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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F3: Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 24004

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Dr. Tibor Vince

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Department of Theoretical and Industrial Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia
Interests: industrial electronic engineering; industrial application; IoT; simulation and modeling applications; automated measurement systems
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Prof. Dobroslav Kovac

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Department of Theoretical Electrical Engineering and Electrical Measurement, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics,Technical University of Košice, 04200 Košice, Slovakia

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite all potential authors to publish the results of their research and development work in a Special Issue of the Energies entitled “DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization”. The application of DC-DC converters is a very current issue, especially in terms of their use in such important social areas as automotive technology and alternative energy sources. Both areas contain a number of issues that need continuous innovation in order to improve the parameters of the mentioned converters. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include but are not limited to:

increasing the efficiency of electricity conversion,
design and application of new connections,
use of new types of semiconductor components,
new management and regulation strategies,
optimization,
thermals parameters,
electromagnetic compatibility,
protection,
parallel or serial cooperation of inverters,
output voltage stability.

Dr. Tibor Vince
Prof. Dobroslav Kovac
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

power electronics
topology converters
power semiconductor components
control and regulation strategies of DC - DC converters
optimization converters
EMC converters
converter protection
converter cooperation

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soft-Switching Full-Bridge DC-DC Converter with Energy Recovery Capacitor Snubber

by Marek Pastor, Milan Lacko, Jaroslav Dudrik and Adrian Marcinek

Energies 2023, 16(4), 1591; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16041591 - 05 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1669

Abstract

This paper describes a high-frequency soft-switching dc-dc converter with a simple energy recovery capacitor snubber on the secondary side. The presented dc-dc full-bridge converter with the energy recovery snubber removes the main drawbacks of the classic Phase Shifted PWM (PS-PWM) dc-dc converter, e.g., the circulating current flowing during the free-wheeling interval and dependency of the soft switching on the load current. The converter utilizes a full-bridge topology with pulse-width modulation and a centre-tapped full-wave controlled rectifier with one active switch. The zero-voltage switching on the primary side is ensured by utilising only the magnetizing current of the high-frequency transformer, and thus is load-independent. The proposed energy recovery snubber is described in detailed time waveforms of the converter and verified by simulation. The control algorithm also removes the circulating current, which is typical for PS-PWM converters. The soft-switching of the secondary side transistor is achieved by a simple capacitor snubber with an energy-recovery circuit connected to the output of the dc-dc converter. The principle of operation is verified by measurements on a 2 kW, 50 kHz laboratory model of the proposed dc-dc converter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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19 pages, 8890 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Power-Density DC–DC Converter Using a Fixed-Type Wireless Power Transmission Transformer with Ceramic Insulation Layer

by Jeong-Sang Yoo, Yong-Man Gil and Tae-Young Ahn

Energies 2022, 15(23), 9006; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15239006 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

In this study, we propose the use of a short-distance and fixed-type wireless power transmission transformer via a half-bridge LLC resonant converter. A ceramic insulating layer was used instead of an air gap, meaning that the heat generated from the transformer core and the PCB winding was quickly transferred to the external metal case, with the ceramic insulating layer acting as a heat pipe. In order to stabilize the output voltage, we proposed the use of IR photo tunnel technology, and it was applied to two ceramic insulating layers so that the voltage error signal of the secondary output voltage could be transmitted as light to the primary side. As a result, it was possible to physically separate the primary and secondary sides of the power circuit centering on the ceramic insulating layer. The experiment was carried out with the input voltage of 400 V, the output voltage of 54 V, the maximum output power of 1 kW, and the switching frequency of 1.3 MHz or higher. As a result, the maximum operating frequency was 1.83 MHz, and the output voltage stability to the load was 0.49% or lower. The power density of the experimental circuit was 380

W / {in}^{3}

or higher, and the maximum power conversion efficiency was approximately 93% or higher. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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19 pages, 45716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Universal PSpice Simulation Model of a Switched Buck Voltage Regulator

by Dobroslav Kováč, Tibor Vince, Matej Bereš, Ján Molnár, Jozef Dziak, Patrik Jacko and Irena Kováčová

Energies 2022, 15(21), 8209; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15218209 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2057

Abstract

The article describes the design of a universal simulation model of a voltage regulator for applications compatible with the globally used PSpice program. Users can create a model of any type of integrated switching voltage regulator that is currently available on the market by setting its individual parameters. The proposed connection of the regulator was applied in the connection of the buck DC–DC converter. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the results obtained by the simulation to other official models and to practical measurements taken on a real sample of the converter. The versatility of the model was proven by comparison with another type of converter with different parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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21 pages, 2825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3SSC-A-Based Step-Down DC–DC Converters: Analysis, Design and Experimental Validation

by Lucas Carvalho Souza, Luciano de Souza da Costa e Silva, Falcondes José Mendes de Seixas and Luis De Oro Arenas

Energies 2022, 15(20), 7710; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15207710 - 19 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1335

Abstract

This paper proposes two non-isolated step-down DC–DC converters based on the type-A three-state switching cell (3SSC-A), resulting in an alternative to the buck and buck-boost classical converters, respectively. The proposed topologies are part of a group of unexplored converters that employ the 3SSC-A, which has the advantages of 3SSC-based converters, such as high power density, reduced current stress on the semiconductors and suitable thermal loss distribution. In this regard, a complete static analysis is performed, including a detailed study of all semiconductor voltage and current efforts and developing loss models for each one. Moreover, by using simulation models, AC sweep analyses validate the dynamic frequency response of each converter’s small-signal models, and PI-based output–voltage closed-loop controllers are duly designed. Finally, the topologies are experimentally validated through the implementation of adequately designed prototypes, achieving efficiency values greater than 91% under several output power rates varying from 50% to 100%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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32 pages, 8067 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of PI and ADRC Control through CHIL Real Time Simulations of a DC-DC DAB into a Multi-Terminal MVDC/LVDC Distribution Network

by Riccardo Chiumeo, Diego Raggini, Alessandro Veroni and Alessio Clerici

Energies 2022, 15(20), 7631; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15207631 - 15 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1499

Abstract

This article presents a deep theoretical analysis of the Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) regulator for the control of first-order systems, directly compared to a “traditional” Proportional Integral (PI) regulator. To complete the theoretical study, ADRC and PI are implemented into the model of a single-phase Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter to regulate the voltage of a Direct Current (DC) network. Facing different types of disturbances and DC network parameters variations, strengths and weaknesses of the two controllers are highlighted. ADRC and PI controls are discretized and implemented in Control Hardware In the Loop (CHIL) simulations of a single-phase DAB converter to regulate the voltage of a node of multi-terminal and multi-level DC network. By changing the DAB connection points along the MVDC network, the controlled system is stressed with different disturbances, extending the result of single-terminal network software simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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28 pages, 1779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overall Efficiency Improvement of a Dual Active Bridge Converter Based on Triple Phase-Shift Control

by Garry Jean-Pierre, Necmi Altin, Ahmad El Shafei and Adel Nasiri

Energies 2022, 15(19), 6933; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15196933 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2073

Abstract

This paper proposes a control scheme based on an optimal triple phase-shift (TPS) control for dual active bridge (DAB) DC–DC converters to achieve maximum efficiency. This is performed by analyzing, quantifying, and minimizing the total power losses, including the high-frequency transformer (HFT) and primary and secondary power modules of the DAB converter. To analyze the converter, three operating zones were defined according to low, medium, and rated power. To obtain the optimal TPS variables, two optimization techniques were utilized. In local optimization (LO), the offline particle swarm optimization (PSO) method was used, resulting in numerical optimums. This method was used for the low and medium power regions. The Lagrange multiplier (LM) was used for global optimization (GO), resulting in closed-form expressions for rated power. Detailed analyses and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Additionally, obtained results are compared with the traditional single phase-shift (SPS) method, the optimized dual phase-shift (DPS) method, and TPS method with RMS current minimization to better highlight the performance of the proposed approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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20 pages, 9941 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel High-Step-Up/Step-Down Three-Port Bidirectional DC/DC Converter for Photovoltaic Systems

by Yu-En Wu

Energies 2022, 15(14), 5257; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15145257 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1279

Abstract

This paper presents a novel three-port high-step-up/step-down bidirectional DC/DC converter with a coupled inductor for photovoltaic (PV) systems. The proposed converter combines a high-step-up converter, which is used to step-up the PV module to DC bus 200 V, and a battery charge/discharge bidirectional converter to form a three-port bidirectional converter. When sufficient energy is supplied from the PV modules, the converter can step-up the output of the PV modules and provide energy to the DC bus while charging the battery simultaneously. However, when no energy is supplied from the PV modules, the DC bus voltage is provided by the battery. Moreover, the energy stored in the leakage inductor is recycled to the DC-blocking capacitor, and synchronous rectification is conducted in the switch during the step-up mode to reduce switch loss and thereby increase the system’s overall efficiency. Finally, a 500 W three-port bidirectional converter is implemented to verify the feasibility and practicability of the proposed converter. The maximum efficiency of the proposed converter is 95.4%, 94.3%, and 94.7% when operated in the high-step-up mode, battery step-up mode, and step-down mode for the PV modules, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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21 pages, 8677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Unified Controller for Multi-State Operation of the Bi-Directional Buck–Boost DC-DC Converter

by Gabriel R. Broday, Gilney Damm, William Pasillas-Lépine and Luiz A. C. Lopes

Energies 2021, 14(23), 7921; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14237921 - 25 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1775

Abstract

DC grid interfaces for supercapacitors (SCs) are expected to operate with a wide range of input voltages with fast dynamics. The class-C DC-DC converter is commonly used in this application because of its simplicity. However, it does not work if the output voltage (V₂) becomes smaller than the input voltage (V₁). The non-isolated bi-directional Buck–Boost DC-DC converter does not have this limitation. Its two half-bridges provide a means for controlling the power flow operating in the conventional dual-state mode, as well as multi-state, tri, and quad modes. These can be used for mitigating issues such as the Right Half Plane (RHP) zero that has a negative impact on the dynamic response of the system. Multi-state operation typically requires multi-variable control, which is not easy to realize with conventional PI-type controllers. This paper proposes a unified controller for multi-state operation. It employs a carrier-based modulation scheme with three modulation signals that allows the converter to operate in all four possible states and eight different modes of operation. A mathematical model is developed for devising a multi-variable control scheme using feedback linearization. This allows the design of control loops with simple PI controllers that can be used for all multi-state modes under a wide range of operating conditions with the same performance. The proposed scheme is verified by means of simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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20 pages, 6506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis and Output Power Control of Unidirectional Secondary-Resonant Single-Active-Half-Bridge DC-DC Converter

by Cao Anh Tuan and Takaharu Takeshita

Energies 2021, 14(21), 7432; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14217432 - 08 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2570

Abstract

Development of high-frequency-isolated DC-DC converters is underway for charging and discharging electric vehicle batteries. As a charger, a Single Active Bridge (SAB) converter, which is composed of a primary full-bridge converter, a high-frequency transformer, and a secondary full-bridge diode rectifier circuit, has been proposed as a unidirectional high frequency isolated DC-DC converter. In this paper, as a simple circuit configuration, a Secondary-Resonant Single-Active-Half-Bridge (SR-SAHB) converter, in which the primary and secondary circuits of the SAB converter are both half-bridge circuits, and a resonant capacitor connected in parallel to each secondary diode, is created. Due to the partial resonance on the secondary side, power transmission with unity transformer turn ratio and unity voltage conversion ratio can be realized, and a high total input power factor of the transformer can be achieved. As a result, the maximum voltage and current of the switching devices and the transformer voltage can be reduced. Moreover, soft switching in all commutations can be realized. The operation waveform is analyzed, and output power control is derived using the variable frequency control method. The effectiveness of the proposed SR-SAHB has been verified by experimental results using a 2.4 kW 20 kHz, 265 V laboratory prototype. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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19 pages, 7304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Unidirectional Secondary Resonant Single Active Bridge DC–DC Converter

by Cao Anh Tuan and Takaharu Takeshita

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6349; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14196349 - 05 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

A compact and highly efficient unidirectional DC–DC converter is required as a battery charger for electrical vehicles, which will rapidly become widespread in the near future. The single active bridge (SAB) converter is proposed as a simple and high-frequency isolated unidirectional converter, which is comprised of an active H-bridge converter in the primary side, an isolated high frequency transformer, and a rectifying secondary diode bridge output circuit. This paper presents a novel, unidirectional, high-frequency isolated DC–DC converter called a Secondary Resonant Single Active Bridge (SR–SAB) DC–DC converter. The circuit topology of the SR–SAB converter is a resonant capacitor connected to each diode in parallel in order to construct the series resonant circuit in the secondary circuit. As a result, the SR–SAB converter achieves a higher total power factor at the high frequency transformer and a unity voltage conversion ratio under the unity transformer turns ratio. Small and nonsignificant overshoot values of current and voltage waveforms are observed. Soft-switching commutations of the primary H-bridge circuit and the soft recovery of secondary diode bridge are achieved. The operating philosophy and design method of the proposed converter are presented. Output power control using transformer frequency variation is proposed. The effectiveness of the SR–SAB converter was verified by experiments using a 1 kW, 48 VDC, and 20 kHz laboratory prototype. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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15 pages, 4088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency Enhancement of Non-Isolated DC-DC Interleaved Buck Converter for Renewable Energy Sources

by Matej Bereš, Dobroslav Kováč, Tibor Vince, Irena Kováčová, Ján Molnár, Iveta Tomčíková, Jozef Dziak, Patrik Jacko, Branislav Fecko and Šimon Gans

Energies 2021, 14(14), 4127; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14144127 - 08 Jul 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 1843

Abstract

The article describes the principles based on which it is possible to obtain energy from renewable sources more efficiently. The principles use the conventional DC-DC interleaved buck converter based on the common electronic component types and the control strategy. A novelty of such a proposed solution lies in the methods which are not new, but with the right combination, better results can be achieved. The resulting method can be implemented into various topologies where the highest efficiency for wide input power is required. In case of the renewable energy sources where the power can vary hugely during the day, the proposed method can be implemented. Therefore, the article provides several steps, from calculation through simulation to experimental results that brings reader close to understanding of a such proposed solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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24 pages, 11345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Nonlinear Control Strategy for DC-DC Converter with Unknown Constant Power Load Using Damping and Interconnection Injecting

by Mian Wang, Fen Tang, Xuezhi Wu, Jingkai Niu, Yajing Zhang and Jiuhe Wang

Energies 2021, 14(11), 3031; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14113031 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2044

Abstract

DC-DC converters with constant power loads are mostly used in DC microgrids. Negative impedance and large disturbances of constant power loads may lead to the instability of DC-DC converters. To address this issue, a nonlinear control strategy consisting of an improved passivity-based controller and nonlinear power observer is proposed in this paper. First, an improved passivity-based controller is designed based on the port-controlled Hamiltonian with dissipation model. By proper damping and interconnection injecting, the fast dynamic response of output voltage and stability of the DC-DC converter is achieved. Second, the constant power load is observed by a nonlinear power observer, which is adopted to estimate the power variation of the constant power load within a small settling time and improve the adaptability of the DC-DC converter under power disturbance. Finally, the simulation and experimental results are presented, which illustrate the proposed control strategy not only ensures the stability of the DC-DC converter under large disturbances, but also can track the desired operating point with low voltage overshoot in no more than 10 milliseconds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DC-DC Converters Technologies, Applications and Optimization)

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