Full-bridge Rectifier Research Articles

A High-Efficiency Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting and Management Circuit Based on Full-Bridge Rectification

This paper presents a high-efficiency piezoelectric energy harvesting and management circuit utilizing a full-bridge rectifier (FBR) designed for powering wireless sensor nodes. The circuit comprises a rectifier bridge, a fully CMOS-based reference source, and an energy management system. The rectifier bridge uses a PMOS cross-coupled structure to greatly reduce the conduction voltage drop. The CMOS reference source provides the necessary reference voltage and current. The energy management system delivers a stable 1.8 V to the load and controls its operation in intermittent bursts. Fabricated with a 110 nm CMOS process, the circuit occupies an area of 0.6 mm2, and is housed in a QFN32 package. Test results indicate that under 40 Hz frequency and 4 g acceleration vibrations, the chip’s energy extraction power reaches 234 μW, with the load operating every 3 s at a supply voltage of 1.8 V. Thus, this FBR interface circuit efficiently harnesses the energy output from the piezoelectric energy harvester.

DEVELOPMENT OF DUAL-SWITCHES BRIDGELESS PFC TOTEM-POLE SEPIC CONVERTER FOR LED DRIVER APPLICATION

This paper presents a Dual-Switch Bridgeless Power Factor Correction (DSBPFC) Single Ended Primary Inductor Converter (SEPIC) with Totem-Pole circuit structure for LED Driver Application. The conventional Full-Bridge Rectifier (FBR) SEPIC converter has five diodes, four in the rectifier bridge and one in the SEPIC. In addition, the FBR SEPIC converter has several drawbacks, including low power factor (PF), high current harmonics (THDi), and high output voltage ripple, due to the combination of two operation circuits in a single converter structure. The proposed DSBPFC SEPIC converter with Totem-Pole method improves PF and reduces THDi and output voltage ripple compared to the conventional FBR SEPIC. Additionally, it only requires three diodes instead of five. The optimization parameter design minimizes the THDi and output voltage ripple. In addition, to improve the quality of the AC source, the inductors are designed to operate in DCM and CCM based on the ripple-balancing concept between input and output inductors. As to reduce output voltage ripple, a high capacitance of output capacitor is used. The simulation result of the THDi is 3.8% whereas the experimental result shows that the THDi is 23.5%; which can be attributed to the parasitic elements at the passive components. Furthermore, the experimental results of the output voltage ripple are 2 V with output capacitance of 3300 μF, compared to the output voltage ripple of 4.40 V for 470 μF. Therefore, the proposed converter's design is confirmed with an output power of approximately 14.4 W.

Numerical harmonic modelling of low wattage LED lamps based on parameter estimation algorithms

This paper presents a numerical harmonic modeling approach for 18 low-wattage Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lamps. The proposed methodology utilizes meta-heuristic algorithms, namely Multi-Stage Ant Colony Optimization (MSACO) and Harris Hawk Optimization (HHO), to estimate optimal parameters for the equivalent circuits. Additionally, the study examines eight different configurations of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Filter circuits, including their respective parameters, which function as front-end circuits for the Full Bridge Rectifier (FBR) of the LED drivers. Through extensive investigations, the primary objective is to establish generalized and accurate models for various EMI filter circuits that can be universally applied, with validation through comparison against experimental results. Under both MSACO and HHO, the lowest average total error ranges were observed in the LC-Filter and CL-Filter configurations, with errors ranging from 21.302 % and 22.769 %, respectively. On the other hand, the L-Filter and R-only configurations exhibited the highest average total error ranges, with errors of 42.376 % and 44.648 %, respectively. Notably, this paper introduces a non-intrusive, non-invasive method for estimating optimal parameters based solely on measurements obtained from the input terminals of the LED lamps.

An Isolated High Gain Push Pull Type DC to DC Converter for Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems

Due to their high efficiency and low environmental impact, fuel cell power generation systems have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional energy sources. However, the integration of fuel cells into practical applications necessitates the development of efficient power conversion systems. dc-dc converters play a crucial role in optimizing the power flow between the fuel cell stack and the load. In this paper, a push-pull type high gain dc-dc converter is proposed which consists of a push-pull inverter, a rectifier circuit, and C-filter. The push pull inverter produces high frequency square wave output while the full bridge rectifier and C-filter convert this square wave output into desired dc voltage. The converter boosts the 12V dc input supply to 326 V, representing a gain factor of more than 27. The isolated coupling inductor used in push pull inverter produces high gain and provides electrical isolation. Besides, the proposed topology eliminates the use of bulky grid-connected power transformers that decreases the system size and cost. To evaluate the performance of the proposed topology, a number of simulations under varying loads were carried out in the MATLAB Simulink framework. Further-more, a scaled-down prototype of 160W at 12/326 V was developed to confirm the simulation results. The findings indicate that the suggested converter can be a viable option for the hydrogen fuel cell-based power conversion system. GUB JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, Vol 10(1), 2023 P 37-52

Harnessing Green Electricity from Food: A Split Black Gram-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for a Self-Powered Autonomous Lighting System and Portable Electronics.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent a promising solution to mounting environmental concerns associated with battery disposal amid the escalating demand for portable electronics. However, prevailing TENG fabrication predominantly relies on nonbiodegradable, nonbiocompatible, and synthetic materials, posing a grave ecological threat. To mitigate this, there is a pressing need to develop eco-friendly and green TENGs leveraging sustainable, naturally occurring materials. This study pioneers the use of split black gram (SBG) as a tribo-positive material for TENGs. SBG's effectiveness as a tribo-positive material stems from its abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups, as confirmed by FTIR analysis, facilitating electron donation during the triboelectric process. SBG offers compelling advantages, including widespread availability, cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and hydrophobic and adhesive properties due to its richness in starch and protein, positioning it as an optimal choice for eco-conscious TENG manufacturing. The fabrication process of an SBG-TENG is not only economical and facile but also solvent-free, requiring no specialized tools. Demonstrating commendable performance, the SBG-TENG achieves a maximum power density of 15.36 μW/cm2 at 1 MΩ, with an open circuit voltage of 84 V and short circuit current of 28 μA, comparable to recent studies. In practical applications, the SBG-TENG seamlessly integrates with LEDs and portable electronic devices via a full bridge rectifier, successfully powering them postcapacitor charging. Moreover, an autonomous lighting system is developed by embedding the SBG-TENG in a foot mat, enabling wireless light control through human stepping on the mat, introducing power-saving functionality for residential and office environments. In essence, the introduction of the SBG-TENG not only delivers cost-effectiveness but also minimizes the environmental impact by harnessing sustainable energy from food sources.

Empirical Investigation of a Single-phase Input Switched AC-DC Boost Converter with Improved Power Quality

The Boost converter topology is most widely used for power factor correction (PFC) converters. The conventional passive Boost PFC converter inherently suffers from the lack of controllability and non-ideal characteristics of the diode-bridge rectifier. Replacing diodes with active switch(es) offers viable solutions but increases the circuit complexity. Addressing this trade-off, a novel design of a single–phase input switched AC to DC Boost converter has been presented in this article. The active switch of the Boost DC converter is shifted to the input side of the full-bridge diode rectifier which provides more control on the input current without increasing much of the circuit complexity. Two Boost inductors and two output split capacitors are used for providing higher step-up operation compared to the conventional. The converter has been simulated both in open-loop and closed-loop conditions using the PSIM software. The simulation results show that the proposed converter provides good dynamic response and can maintain a constant stable output voltage during sudden load change. Furthermore, to evaluate the experimental performance of the suggested converter, a prototype converter has been developed. A scaled-down experiment has been performed which shows that the converter can achieve up to 85.2 % efficiency and an input power factor of 0.9.

A single-stage variable output AC-DC converter with PFC and soft-switching for renewable energy integration

This study introduces a versatile variable-output isolated AC-DC converter design distinguished by its incorporation of soft-switching and a novel control algorithm. The converter configuration comprises two full-bridge diode rectifiers, positioned at both input and output sides, complemented by a full-bridge isolated resonant DC–DC converter. By providing soft-switching across all semiconductor components, the proposed design could achieve a significant power density increase while still preserving the power conversion efficiency in an acceptable range. The novel control algorithm concurrently governs power factor and output voltage, employing the duty cycle as the primary control variable and the phase shift as an auxiliary parameter. Using this synergistic method fulfills more efficiency, increases power density, and improves power factor performance. The effectiveness and reliability of the converter were carefully confirmed by experiments done on a prototype, which provided the capacity to provide over 400 watts in its maximum state of operation. Notably, the converter's adaptability makes it an ideal candidate for a wide variety of applications, with a specific emphasis on integrating renewable energy sources into power systems.

Constant-Voltage and Constant-Current Controls of the Inductive Power Transfer System for Electric Vehicles Based on Full-Bridge Synchronous Rectification

When an inductive power transfer (IPT) system conducts wireless charging for electric cars, the coupling coefficient between the coils is easily affected by fluctuations in the external environment. With frequent changes in the battery load impedance, it is difficult for the IPT system to achieve constant-voltage and constant-current (CVCC) controls. A CVCC control method is proposed for the IPT system that has a double-sided LCC compensation structure based on full-bridge synchronous rectification. The proposed method achieved good dynamic stability and was able to effectively switch between the output current and voltage of the system by adjusting only the duty cycle of the switch on the secondary side of the rectification bridge. As a result, the system efficiency was improved. The output characteristics of the double-sided LCC compensation structure was derived and the conduction condition with zero voltage was analyzed by using four switches through two conduction time series of the rectifier circuit. Then, the output voltage of the synchronized rectifier was derived. The hardware implementation of the full-bridge controllable rectifier was described in detail. Finally, a MATLAB/Simulink 2018a simulation model was developed and applied to an 11 kW prototype to analyze and validate the design. The results showed that the designed system had good CVCC output characteristics and could maintain constant output under certain coupling offsets. Compared with semi synchronous rectification methods, the proposed method had a higher efficiency, which was 95.6% at the rated load.

Torque Ripple Reduction in Brushless Wound Rotor Vernier Machine Using Third-Harmonic Multi-Layer Winding

This article aims to realize the brushless operation of a wound rotor vernier machine (WRVM) by a third-harmonic field produced through stator auxiliary winding (X). In the conventional model, a third-harmonic current is generated by connecting a 4-pole armature and 12-pole excitation windings serially with a three-phase diode rectifier to develop a pulsating field in the airgap of a machine. However, in the proposed model, the ABC winding is supplied by a three-phase current source inverter, whereas the auxiliary winding (X) carries no current due to an open circuit. The fundamental MMF component developed in the machine airgap creates a four-pole stator field, while the third-harmonic MMF induces the harmonic current in the specialized rotor harmonic winding. The rotor on the other side contains the harmonic and the field windings connected through a full-bridge rectifier. The electromagnetic interaction of the stator and rotor fields generates torque. Due to the open-circuited winding pattern, the proposed machine results in a low torque ripple. A 2D model is designed using JMAG-Designer, and 2D field element analysis (FEA) is carried out to determine the output torque and machine’s efficiency. A comparative performance analysis of both the conventional and proposed topologies is discussed graphically. The quantitative analysis of the proposed topology shows better performance as compared to the recently developed third-harmonic-based brushless WRVM topology in terms of output torque and torque ripples.

Powering of IOTs through single jersey wearable tribo-electric nano generator

A simple, lightweight, and easy to develop Single Jersey Wearable Tribo-Electric Nano Generators (SJ-WTENG) were constructed using Cotton and Acrylic fabrics (Triboelectric series materials). Fabrics were also coated with Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (13 nm) to increase the electrical conductance of the samples. Compression and Vertical contact-separation modes were adopted for studying the performance of the developed samples. Along with a Single WTENG sample, the outputs of two samples connected in series were also measured. To study the effect of developed Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticle coating, non-coated fabrics WTENGs were also constructed and tested. The maximum voltage reached with the Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticle-coated SJ-WTENG samples was a time-varying signal of 7.68 volts peak to peak volts with an approximate frequency of 50.5 Hertz. A shotky diode-based full bridge rectifier was used to get the DC voltage. The rectified DC signal was observed to be 5 volts which was enough to light up an LED with a threshold voltage of 1.7 volts DC as well as charge 3.7 volts, 3.6Ah Li-ion battery pack. Results confirmed that the application of Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles was useful in augmenting the output of the proposed SJ-WTENG design. The proposed system can be used to power the battery powered IOT (Internet of Things) devices, widely used in medical and body sensor network applications.

Experimental investigation of near-field magnetic energy harvesting from induction cooktop

This paper proposes a simple and cost-effective magnetic-field-energy harvesting circuit for capturing the leaked magnetic energy from an induction cooktop. In this, the captured energy is converted into dc electrical energy with the help of 1N5819 Schottky diodes based full wave bridge rectifier. We investigated the captured magnetic-field energy at different positions and different heights of the energy-harvesting coil from the induction cooktop. The designed Magnetic-Field-Energy Harvesting (MFEH) circuit is capable of capturing an average dc power of 1484 mW while it is placed 5 cm below the induction cooktop with a load resister 33 Ω and capacitance of 470 μF. The power level is reduced to 203 mW when the energy harvesting coil is moved to 10 cm below the induction cooktop. The harvested magnetic field energy at different positions of the energy harvesting coils is investigated for different values of load resisters. The harvested energy can be stored in a battery for future applications. The proposed device demonstrated practically for charging mobile and powering the low-power IoT device. The numerical study of the proposed harvesting mechanism is explained also. The induction cooktop’s yielded excellent results and magnetic field energy harvesting capability make the proposed device unique from the previously reported magnetic harvesting circuits.

Single Power-Conversion Active-Clamped AC/DC Converter Employing Si/SiC Hybrid Switch

This article proposes a single power-conversion voltage-fed active-clamped ac/dc converter that uses an Si IGBT/SiC MOSFET hybrid switch. By incorporating two switches at the primary side of the circuit, we removed the full-bridge diode rectifier, and thereby reduced the required number of power devices. Inherent bidirectional active-clamp circuit naturally limits the voltage spike at bottom switches and reuses the energy accumulated in the leakage inductor during both positive and negative grid half-cycles. Also, it offers dual-resonant power transfer paths, so it can deliver the high power with less circuit components. The alternating switching modulation makes one of the bottom switches turn off with hard switching per grid half-cycle while holding other bottom switch on to conduct the current. In contrast, top switches are softly switched with low root-mean-square current. Therefore, the converter with proposed switching modulation enables direct substitution of Si IGBT for an SiC MOSFET at the top on the primary side, and thereby which cuts down the circuit implementation cost. We built a 1 kW prototype converter and confirmed its validity.

INTERCONNECTION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATOR (PVG) TO A MAIN SUPPLY: A PRACTICAL STUDY

This paper presents a technique for interconnecting a photovoltaic generator (PVG) to a main supply of AC nature. The technique has been implemented practically in one of the laboratories of the author’s work place. The technique uses a single phase full wave bridge rectifier. Such bridge rectifier is operated in an inverter mode of operation and that is to guaranty its contribution of real power to a main AC supply. The bridge rectifier is controlled by a practical firing angle controller developed in LABVIEW software environment. The firing angle controller is interfaced to the power bridge rectifier through the use of simple optocoupler and pulse transformer elements. The practical results show that under a certain insolation/irradiation level (taken randomly) and for a resistive load requiring presumably130 W power , the PVG source was contributing 90 W power to such power load and the AC grid was contributing 40 W to such power load The technique of interconnection alleviates the problem of synchronization encountered often when using the traditional way of interconnecting the DC grid (made of conventional renewable energy resources) to the AC grid system.

Fabrication of high-performance triboelectric nanogenerator based on Ni3C nanosheets to self-power thermal patch for pain relief

In this work, we report a vertical contact-separation mode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) comprising of Ni3C/PDMS composite and Nylon Nanofibers for self-powering a nichrome wire-based thermal patch for muscular/joint relaxation. An optimised composition of Ni3C (25 wt%) and PDMS as a tribo-negative material and Nylon Nanofibers synthesised via electrospinning on copper electrode foil as a tribo-positive material were used to fabricate the TENG. The fabricated TENG exhibits outstanding output generating an average open circuit voltage of ∼252 V, an average short circuit current of ∼40.87 μA and a peak power of ∼562.35 μW cm−2 at a matching resistance of 20 MΩ by manual tapping. Enhancement in contact area due to electrospun nylon and micro capacitive Ni3C flakes in dielectric PDMS contribute to the exceptional performance of the TENG. The optimised TENG is then connected to a full bridge rectifier with a 100 nF filtering capacitor to convert the AC voltage to a DC output with a peak voltage of ∼5.4 V and a ripple voltage of ∼1.04 V to recharge an ICR 18650 Li-ion battery, which functions as a medium to improve electrical energy flow to the heat patch. The electrical energy is converted into heat energy by a wounded nichrome wire placed inside the heat patch. The nichrome wire of length 3 cm with appropriate number of windings was employed in the heat patch. An increment of 45 °F can be observed by switching the charged Li-ion battery-based circuit ON for just 30 s. The strategy of self-powering a heat patch using this TENG finds enormous applications in physiotherapy and sports to relieve muscle and joint pains.

Mission profile-based digital twin framework using functional mock-up interfaces for assessing system's degradation behaviour

This Paper introduces a mission profile-based and simulation-driven framework for creating digital twins, by combining different modeling techniques into an integrated model of a complex electronic system used in automotive and railway applications. It envisages monitoring, diagnostics and prognostic of the condition, degradation or abnormalities in the electronic system's behaviour in the field. Furthermore, this work contributes towards the development of digital twins by adding black-box modules to the main simulation models, which can be achieved by employing the functional mock-up interface toolbox. The key features and functionalities of this approach for the simulation of digital twins will be also highlighted in this work. This approach is applied on a common example circuit, a full wave bridge rectifier, whose model is implemented and simulated in Modelica11Modelica® and Python® are registered trademarks.Modelica®, Matlab/Simulink® and Ansys Twin Builder® are registered trademarks.. Moreover, the functionality of the investigated circuit, as well as the degradation behaviour under variable external thermal as well as electrical loads, is demonstrated with the help of automated parametric studies performed within Python+. Finally, the framework is verified using the functional test structure of the full wave diode bridge rectifier.

Enhancing the Performance of Human Motion Energy Harvesting through Optimal Smoothing Capacity in the Rectifier

Energy harvesting offers a promising solution for powering a growing variety of low-power electronics; however, harnessing energy from human motion, with its irregular and low-frequency bursts of power, presents conversion challenges. As rectification is a common part of it, this study investigates the influence of smoothing capacitor values on rectifier output for short, intermittent signals. We propose an analytical model that identifies an optimal smoothing capacity for the full-bridge rectifier, considering harvester internal resistance, frequency, and load resistance and leading to the highest average output voltage after rectification. The model was validated with detailed computer simulations; furthermore, a similar effect was revealed on a voltage multiplier circuit as well. Experimental measurements demonstrate that deviating from the optimal smoothing capacity results in up to 10% decrease in rectified RMS voltage, leading to significant drops in output power in specific energy harvesting systems. A real-world experiment with a human motion energy harvester further confirmed the findings in a naturally varying generation environment.

A Self-Bias-Flip With Charge Recycle Interface Circuit With No External Energy Reservoir for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Array

This paper presents a piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) interface circuit using a new self-bias-flip with charge recycle (SBFR) technique without employing any additional energy reservoir. Traditional designs, including synchronous-switch harvesting on inductor (SSHI), synchronous-switch harvesting on capacitor (SSHC), synchronous electric charge extraction (SECE), etc., require additional capacitors or inductors to reverse the voltage on the PEH at the zero-crossing point. This design innovatively uses the inherent capacitors of the piezoelectric harvesters as the flipping capacitors. In order to improve the extract efficiency of the interface, the zero-crossing state is split into charge recycle stage and voltage-flip stage. For a piezoelectric array with <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2^{n}$</tex-math></inline-formula> PEHs, a configuration with (n-1) phases in the charge recycle stage is adopted to reduce the loss caused by direct charge neutralization. The charge redistribution loss is reduced by employing (2n+1) phases in the voltage-flip stage. The proposed principle has been implemented with discrete components and is verified by 3 different prototypes. The measurement results show that a flipping efficiency of 67% is achieved by utilizing SBFR with 4 PEHs. And the proposed interface can provide up to 5.2x improvement when compared with the full-bridge rectifier (FBR).

Bridgeless Filterless Neutral-Point-Clamped Resonant AC/DC Converter

In this article, we present bridgeless filterless neutral-point-clamped (NPC) resonant ac/dc converter. By using the push-pull transformer itself, with the primary-side switching modulation fixed at 0.5, the proposed ac/dc converter accomplishes theoretically zero input-current ripple and so does not need the extra input filter. Semi-bridgeless configuration reduces the conduction loss associated with an input full-bridge diode rectifier. The resonant NPC structure much reduces the voltage stress at turn-off instant; this aspect reduces the turn-off loss occurred at the secondary-side switches. Therefore, the proposed converter features low cost, high power density, and high efficiency. A prototype with 1-kW output power is implemented to verify the superior properties of the proposed ac/dc converter.

A self-powered extensible P–SSHI array interface circuit with thermoelectric energy assistance for piezoelectric energy harvesting

In this paper, a self-powered extensible parallel synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (EP-SSHI) interface is presented. The proposed interface addresses multiple piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) with arbitrary phase differences, while avoiding the conflict of accessing the single inductor simultaneously. In addition, the proposed interface enhances the voltage flipping performance of the PZT by incorporating thermoelectric energy assistance to increase its output power. Measurements demonstrate that the voltage flipping efficiency of the EP-SSHI with thermoelectric energy assistance (EP–SSHI–TEA) was increased to 53.33% with the assistance of 75 mV thermoelectric energy. Experimental results reveal that the proposed interface can effectively harvest energy from multiple PZTs with any phase difference. Compared with the conventional full bridge rectifier, the EP-SSHI achieves 3.63x power improvement and 6.42x load voltage range. Relative to other advanced circuits, the proposed interface strikes a superior balance between high output power and wide output voltage range while maintaining circuit simplicity and extensibility.

A Self-Powered DSSH Circuit with MOSFET Threshold Voltage Management for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting.

This paper presents a piezoelectric (PE) energy harvesting circuit based on the DSSH (double synchronized switch harvesting) principle. The circuit consisted of a rectifier and a DC-DC circuit, which achieves double synchronized switch operation for the PE transducer in each vibration half-cycle. One of the main challenges of the DSSH scheme was precisely controlling the switch timing in the second loop of the resonant loops. The proposed circuit included a MOS transistor in the second loop to address this challenge. It utilized its threshold voltage to manage the stored energy in the intermediate capacitor per vibration half-cycle to simplify the controller for the DSSH circuit. The circuit can operate under either the DSSH scheme or the ESSH (enhanced synchronized switch harvesting) scheme, depending on the value of the intermediate capacitor. In the DSSH scheme, the following DC-DC circuit reused the rectifier's two diodes for a short period. The prototype circuit was implemented using 16 discrete components. The proposed circuit can be self-powered and started up without a battery. The experimental results showed that the proposed circuit increased the power harvested from the PE transducer compared to the full-bridge (FB) rectifier. With two different intermediate capacitors of 100 nF and 320 nF, the proposed circuit achieved power increases of 3.2 and 2.7 times, respectively. The charging efficiency of the proposed circuit was improved by a factor of 5.1 compared to the typical DSSH circuit.