PFC Rectifier Research Articles

DCM Boost PFC for High Brightness LED Driver Applications

This paper is concerned with the derivation of a discontinuous conduction mode boost PFC rectifier as a driver for high-power LED lighting applications. The proposed driver is operated in the current mode regime while emulating a resistance towards the line, thus attaining a near unity power factor and low total harmonic distortion of the line current. Theoretical analysis is reported and conditions for the low LED flicker are derived. A method of design for minimum THD is also suggested. Simulation and experimental results are reported.

New EV Battery Charger PFC Rectifier Front-End Allowing Full Power Delivery in 3-Phase and 1-Phase Operation

A new universal front-end PFC rectifier topology of a battery charger for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is proposed, which allows fast charging at rated and/or full power level in case of 3-phase (Europe) as well as 1-phase (USA) mains supply. In this regard, a conventional 3-phase PFC rectifier would facilitate only one-third of the rated power in case of 1-phase operation. The new topology is based on a two-level six-switch (2LB6) 3-phase boost-type PFC rectifier, which is extended with a diode bridge-leg and additional windings of the Common-Mode (CM) chokes of the EMI filter. Besides this extension of the power circuit, the general design of the new converter is explained, and the generated Differential Mode (DM) and Common Mode (CM) EMI disturbances are investigated for 3-phase and 1-phase operation, resulting in guidelines for the EMI filter design. The EMI performance (CISPR 11 class-B QP) is experimentally verified for 1-phase and 3-phase operation at an output power of 4.5 kW, using a full-scale hardware prototype that implements the proposed extensions for a 2LB6 3-phase boost-type PFC rectifier and that is designed for output power levels of 22 kW and 19 kW in case of 3-phase and 1-phase operation, respectively. Compared to a conventional 2LB6 PFC rectifier, the volume of the extended system increases from 2.7 dm3 to 3.4 dm3, of which 0.5 dm3 is due to the additional dc-link capacitance for buffering the power pulsation with twice the mains frequency occurring for 1-phase operation.

An efficient soft-switched vienna rectifier topology for EV battery chargers

The requirement of high power rated, efficient and high power density grid connected converters has increased due to their extended use in multiple applications such as battery chargers. The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) in the transportation market is essentially associated with the performance and reliability of battery chargers. An efficient, compact and fast battery charger is indispensable in order to provide a way to charge an EV in a short time. In view of this fact, this article proposes a soft-switching three-level T-type vienna rectifier, which can be used as a front-end power stage converter in an on-board EV battery charger. The proposed topology achieves high efficiency and high power density by employing soft-switching strategy, which is achieved by incorporating a simple auxiliary network in the proposed circuit. The reduced component stresses and simple control strategy make it an appealing candidate for EV industries to develop this front-end PFC rectifier as a fast battery charger. The high switching operation with reduced power losses, regulated DC at the output, low-harmonic grid current and power factor correction operation are achieved with the proposed topology. The construction, operating principle and simulation analysis of the proposed converter are discussed in detail. In order to show the stand-point of the proposed scheme, a fair comparison of the proposed soft-switched converter with an existing soft-switched 3-level neutral-point diode-clamped converter is carried out in terms of the number of components and complexity in the PWM signals generation. Additionally, an efficiency comparison of the suggested converter is carried out with some existing well-known rectifier topologies at different power loads. The practical implementation of the proposed power converter scheme is checked by building a laboratory-prototype to perform an experimental analysis.

A step-down isolated three-phase IGBT boost PFC rectifier using a novel control algorithm with a novel start-up method

A step-down isolated three-phase IGBT boost PFC rectifier using a novel control algorithm with a novel start-up method

A Compensation Method for the 2nd Harmonic Component in the Input Currents of Three-Phase Current-Fed PFC Rectifier with Sawtooth Carrier PWM Scheme

A Compensation Method for the 2nd Harmonic Component in the Input Currents of Three-Phase Current-Fed PFC Rectifier with Sawtooth Carrier PWM Scheme

Design and Implementation of a Control Method for GaN-Based Totem-Pole Boost-Type PFC Rectifier in Energy Storage Systems

With the unceasing advancement of wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor technology, the minimal reverse-recovery charge Qrr and other more powerful natures of WBG transistors enable totem-pole bridgeless power factor correction to become a dominant solution for energy storage systems (ESS). This paper focuses on the design and implementation of a control structure for a totem-pole boost PFC with newfangled enhancement-mode gallium nitride field-effect transistors (eGaN FETs), not only to simplify the control implementation but also to achieve high power quality and efficiency. The converter is designed to convert a 90–264-VAC input to a 385-VDC output for a 2.6-kW output power. Lastly, to validate the methodology, an experimental prototype is characterized and fabricated. The uttermost efficiency at 230 VAC reaches 99.14%. The lowest total harmonic distortion in the current (ITHD) at high line condition (230 V) attains 1.52% while the power factor gains 0.9985.

Hybrid Low-Frequency Switch for Bridgeless PFC

Traditionally, for the bridgeless PFC, the low-Ron Si super-junction (SJ) mosfets are utilized to reduce the loss on the low-frequency switches. However, the high cost of the low-Ron Si SJ mosfet is an issue. Therefore, this letter proposes a hybrid low frequency switch which hybrids a high-Ron and low-cost Si SJ mosfet and a high current and low-cost Si diode. This hybrid switch achieves the low conduction loss under light load conditions due to the internal mosfet and achieves the low conduction loss under heavy load conditions due to the parallel diode. This hybrid switch combines the benefits of the mosfet and the diode with very low cost. This switch is very suitable for the high-efficiency bridgeless PFC rectifiers. The analytical and the experimental results based on the implemented hybrid switch verify the performance of the hybrid switch.

Soft Switching Bridgeless Rectifier for NEV Battery Charger

The high efficiency soft switching bridgeless PFC rectifier with Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) is proposed for Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). For each switching period the proposed converter operates both in Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) mode and resonant mode and hence termed as Hybrid Resonant PWM. Reduced Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), switching losses and voltage stress across semiconductor devices are realized in this converter by implementing soft-switching technique. The closed loop control of this converter is implemented using Externally Resettable Integrator (ERI) Control technique. Duty Ratio control of the switch in a single switching period is implemented through this nonlinear control technique. This technique rejects input voltage perturbations in one switching cycle and follows the control reference instantaneously. A 125W converter prototype is designed and simulated using PSIM software. The simulated results are realized with experimental results. The hardware results infer that input power factor is closer to unity and output voltage is regulated to 110V with an efficiency of 94%.

Optimal Design of Bidirectional PFC Rectifiers and Inverters Considering 2L and 3L Topologies with Si, SiC, and GaN Switches

Optimal Design of Bidirectional PFC Rectifiers and Inverters Considering 2L and 3L Topologies with Si, SiC, and GaN Switches

A Simple ZVT Auxiliary Circuit for Totem-Pole Bridgeless PFC Rectifier

The utilization of wide band gap devices has enabled high frequency operation of totem pole bridgeless PFC rectifier. However, most of the designs reported in the literature with frequency higher than 100 kHz operate under discontinuous conduction mode or critical mode to reduce the switching loss. This paper proposes a zero-voltage-transition (ZVT) technique for totem-pole PFC rectifier under continuous conduction mode operation which enables efficient operation at switching frequencies well above 100 kHz. A simple auxiliary circuit consisting of a small auxiliary inductor and two active switches is placed in parallel with the main input filter inductor to achieve zero-voltage-switching of the main switches. The auxiliary switches operate with zero-current-switching (ZCS) and conduct current as short resonant pulses only during the critical turn- on transition which results in very low losses in the auxiliary circuit. The timing of the auxiliary switches is adaptively controlled with respect to the grid voltage angle for optimized overall efficiency. The effectiveness of the proposed ZVT scheme has been validated through experiments based on a 2.4 kW 400 kHz hardware prototype with 98.35% peak efficiency.

Bridgeless Buck PFC Rectifier with Improved Power Factor

Bridgeless Buck PFC Rectifier with Improved Power Factor

Retificador Trifásico Isolado Modular Com Correção do Fator de Potência Baseado no Conversor Zeta Operando no Modo de Condução Descontínuo

Este artigo apresenta a análise e o projeto de um conversor ca-cc trifásico isolado, baseado na associação modular de três conversores cc-cc do tipo Zeta operando no modo de condução descontínuo, com regulação da tensão de saída e transformador de alta frequência. O alto fator de potência de entrada é naturalmente atingido por meio do modo operacional dos módulos, sem o uso de qualquer sensor de corrente ou malha de controle da corrente. Todos os três módulos são controlados simultaneamente através de um único pulso de comando, o qual reduz a complexidade da estratégia de controle. Um circuito snubber é incorporado ao conversor para permitir a operação em comutação suave durante o bloqueio do interruptor. Para validar a análise teórica, um protótipo de laboratório de 1,2 kW, 220 V de tensão de entrada, 60 V de tensão de saída, e frequência de chaveamento de 25 kHz, foi construído. Resultados experimentais, com malha de controle da tensão de saída para observação do comportamento dinâmico e de regime permanente do conversor, são apresentados.

Design and experimental evaluation of a single-stage AC/DC converter with PFC and hybrid full-bridge rectifier

This paper presents design and experimental evaluation of a single-stage AC/DC converter with PFC and hybrid full-bridge rectifier for supplying LED streetlight. The proposed converter consisted of one LLC resonant tank, two boost circuits and one shared inductor. By incorporating a relay switch at the secondary-side of the circuit, the output stage can be operated as two different types of rectifier: the first is as a full-bridge rectifier and the second type is as a full-bridge voltage doubler rectifier. The proposed converter was designed to receive a 240-V, 50-Hz single-phase AC supply as its input. MATLAB Simulink software was used to simulate the proposed converter, and later, a prototype was built for the experimental measurements at 100-W rated output power. The experimental results and the performance of the proposed converter were analyzed for PFC, efficiency, THD, and bus voltage. The proposed converter can achieve soft-switching characteristics since the power switches and output diodes were operated with ZVS and ZCS conditions, respectively. Furthermore, when the relay switch was closed, the output voltage was twice higher than that of when the relay switch was opened. The maximum efficiency of the proposed converter with hybrid full-bridge rectifier and full-bridge voltage doubler rectifier was about 92.6% and 93.3% respectively.

Control Method for the Sheppard–Taylor PFC Rectifier to Reduce Capacitance Requirements

Sheppard–Taylor power factor correction (ST-PFC) rectifier could obtain a high power factor due to its capability of overcoming the control detuning issue. However, it needs a bulky electrolytic capacitor at the load side to buffer the double-frequency ripple power (DFRP), which reduces the reliability and power density significantly. This paper proposes a control method to divert the DFRP to the small energy transfer capacitor. Consequently, the bulky electrolytic capacitor is replaced with a small film capacitor. The proposed method is carried out by introducing the freewheel state (one switch is turned on and the other is turned off ) into the control. So no extra hardware is added, which makes the proposed method cost-effective. A low electromagnetic interference emission is also achieved due to the continuous input–output currents. In addition, the proposed method can be extended to other topologies easily. This paper first gives the detailed analysis of the proposed control method, and then introduces the controller design. The selection of the passive components is also briefly discussed. Finally, the simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed control method.

Enhanced Automatic-Power-Decoupling Control Method for Single-Phase AC-to-DC Converters

Existing control schemes for single-phase ac-to-dc converters with active power-decoupling function typically involve a dedicated power-decoupling controller. Due to the highly coupled and nonlinear nature of the single-phase system, the design of the power-decoupling controller (typically based on the small-signal linear control techniques) is cumbersome, and the control structure is complicated. Additionally, with the existing power-decoupling control, it is hard to achieve satisfied dynamic responses and robust circuit operation. Following a recently proposed automatic-power-decoupling control scheme, this paper proposes a nonlinear control method that can achieve enhanced large-signal dynamic responses with strong disturbance rejection capability without the need for a dedicated power-decoupling controller. The proposed controller has a simple structure, of which the design is straightforward. The control method can be easily extended to other single-phase ac-to-dc systems with active power-decoupling function. Simulation and experimental results validate the feasibility of the proposed control method on a two-switch buck–boost PFC rectifier prototype.

99% Efficient Three-Phase Buck-Type SiC MOSFET PFC Rectifier Minimizing Life Cycle Cost in DC Data Centers

Due to the increasing power consumption of data centers, efficient dc power distribution systems have become an important topic in research and industry over the last years and according standards have been adopted. Furthermore the power consumed by telecommunication equipment and data centers is an economic factor for the equipment operator, which implies that all parts of the distribution system should be designed to minimize the life cycle cost, i.e. the sum of first cost and the cost of the power conversion losses. This paper demonstrates how semiconductor technology, chip area, magnetic component volumes and switching frequency can be selected based on life cycle cost, using analytical and numerical optimizations. A three-phase buck-type PFC rectifier with integrated active filter for 380V dc distribution systems is used as an example system, which shows that a peak efficiency of 99% is technically and economically feasible with state-of-the-art SiC MOSFETs and nanocrystalline or ferrite cores. Measurements taken on an 8 kW, 4 kWdm-3 hardware prototype demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the design.

Three-Phase Interleaved Parallel Vienna Rectifier Based on Coupling Transformer

This paper presents a three-phase interleaved parallel Vienna rectifier employing a coupling transformer. The application of coupling transformer figures out the current sharing problem between two parallel Vienna converters successfully, meanwhile, the volume of input EMC filters and passive components are reduced for the coupling transformers. The proposed rectifier also presents the inherent benefits: high power factor, higher power density, lower input current ripple and lower output voltage ripple. The operation of the PFC rectifier is described, including the design guidelines for the coupling transformer.

Dimmable flicker‐free power LEDs lighting system based on a SEPIC rectifier using a regenerative snubber

This study presents a universal-input AC electronic lighting system using a non-isolated SEPIC PFC rectifier to drive and control power light emitting diodes (LEDs). One energy regenerative snubber is proposed to reduce the converter switching losses aiming to improve the overall system efficiency. A linear current regulator is employed to provide the features of flicker-free and dimming capability for the lighting system. The operation stages as well as the theoretical waveforms and main equations at steady state of the proposed SEPIC rectifier using the regenerative snubber are described in details. To reduce the efficiency impairment, the conditions for achieving minimum energy loss in the current regulator are also detailed. A control loop designed using the results from the small-signal analysis presented in the study is proposed to track the optimal current regulator operating point in real-time. Experimental results of a prototype operating from 90 to 265 V and output power from 15 to 100% for 35 LEDs / 42 W are presented to verify the analyses carried out.

Performance Comparison of PI and P Compensation in DSP-Based Average-Current-Controlled Three-Phase Six-Switch Boost PFC Rectifier

In this paper, it is shown that in the three-phase six-switch boost power factor correction rectifier with average-current control with mismatched input-voltage and input-current sensing gains as well as offset errors in input-voltage and input-current sensing, the current controller with proportional (P) compensation exhibits lower total harmonic distortion (THD) and higher power factor compared with that of proportional and integral compensation. It is also shown that P compensation with input-voltage feedforward is effective in improving output-voltage transient response with respect to input-voltage changes only if duty-cycle feedforward is also implemented. Finally, it is shown that zero-sequence-signal injection, in addition to enabling the output-voltage regulation in a wider input-voltage range, also improves the THD of the input currents.

Current-sensorless control of an SPWM H-Bridge-based PFC rectifier designed considering voltage sag condition

This paper presents and details the H-Bridge PFC rectifier control scheme. This control is a step forward in sensorless current control schemes for performance improvements of single-phase bidirectional rectifiers. The H-Bridge PFC rectifier is designed based on a single PI controller loop fed by DC reference signals. Regarding dynamic operating conditions, the proposed control can maintain a regulated DC voltage under varying conditions at input (voltage sags) and output (load step changes) ports while maintaining an unitary power factor (PF) and constant THD current input at any of these conditions. Different to other investigations, this control proposal uses SPWM, does not require a variable transformation into the dq0 reference frame, and the complex compensators accompanying to the PI controller stage are no longer needed. Therefore, this proposal is aimed to reduce the complexity of the control scheme and to improve the overall dynamic response of the PFC rectifier. The experimental results obtained from the scaled-down prototype setup, which was built for research purposes, validate the control law, mathematical model and quantitative comparison between simulation and experiment, both considering the parasitic resistances of the inductor and semiconductor switches.