 and v Cr 5 + v Cr 6 are balanced. In the same manner, the measured voltages v Cr 1 - v Cr 6 , v Cr 1 + v Cr 2 , v Cr 3 + v Cr 4 and v Cr 5 + v Cr 6 at Vin =800 V are shown in Fig. 12 . Fig. 13 shows the measured gate voltage v S 1, gs and the output diode currents i D 1 - i D 4 at a full load and different input voltages. The diode currents i D 1 and i D 3 are balanced, and i D 2 and i D 4 are also balanced. The measured circuit efficiencies at different loads are shown in Fig. 14 . The measured efficiency is greater than 92% from a 25% load to a full load.
Measured PWM waveforms of S1-S4 at (a) Vin=750 V and 25% load. (b) Vin=750 V and 100% load. (c) Vin=800 V and 25% load. (d) Vin=800 V and 100% load.
Measured switching frequencies at different input voltages and load conditions.
Measured results of gate voltage and drain voltage of active switches. (a) S1 and S2 at 25% load with Vin=750 V. (b) S1 and S2 at 100% load with Vin=750 V. (c) S1 and S2 at 25% load with Vin=800 V. (d) S1 and S2 at 100% load with Vin=800 V.
Measured results of gate voltage and drain voltage of active switches. (a) S3 and S4 at 25% load with Vin=750 V. (b) S3 and S4 at 100% load with Vin=750 V. (c) S3 and S4 at 25% load with Vin=800 V. (d) S3 and S4 at 100% load with Vin=800 V.
Measured results of the resonant inductor currents iLr1-iLr3 at full load and (a) Vin=750 V. (b) Vin=800 V.
Measured capacitor voltage waveforms of Cr1-Cr6 at Vin=750 V and full load. (a) vCr1-vCr6. (b) vCr1+vCr2, vCr3+vCr4 and vCr5+vCr6.
Measured capacitor voltage waveforms of Cr1-Cr6 at Vin=800 V and full load. (a) vCr1-vCr6. (b) vCr1+vCr2, vCr3+vCr4 and vCr5+vCr6.
Measured output diode currents at full load under (a) Vin=750 V (b) Vin=800 V.
Measured efficiencies at different input voltages and load conditions.
A new soft switching DC/DC converter with balanced diode currents at the output side and low voltage stress of the power MOSFETs is presented for medium voltage applications. Three resonant circuits are adopted at the primary side and a series-connection of isolation transformers at the secondary side in order to balance the output diode currents of the proposed converter. The power rating of each resonant circuit is equal to half of the load power so that the current stresses of the passive components and transformer windings are reduced. Two half-bridge circuits with four spilt capacitors are adopted so that the voltage stress of the power MOSFETs are clamped at half of the input voltage. Two resonant capacitors C r 5 and C r 6 are also adopted to balance the input split capacitor voltages. When compared to conventional parallel three-level converters, the proposed converter has a lower power switch count. Finally, experiments with a 1.92 k W prototype are provided to demonstrate the performance of the converter.
This project is supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan under Grant NSC 102-2221-E-224 -022 -MY3.
Bor-Ren Lin received his B.S. degree in Electronic Engineering from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, in 1988, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, in 1990 and 1993, respectively. From 1991 to 1993, he was a Research Assistant with the Power Electronic Research Center, University of Missouri. Since 1993, he has been with the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Taiwan, where he is currently a Distinguished Professor. He is an Associate Editor of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Proceedings—Power Electronics and the Journal of Power Electronics. His current research interests include power-factor correction, multilevel converters, active power filters, and soft-switching converters. He has authored more than 200 published technical journal papers in the area of power electronics. Dr. Lin is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. He was a recipient of Research Excellence Awards in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011 from the College of Engineering and the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology. He received Best Paper Awards from the 2007 and 2011 IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications, 2007 Taiwan Power Electronics Conference, 2009 IEEE–Power Electronics and Drive Systems Conference, the 2012 Taiwan Electric Power Engineering Conference, and the 2014 IEEE-International Conference on Industrial Technology.
Yan-Kang Du is currently working toward his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering at the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan (ROC). His current research interests include the design and analysis of power factor correction techniques, switching mode power supplies and soft switching converters.
 BR Lin , and YK Du , “Medium Voltage Resonant Converter with Balanced Input Capacitor Voltages and Output Diode Currents”, Journal of Power Electronics, vol. 2, no. 2, Mar 2015.

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