Reliability analysis of flicker-free LED driver based on five-level rectifier

Abstract

LEDs are powered by LED drivers, and the output of these drivers determines how well an LED performs. As a result, in the lighting industry, low-cost, flicker-free output profile, better efficiency, and maintaining unity power factor (UPF) operation during the AC to DC conversion are highly appreciated. Although traditional LED rectification systems are inexpensive and straightforward, they distort the grid current and inject harmonics into it. In this context, this study provides a sensor-free self-balanced multilevel rectifier (MLR) topology that can drive the LED while preserving UPF under all operational circumstances. To counteract the stroboscopic effect generated by current ripples supplied to LEDs, this study implements a ripple cancellation (RC) system. This RC approach also provides a regulated DC supply, minimizes the smoothing capacitor size, and provides decoupled single loop current control. Further, a rigorous reliability investigation of the complete system carried out over a 20-year period. The proposed system has been validated through experimentation on the laboratory-developed prototype and the relevant results are reported in terms of controller performance, MLR and RC waveform.