Switching DC-DC Converters Research Articles

Single-switch PWM converters for DC-to-DC power with reliability tolerance for battery power purposes

The functioning of fault-tolerant boosted conversions in both good and bad circumstances is covered in this work. The majority of our power plants and automotive applications make extensive use of surge conversions. Every component in a converter is accountable for causing one of the many problem kinds that affect the converter. In order to construct a tolerant of faults DC-DC converter, the reaction of the single switch DC-DC converter under various potential failures was examined. Utilizing a MATLAB Simulink approach, the response of each device across both typical and various potential fault scenarios was derived. The booster converter can also undergo additional heat research to determine how the converters react at various temps.

Implementation of Buck DC-DC Converter as Built-In Chaos Generator for Secure IoT

Resource-constrained but widely deployed IoT devices require a new approach to ensure secure and reliable communications. That is why, in recent years, the paramount effort has been applied in lightweight cryptography. Because of its unpredictable nature, chaos is regarded as a potential candidate in cryptographic applications. Chaos mode of operation is observed not only in deliberately designed oscillators but also in switching DC-DC converters, which are part of almost every embedded design. The use of a built-in chaos source may improve performance, energy consumption, PCB area, and cost of IoT devices. In this research, the regions of robust chaos were identified using numerical analysis, and the performance of a real buck DC-DC converter under peak-current-mode control was studied experimentally. It was shown that a compensating ramp acts as a switch between different operating regimes. Despite minor performance degradation, chaos mode can be used for secure communications in IoT networks.

Modular high conversion ratio soft-switching DC-DC converters with extended multi-ports structure for multi-energy storage systems interconnection

This paper focus on the advanced multi-energy storage systems interconnection by DC smart grids with high efficiency and high compactness. A non-isolated modular high conversion ratio bidirectional soft switching DC-DC converter and its extended multi-ports structure are proposed in this paper. In each power module of the converter, an auxiliary zero-current transition (ZCT) cell is integrated to achieve the zero-current turn-on and turn-off for all semiconductor devices. Therefore, the switching losses are reduced greatly and the efficiency is improved considerably. The presented converter is suitable for the small and medium power scale interconnection in smart DC grids, and can realize the flexible multi-energy storage system interaction owing to its extended multi-ports structure. Besides, various control schemes are adopted to optimize the control system of this converter, which can improve the performance on energy interaction. The operation principles and design considerations are discussed in details and a 5 kW experimental prototype is constructed to justify the validity of the theoretical analysis.

Online die temperature measurement using S-parameters in GaN-based power converters

Die temperature (Tj) measurement of GaN HEMTs is of high interest to enable reducing design margin and the implementation of reliability driven control schemes and protections. On-state resistance (Rds,on) has been identified as a relevant thermo-electric sensitive parameter (TSEP) for Tj measurement requiring no extra temperature sensor. It is commonly measured in time-domain, based on the on-state voltage drop and the load current. In this work, the Tj of a GaN-on-Si power IC in a dc-dc converter is deduced from measurements conducted online, directly in the frequency domain using RF injection and S-parameter measurements. Thereby, the stimulus is injected on top of the processed power to probe either Rds,on, or the resistance of an on-chip Schottky diode used as thermal sensor. Temperature dependent experimental validation up to 150 °C is performed on a switching dc-dc power converter, validating the approach for online temperature measurement using RF injection.

A Sensorless Peak Current-Mode Controlled DC–DC Converter: Design and Robustness Analysis Using Time-Scale Decomposition

This paper presents a new design concept of robust sensorless peak current-mode controlled DC-DC switching converters (SCs). Here we show that classical peak current-mode controlled SC (PCMCS) is under the class of slow-fast dynamical systems and that can be transformed into a reduced-order system using the notion of time-scale decomposition of a singularly perturbed system. Based on this decomposition, the reduced-order model of PCMCSs is derived and the composite state and disturbance observers are designed with the help of an equivalent-input-disturbance (EID) estimator. Moreover, rigorous stability criterion of closed-loop systems is provided to show the quantitative robustness between controller gains and parameter uncertainties. It is shown that the proposed design technique delivers a promising disturbance rejection property and an excellent dynamic performance with reduced hardware complexity. The feasibility of such approach is compared numerically with classical PCMCSs and then verified experimentally.

Inversely Coupled Inductors With Small Volume and Reduced Power Loss for Switching Converters

The letter presents a patent of lateral coupled inductor structure and its applications in single-phase and multiphase DC-DC converters. The CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs in the latest servers and artificial intelligence systems are powered by multiphase DC-DC switching converters and require high current, small size, fast transient response and high efficiency. This single-turn lateral coupled-inductor structure reduces magnetic core size through inverse coupling and minimizes inductor DCR power loss for high-current applications. The coupled inductor can be embedded inside a motherboard or a power module. The letter illustrates different implementations of the patent and provides solutions to the artificial intelligence systems that require high current and small volume of the power converters.

Switching Transition Modeling of eGaN HEMT in Power Converters

Selection of power switch driver resistance is crucial for power converter design, and an improper resistance value can lead to reduced efficiency and undesired operational behavior such as over-voltage and false turn-on. To select appropriate resistance, this letter proposes an accurate switching transition modeling method for switches in DC-DC converters, which can help guide engineers design switch drivers. For a converter with multiple components, i.e., a high-order converter system, the traditional analytical methods become very complex due to a large number of operating modes. To alleviate this problem, in the proposed modeling method, all nonlinear switches are modeled as linear systems, and various operating modes are combined into one mode in the proposed model. With the simplified mode, the driver parameters can be easily obtained. To verify the proposed model, we take the enhanced gallium nitride high electron mobility transistor (eGaN HEMT) high-order DC-DC converter as an example for experimentation. The eGaN HEMT is highly sensitive to parasitic parameters and switching frequency, and thus the high-order converter can demonstrate the ease of design with the proposed modeling method. Experiments on a Z-source converter and a quadratic-boost converter validate the feasibility of the proposed modeling method.

A High Gain Single Switch DC-DC Converter with Double Voltage Booster Switched Inductors

A High Gain Single Switch DC-DC Converter with Double Voltage Booster Switched Inductors

Effective Leakage Energy Recycling in High Gain DC-DC Converter With Coupled Inductor

A high voltage gain single switch DC-DC converter with efficient leakage energy recovery is presented in this brief. Effective leakage energy recycling is an important requirement in this class of converters with coupled inductors to overcome the high voltage stress across semiconductor devices. The proposed converter effectively recycles the leakage energy of the coupled inductor through a passive clamp circuit to the load. Hence, the efficiency of the converter is improved considerably. The proposed converter has the lowest switch voltage stress among other similar topologies, thereby making it feasible to select a low rating switch for the same boost gain. The converter has a lower sum of diode voltage stress and improved reverse recovery performance of the output side diode as well. The converter performance has been evaluated on the basis of different factors like efficiency, switch voltage stress, diode voltage stress, etc. The proposed converter performance is compared with that for various competitive topologies and is observed to be performing better. The effect of leakage inductance variation is studied on the gain of the converter. The proposed concept is verified via simulation and experimental prototype.

A new design of single switch DC-DC converter for PEM fuel cell based EV system with variable step size RBFN controller

A new design of single switch DC-DC converter for PEM fuel cell based EV system with variable step size RBFN controller

A New single switch DC-DC converter for PEM fuel cell-based electric vehicle system with an improved beta-fuzzy logic MPPT controller

A New single switch DC-DC converter for PEM fuel cell-based electric vehicle system with an improved beta-fuzzy logic MPPT controller

Design of Modified Luo Converter for Electric Vehicle Battery Charger

Higher energy and battery efficiency are now major concerns for Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers and consumers. The main component of the two-stage EV on-board charger is the DC-DC converter. The phase displacement of full-bridge to operate the switch at either zero voltage or zero current in a power switch DC-DC converter, currently has issues such as voltage variation on the consequent side, which is secondary of the transformer, and it implies poor performances. Power Factor Correction (PFC) converters used in modern EV chargers achieve high performance and adequacy throughout charging. A modified luo converter is designed to achieve high efficiency in EV charging. A luo converter is a type of PFC that is commonly used as a converter of DC to DC with improved voltage regulation in the presence of rapidly changing line voltages. In this aimed work, a reformed separate Luo converter-based electric vehicle charger is developed. To suppress voltage oscillations, two devices which means switches and two clipping diodes are connected at the elementary side in the detachment of High Frequency Transformer (HFT). The Luo converter handles Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM) of operation, decreases control complexity, and keeps converter's output constant. In the feedback system, the Constant Current and Constant Voltage (CC-CV) mode technique is used in conjunction with the PI controller to improve competence and reduce transmission leakage. The proposed system's performance is evaluated by applying in MATLAB/SIMULINK software, and the outcomes are promising.

Evaluating Cu Printed Interconnects “Sinterconnects” versus Wire Bonds for Switching Converters

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of the printed copper (Cu) paste interconnects for applications in power semiconductor modules and switching converters. Copper sinter paste interconnects denoted as “Sinterconnects” have been recently introduced as an alternative to wire-bonding technology for power electronic device packaging. However, the electrical domain properties of these novel interconnects have not yet been investigated in detail. To address this research opportunity, this paper evaluates the performance of two different types of Sinterconnects applied to multi-chip, insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power modules. First, parasitic or stray inductances of these Sinterconnected systems are calculated analytically and by using three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis. In addition to that, resistivity (ρ) of those has been analysed and compared with conventional wire bond technology. Finally, the performances of the Sinterconnects in power device assemblies are experimentally investigated. Two Sinterconnect structures (i.e., printed Cu paste and Cu clip attach) as well as a state-of-the-art wire-bonded IGBT module, have been integrated into a switching DC-DC converter and benchmarked. Experimental measurements show how converters with Sinterconnects enable efficient power conversion.

Step-Up DC-DC Switching Converter With Single Switch and Multi-Outputs Based on Luo Topology

In this paper, a step-up DC-DC multi-output converter is introduced by integrating a super-lift Luo converter, flyback topology, and coupled inductor concept. The proposed multi-output converter has positive output super-lift structure while simultaneously generating step-up voltages in its outputs. The proposed step-up converter has two non-isolated and one isolated output with a simple structure using one switch and one magnetic core. There is no voltage spike by the leakage inductance of the coupled inductor across the switch in the proposed converter. Therefore, the switch has low-stress voltage. The energy in the leakage inductor is recycled leading to higher efficiency in comparison to similar converters with the coupled inductor. The operating principles and the characteristics of the proposed converter are analyzed and discussed. The experimental results of 110W prototype verify the theoretical analysis and the benefits of the proposed converter in comparison to similar multi-output converters. The conducted electromagnetic interference evaluation of the proposed converter is presented and it is reduced using a common-mode choke.

Soft switched DC-DC converter for hybrid power generation photo voltaic panels using fuzzy logic controller

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) with a Z source cascaded inverter based on Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) is proposed in this research for a hybrid photo-voltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) system. In the absence of PV or WT power generation, the suggested system offers an uninterrupted power supply to the grid. PV functions as a current source and creates maximum power at maximum power point (MPP), supplying just the deficiency power. This FLC-integrated technique minimises the complexity of typical PID controllers while also improving overall performance. To reduce switching losses, current, and voltage switching stress, a traditional dc/dc boost converter with soft switching has been introduced. To reduce switching stress, a boost converter with zero voltage switching is used. This research focuses on a Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) technique that uses fuzzy logic control to meet the PV system's MPPT and output voltage regulation requirements. All these PV and wind hybrid systems, a Z-Source network, and a five-level cascaded inverter are part of the proposed topology. The advantages of a Z-source inverter outweigh the disadvantages of a traditional voltage-source inverter. The required stepped output voltage is achieved by boosting the DC link voltage from the PV system using a shoot through state. The suggested system has been simulated with MATLAB/SIMULINK, and the closed loop control technique has been investigated and verified.

Dual output switched inductor double switch converter

In the current scenario of high energy demand, renewable energy sources like solar cells, fuel cells are gaining importance day by day. A new converter topology i.e. dual output switched inductor double switch DC-DC converter is introduced. It has the features like high gain, high efficiency along with low stress across the switches. Multiple outputs is another important feature of the converter. The number of passive elements used is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the converter. More the number of passive elements, the compactness of the converter is reduced and the cost is also increased. Here only two switches are used whose control signals are same, making the converter control simple. The performance study and analysis of the converter is carried out with MATLAB/SIMULINK.

Design and analysis of global optimization methods for proton exchange membrane fuel cell powered electric vehicle system with single switch DC-DC converter

The Proton Exchange Membrane type Fuel Cells (PEMFC) are playing a major role in the present automotive industry application. The advantages of PEMFC are more reliable, high starting speed, and high efficiency. The PEMFC gives nonlinear V-I and P-I characteristics at diverse operating temperature conditions. As a result, the entire system performance is get reduced. Here, global optimization methodologies are used for the PEMFC system for improving the tracing speed of the Maximum Power Point (MPP). The global optimization methods are classified as Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO), and Adaptive Cuckoo Search Optimization (ACSO). These techniques are compared at different operating temperature conditions. The merits of global optimization techniques are easy understanding, nonlinear complex problem solving, high efficient, and more reliable when compared to the other classical controllers. The major disadvantage of PEMFC is less output voltage which is step-up by using a single switch boost converter. The proposed fuel cell fed boost converter system is investigated by using a MATLAB/Simulink window.

Modelling of SEPIC, Ćuk and Zeta Converters in Discontinuous Conduction Mode and Performance Evaluation.

High-order switched DC-DC converters, such as SEPIC, Ćuk and Zeta, are classic energy processing elements, which can be used in a wide variety of applications due to their capacity to step-up and/or step-down voltage characteristic. In this paper, a novel methodology for analyzing the previous converters operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) is applied to obtain full-order dynamic models. The analysis is based on the fact that inductor currents have three differentiated operating sub-intervals characterized by a third one in which both currents become equal, which implies that the current flowing through the diode is zero (DCM). Under a small voltage ripple hypothesis, the currents of all three converters have similar current piecewise linear shapes that allow us to use a graphical method based on the triangular shape of the diode current to obtain the respective non-linear average models. The models’ linearization around their steady-state operating points yields full-order small-signal models that reproduce accurately the dynamic behavior of the corresponding switched model. The proposed methodology is applicable to the proposed converters and has also been extended to more complex topologies with magnetic coupling between inductors and/or an damping network in parallel with the intermediate capacitor. Several tests were carried out using simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, and using an experimental prototype. All the results validate the theoretical models.

High Voltage Gain Multi-port Bidirectional DC-DC Converter with an Effective Multi-loop Control Strategy for PV/Battery Integrated Systems

This study proposes a novel isolated bidirectional multiport converter (MPC) based on a switched-capacitor converter and a half-bridge converter with an effective control scheme for photovoltaic (PV) powered and battery buffered systems. The proposed power electronics converter interface integrates the converters to which the ports are connected with a battery coupled common dc busbar and high frequency transformer (HFT). Thus, the three-port converter is formed without any need for an additional converter to regulate battery power flow. In addition, to transfer power from a low voltage PV energy unit to the battery and load, a single switch DC-DC converter with high voltage gain is proposed. The power flow between the ports is controlled by an effective multi-loop control scheme that is able to perform a smooth transition between the loops. In order to validate the viability and effectiveness of the proposed MPC, a 3 kW proof-of-concept model has been developed with a 3 kW PV and 220 V 12 Ah battery. The performance of the proposed converter has been analyzed for different case studies, including dynamic operating and loading conditions.

Magnetic triggering — time-resolved characterisation of silicon strip modules in the presence of switching DC-DC converters

Modules for the ATLAS Inner Tracker (ITk) strip tracker include a DC-DC converter circuit glued directly to the silicon sensor which converts the 11 V supplied to the module to the 1.5 V required for the operation of the readout chips. The DC-DC converter unit, consisting of a copper solenoid and custom ASIC, is located directly above the silicon strip sensor and therefore needs to be shielded to protect the sensor from EMI noise created during the operation of the circuit. Despite dedicated shielding, consisting of an aluminium shield box with continuous solder seams encompassing the surface components and a copper layer in the PCB beneath it, module channels connected to sensor strips located beneath the converter circuit were found to show a noise increase. While the DC-DC converter unit causing the underlying EMI noise operates at a frequency of 2 MHz, module characterisation measurements for ITk strip tracker modules are typically performed asynchronously to the DC-DC switching and are therefore averaged over the full range of time bins with respect to the converter frequency. In order to investigate the time dependence of the noise injection relative to the DC-DC switching frequency, a dedicated setup to understand the time-resolved performance change in modules was developed. By using a magnetic field probe to measure the field leaking through the shield box and triggering on its rising edge, data taking could be synchronised with the DC-DC switching. This paper illustrates the concept and setup of such time-resolved performance measurements using magnetic triggering and presents results for the observed effects on signal and noise for ATLAS ITk strip modules from both laboratory and beam tests.