Single-phase Power Factor Correction Converter Research Articles

Review of the CM noise mitigation methods for the single-phase power factor correction converter

Several techniques to mitigate conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) in single-phase power factor correction (PFC) converters have been reported in literatures. This paper mainly focuses on the review and classifications of the common-mode (CM) noise mitigation methods based on the novel structures, balance concept, novel modulation methods and so on. Through eliminating the noise generation or cut off the propagation path, those methods can mitigate the CM noise caused by the single-phase PFC converter. Besides, the comparisons and limitations are also discussed. It is believed that this review will be helpful to the design of the EMI filter for the switch-mode power system, which includes the PFC stages.

Second Harmonic Current Reduction Schemes for DC–DC Converter in Two-Stage PFC Converters

For the two-stage single-phase power factor correction (PFC) converter, its instantaneous input power pulsates at twice the line frequency, generating the second harmonic current (SHC) at the dc-bus port. The dc–dc stage is used to regulate the output voltage or the dc bus voltage in different applications, and the SHC reduction schemes for the dc–dc stage with different control objectives are discussed in this article. When the dc–dc stage regulates the output voltage, it is pointed out that the control bandwidth of the dc–dc stage is required to be high enough and the dc bus capacitor should be large enough to suppress the SHC, and the design of the dc bus capacitor is given. When the dc–dc stage regulates the dc bus voltage, a virtual impedance is added in series with the input/output of the dc–dc stage to suppress the SHC, and a virtual impedance is added in parallel with the dc bus to improve the dynamic performance. The selection and design of the virtual impedances are also given. Based on that, three specific control schemes are proposed for the dc–dc stage to suppress the SHC, and the parameters design method is also presented. Finally, a 3.3-kW two-stage single-phase PFC converter is fabricated and tested in the lab to verify the effectiveness of the proposed SHC reduction schemes.

Review of the CM noise mitigation methods for the single-phase power factor correction converter

Review of the CM noise mitigation methods for the single-phase power factor correction converter

Hardware-in-the-Loop and Digital Control Techniques Applied to Single-Phase PFC Converters

Power electronic converters for power factor correction (PFC) play a key role in single-phase electrical power systems, ensuring that the line current waveform complies with the applicable standards and grid codes while regulating the DC voltage. Its verification implies significant complexity and cost, since it requires long simulations to verify its behavior, for around hundreds of milliseconds. The development and test of the controller include nominal, abnormal and fault conditions in which the equipment could be damaged. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) is a cost-effective technique that allows the power converter to be replaced by a real-time simulation model, avoiding building prototypes in the early stages for the development and validation of the controller. However, the performance-vs-cost trade-off associated with HIL techniques depends on the mathematical models used for replicating the power converter, the load and the electrical grid, as well as the hardware platform chosen to build it, e.g., microprocessor or FPGA, and the required number of channels and I/O types to test the system. This work reviews state-of-the-art HIL techniques and digital control techniques for single-phase PFC converters.

Simple current control without grid voltage sensor for traction solid-state transformer

This paper proposes a simple current control method without a grid voltage sensor for a rectifier of traction solid-state transformer. The proposed control scheme estimates the phase angle of grid voltage from the fundamental frequency current of the grid. The extracted phase signal is normalized to generate a sinusoidal current reference by adopting a scaling factor to achieve a unity gain. Since the proposed control method operates without the grid voltage sensor for power factor correction (PFC), it offers a cost-effective solution with a simple implementation structure. However, this method cannot guarantee its control performance under weak grid conditions, where the frequency of grid voltage often varies. Thus, the control parameters of the proposed method are discussed and analyzed to minimize performance degradation. To verify the feasibility of the proposed control method, simulations and experiments are carried out on a 2 kW single-phase PFC converter. The proposed method provides as much control performance as the conventional method, which uses the grid voltage sensor.

Average Periodic Delay-Based Frequency Adaptable Repetitive Control With a Fixed Sampling Rate and Memory of Single-Phase PFC Converters

This article proposes an average periodic delay-based repetitive controller for power factor correction (PFC) converters undergoing grid frequency variations. When the grid frequency is changed, a conventional repetitive controller requires an interpolation method or additional memory to achieve frequency adaptability. Furthermore, frequency adaptability can also be realized using a variable sampling frequency; however, this requires additional computation effort and a multirate digital control system. In this article, with a fixed sampling frequency and memory length, the proposed repetitive controller, which generates the average periodic delay unit, maintains its harmonic compensation performance under grid frequency variations. In the proposed method, the control variables are updated depending on the phase of the grid voltage to reflect the grid frequency deviations in the average period delay unit. Because no complicated software modification is necessary, the proposed scheme can be easily plugged in the existing control algorithm. The theoretical analysis and stability issues of the proposed scheme have been discussed in detail to ensure stable operation and disturbance rejection. Both the simulations and the experiments on a 1.5-kW PFC converter have been carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed repetitive control.

A Virtual Impedance Based Control Scheme for Modular Electrolytic Capacitor-Less Second Harmonic Current Compensator

The second harmonic current compensator (SHCC) can be added into the single-phase converters for compensating the second harmonic current (SHC) and thus removing the undesired electrolytic capacitor. In this paper, a virtual impedance, which is in the form of a capacitor and a resistor connected in parallel, is introduced to be in parallel at the bus-side port of the SHCC for effectively compensating the SHC while guaranteeing the system stability. This virtual parallel impedance is realized by feeding forward the bus-side port voltage of the SHCC, and thus the SHCC can be modular designed. The closed-loop parameter design of the SHCC is also presented. A 3.3-kW prototype of a two-stage single-phase power factor correction converter is built and tested in the laboratory, and the experimental results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control method.

A Soft-Switching Step-Down PFC Converter with High Power Factor Using Auxiliary Flyback Circuit

In this paper, a new soft-switching bridgeless single-phase power factor correction converter is introduced and analyzed. Employing an auxiliary flyback circuit, existing dead angle in the input current is eliminated while softswitching is achieved. The flyback converter processes only small amount of output power. Therefore, conduction losses of its bridge diode and semiconductor devices are low. Also, the auxiliary flyback converter provides soft-switching condition for buck switches. All semiconductors are turned on and off under soft-switching condition. In addition to reduction of switching losses, diode's reverse-recovery problems are eliminated due to soft-switching condition. The proposed approach takes advantage of operating under discontinuous conduction mode to shape the input current into sinusoidal form inherently. Experimental results are reported for a 120-W prototype at 110 Vrms input and 48-V output. The results demonstrate efficiency of 93% at nominal load condition. Furthermore, the input current harmonics fulfill IEC61000-3-2 (Class D) standard as well.

Control Strategy for Modular Multilevel Converter based on Single-phase Power Factor Correction Converter

Control Strategy for Modular Multilevel Converter based on Single-phase Power Factor Correction Converter

A Three-Level Quasi-Two-Stage Single-Phase PFC Converter with Flexible Output Voltage and Improved Conversion Efficiency

This paper presents a three-level quasi-two-stage single-phase power factor correction (PFC) converter that has flexible output voltage and improved conversion efficiency. The proposed PFC converter features sinusoidal input current, three-level output characteristic, and a wide range of output dc voltages, and it will be very suitable for high-power applications where the output voltage can be either lower or higher than the peak ac input voltage, e.g., plug-in hybrid electric vehicle charging systems. Moreover, the involved dc/dc buck conversion stage may only need to process partial input power rather than full scale of the input power, and therefore the system overall efficiency can be much improved. Through proper control of the buck converter, it is also possible to mitigate the double-line frequency ripple power that is inherent in a single-phase ac/dc system, and the resulting load end voltage will be fairly constant. The dynamic response of this regulation loop is also very fast and the system is therefore insensitive to external disturbances. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of this converter as well as its efficiency improvement against a conventional two-stage solution.

Investigation and Implementation of a Passive Snubber with a Coupled-Inductor in a Single-Stage Full-Bridge Boost PFC Converter

In this paper, an improved passive snubber is investigated in a single-phase single-stage full-bridge boost power factor correction (PFC) converter, by which the voltage spike across primary side of the power transformer can be suppressed and the absorbed energy can be transferred to the output side. When compared with the basic passive snubber, the two single-inductors are replaced by a coupled-inductor in the improved snubber. As a result, synchronous resonances in the snubber can be achieved, which can avoid the unbalance of the voltage and current in the snubber. The operational principle of the improved passive snubber is analyzed in detail based on a single-phase PFC converter, and the design considerations of both the snubber and the coupled-inductor are given. Finally, a laboratory-made prototype is built, and the experimental results verify the feasibility of the proposed method and the validity of the theoretical analysis and design method.

A Flicker-Free Electrolytic Capacitor-Less AC–DC LED Driver

The electrolytic capacitor is the key component that limits the operating lifetime of LED drivers. If an ac–dc LED driver with power factor correction (PFC) control is allowed to output a pulsating current for driving the LEDs, the electrolytic capacitor will no longer be required. However, this pulsating current will introduce light flicker that varies at twice the power line frequency. In this paper, a configuration of flicker-free electrolytic capacitor-less single-phase ac–dc driver for LED lighting is proposed. The configuration comprises an electrolytic capacitor-less PFC converter and a bidirectional converter, which serves to absorb the ac component of the pulsating current of the PFC converter, leaving only a dc component to drive the LEDs. The output filter capacitor of the bidirectional converter is intentionally designed to have a large voltage ripple, thus its capacitance can be greatly reduced. Consequently, film capacitors can be used instead of electrolytic capacitors, leading to the realization of a flicker-free ac–dc LED driver that has a long lifetime. The proposed solution is generally applicable to all single-phase PFC converters. A prototype with 48-V, 0.7-A output is constructed and tested. Experimental results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the flick-free electrolytic capacitor-less ac–dc LED driver.

A repetitive-PI Current Controller for Boost Single Phase PFC Converters

In this paper, the Author presents the theory and application of repetitive proportional integral current con-troller for boost single phase ac-dc converter with power factor correction (PFC). A repetitive controller which is inserted in series with the proportional integral ( PI) controller shows very low crossover distortion of input current, low total harmonic distortion and very low tracking error when is compared with the con-ventional proportional integral controller. Full analysis of proposed controller is given and Matlab/Simulink is used for simulation. The simulation results show the validity of the proposed control method.

임계전류도통모드로 동작하는 디지털제어 단상 역률개선 컨버터

본 논문에서는 임계전류도통모드로 동작하는 디지털제어 단상 역률개선(PFC; power-factor correction) 컨버터를 제안한다. 제안한 컨버터는 PFC를 위하여 DC-DC 부스트 컨버터 구조를 이용하며 인덕터전류를 임계도통모드로 동작시킨다. 또한 제안한 컨버터는 마이컴을 이용하여 디지털적으로 제어되기 때문에 제어회로는 간단해지고 컨버터는 더욱 효과적으로 동작한다. 본 논문에서는 먼저 제안한 컨버터의 동작원리를 설명하고 회로를 해석한다. 그리고 본 논문은 제안한 컨버터의 구현방법을 소프트웨어와 회로설계 부분으로 구분하여 구체적인 설계예와 함께 설명한다. 또한 설계된 회로파라미터에 의한 프로토타입 컨버터의 실험결과로 제안한 컨버터가 단상 PFC 컨버터로써 좋은 동작 특성을 가지고 있음을 보인다. This paper presents a digital-controlled single-phase power-factor correction (PFC) converter operating in critical current conduction mode. The proposed converter utilizes the DC-DC boost converter topology for the PFC and operates the inductor current in critical conduction mode. Because the proposed converter is controlled digitally using a micom, its control circuit is simplified and the converter operates more effectively. This paper first explains the operational principles of the proposed converter and then analyzes the converter circuit. And this paper explains the implementation method of proposed converter with a detail design example, which is divided into software and circuit design parts. Also, it is shown through the experimental results of the prototype converter by the designed circuit parameters that the proposed converter has good performance as a single-phase PFC converter.

Aircraft power system harmonics involving single-phase PFC converters

AC-DC converters with active power factor correction (PFC) are replacing uncontrolled diode rectification circuits on commercial jet airplanes in order to meet harmonic distortion limits imposed by new airborne electrical system power quality standards. The high line frequency of airborne AC power systems presents a major challenge for the design of PFC converters capable of meeting these standards. This paper investigates a new source of harmonic current distortion and the resulting system power quality problems related to dynamic interactions between PFC converters and the AC source. Experimental results are first presented to demonstrate the existence of such interactions and their effects on system power quality. Analytical and numerical simulation results are then presented to explain why such dynamic interactions can lead to significantly increased harmonic current distortion in steady state operation. Elimination of undesirable system interactions through proper damping of the PFC converter input filter is also presented and its effectiveness experimentally validated.

Input Impedance Analysis of Single-Phase PFC Converters

The input impedance of single-phase boost power factor corrected (PFC) AC-DC converters is modeled and analyzed in this paper. A large-signal model is presented for the input impedance which overcomes the limitations of traditional piece-wise linearized models. The model is valid at frequencies ranging from the crossover frequency of the output voltage loop to half the switching frequency of the converter. Experimental results from a boost single-phase PFC converter are provided to validate the model. Input characteristics of typical boost PFC converters, such as input impedance dipping, leading phase of the input current, and responses to distorted input voltages are studied by using the model. A simple compensation technique to reduce the dipping in the input impedance, thereby improving converter performance and minimizing the potential for undesirable interactions with the input filter or the ac source, is also presented.