A PLL control for self-tuning of parallel wireless power transfer receivers utilizing switch-mode gyrator emulated inductors

In multiple receivers wireless power transfer (WPT) systems, it is preferable to retune the resonant frequency of every receiver to the transmitter operating frequency in front of frequency mismatches. This paper discusses a proposal for electronic tuning for WPT receivers by means of a variable active switch-mode inductance. The proposed method benefits from the gyrator concept to emulate a variable inductance. Instead of the conventional approach of linear amplifier based implementation of a gyrator, a switch-mode gyrator circuit is exploited for more efficient operation. Additionally, a PLL-like control is presented to enable self-tuning for the receiver resonant tank. Furthermore, a design-space characterization for the system dynamic behavior has been discussed to show the control robustness and the instabilities (including slow-scale and fast-scale chaotic instabilities) it may undergo.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Cost Effective, Highly Efficient Wireless Power Transfer Systems for EV Battery Charging

The impact of changing inner diameter of wireless power transfer (WPT) coils on coupling coefficient is studied. It is demonstrated that at a certain outer and inner coil diameter, turn space variation has minor effect on the coupling coefficient. Next, two compensation networks, namely primary LCC and secondary LCC, which offer load-independent voltage transfer ratio and zero voltage switching for WPT, are presented. For both compensation networks, the condition for having zero voltage switching operation are derived. In addition, load-independent voltage transfer ratio (VTR) frequencies are obtained and VTR at each frequency is derived. Then, required equations for calculation of WPT system efficiency based on its equivalent circuit are presented. Eventually, by defining a time-weighted transfer average efficiency (TWTAE), and based on measured values of resistance and inductance of a WPT prototype and experimental charging curve of a Li-ion battery, a design procedure for both compensation networks is proposed. The proposed design leads to high TWTAE as well as low material usage. Simulation and experimental results verify the superiority of proposed coil and compensation design compared to conventional one

On-chip adaptive power management for WPT-Enabled IoT

Internet of Things (IoT), as broadband network connecting every physical objects, is becoming more widely available in various industrial, medical, home and automotive applications. In such network, the physical devices, vehicles, medical assistance, and home appliances among others are supposed to be embedded by sensors, actuators, radio frequency (RF) antennas, memory, and microprocessors, such that these devices are able to exchange data and connect with other devices in the network. Among other IoT’s pillars, wireless sensor network (WSN) is one of the main parts comprising massive clusters of spatially distributed sensor nodes dedicated for sensing and monitoring environmental conditions. The lifetime of a WSN is greatly dependent on the lifetime of the small sensor nodes, which, in turn, is primarily dependent on energy availability within every sensor node. Predominantly, the main energy source for a sensor node is supplied by a small battery attached to it. In a large WSN with massive number of deployed sensor nodes, it becomes a challenge to replace the batteries of every single sensor node especially for sensor nodes deployed in harsh environments. Consequently, powering the sensor nodes becomes a key limiting issue, which poses important challenges for their practicality and cost. Therefore, in this thesis we propose enabling WSN, as the main pillar of IoT, by means of resonant inductive coupling (RIC) wireless power transfer (WPT). In order to enable efficient energy delivery at higher range, high quality factor RIC-WPT system is required in order to boost the magnetic flux generated at the transmitting coil. However, an adaptive front-end is essential for self-tuning the resonant tank against any mismatch in the components values, distance variation, and interference from close metallic objects. Consequently, the purpose of the thesis is to develop and design an adaptive efficient switch-mode front-end for self-tuning in WPT receivers in multiple receiver system. The thesis start by giving background about the IoT system and the technical bottleneck followed by the problem statement and thesis scope. Then, Chapter 2 provides detailed backgrounds about the RIC-WPT system. Specifically, Chapter 2 analyzes the characteristics of different compensation topologies in RIC-WPT followed by the implications of mistuning on efficiency and power transfer capability. Chapter 3 discusses the concept of switch-mode gyrators as a potential candidate for generic variable reactive element synthesis while different potential applications and design cases are provided. Chapter 4 proposes two different self-tuning control for WPT receivers that utilize switch-mode gyrators as variable reactive element synthesis. The performance aspects of control approaches are discussed and evaluated as well in Chapter 4. The development and exploration of more compact front-end for self-tuned WPT receiver is investigated in Chapter 5 by proposing a phase-controlled switched inductor converter. The operation and design details of different switch-mode phase-controlled topologies are given and evaluated in the same chapter. Finally, Chapter 6 provides the conclusions and highlight the contribution of the thesis, in addition to suggesting the related future research topics.Internet de las cosas (IoT), como red de banda ancha que interconecta cualquier cosa, se está estableciendo como una tecnología valiosa en varias aplicaciones industriales, médicas, domóticas y en el sector del automóvil. En dicha red, los dispositivos físicos, los vehículos, los sistemas de asistencia médica y los electrodomésticos, entre otros, incluyen sensores, actuadores, subsistemas de comunicación, memoria y microprocesadores, de modo que son capaces de intercambiar datos e interconectarse con otros elementos de la red. Entre otros pilares que posibilitan IoT, la red de sensores inalámbricos (WSN), que es una de las partes cruciales del sistema, está formada por un conjunto masivo de nodos de sensado distribuidos espacialmente, y dedicados a sensar y monitorizar las condiciones del contexto de las cosas interconectadas. El tiempo de vida útil de una red WSN depende estrechamente del tiempo de vida de los pequeños nodos sensores, los cuales, a su vez, dependen primordialmente de la disponibilidad de energía en cada nodo sensor. La fuente principal de energía para un nodo sensor suele ser una pequeña batería integrada en él. En una red WSN con muchos nodos y con una alta densidad, es un desafío el reemplazar las baterías de cada nodo sensor, especialmente en entornos hostiles, como puedan ser en escenarios de Industria 4.0. En consecuencia, la alimentación de los nodos sensores constituye uno de los cuellos de botella que limitan un despliegue masivo práctico y de bajo coste. A tenor de estas circunstancias, en esta tesis doctoral se propone habilitar las redes WSN, como pilar principal de sistemas IoT, mediante sistemas de transferencia inalámbrica de energía (WPT) basados en acoplamiento inductivo resonante (RIC). Con objeto de posibilitar el suministro eficiente de energía a mayores distancias, deben aumentarse los factores de calidad de los elementos inductivos resonantes del sistema RIC-WPT, especialmente con el propósito de aumentar el flujo magnético generado por el inductor transmisor de energía y su acoplamiento resonante en recepción. Sin embargo, dotar al cabezal electrónico que gestiona y condicionada el flujo de energía de capacidad adaptativa es esencial para conseguir la autosintonía automática del sistema acoplado y resonante RIC-WPT, que es muy propenso a la desintonía ante desajustes en los parámetros nominales de los componentes, variaciones de distancia entre transmisor y receptores, así como debido a la interferencia de objetos metálicos. Es por tanto el objetivo central de esta tesis doctoral el concebir, proponer, diseñar y validar un sistema de WPT para múltiples receptores que incluya funciones adaptativas de autosintonía mediante circuitos conmutados de alto rendimiento energético, y susceptible de ser integrado en un chip para el condicionamiento de energía en cada receptor de forma miniaturizada y desplegable de forma masiva. La tesis empieza proporcionando una revisión del estado del arte en sistemas de IoT destacando el reto tecnológico de la alimentación energética de los nodos sensores distribuidos y planteando así el foco de la tesis doctoral. El capítulo 2 sigue con una revisión crítica del statu quo de los sistemas de transferencia inalámbrica de energía RIC-WPT. Específicamente, el capítulo 2 analiza las características de diferentes estructuras circuitales de compensación en RIC-WPT seguido de una descripción crítica de las implicaciones de la desintonía en la eficiencia y la capacidad de transferencia energética del sistema. El capítulo 3 propone y explora el concepto de utilizar circuitos conmutados con función de girador como potenciales candidatos para la síntesis de propósito general de elementos reactivos variables sintonizables electrónicamente, incluyendo varias aplicaciones y casos de uso. El capítulo 4 propone dos alternativas para métodos y circuitos de control para la autosintonía de receptores de energíaPostprint (published version

Automatische Abstimmung der Sekundärseite eines dreiphasigen Systems zur berührungslosen induktiven Energieübertragung

In the higher power range, three-phase inductive power transfer is an auspicious option to supply electric vehicles for local public transport. Decreases in efficiency and power transfer capability caused among others by positional misalignment and temperature cannot be completely avoided during operation. An automatic retuning of the system directly faces the remaining effects of these disturbing ascendancies and ensures continuous operation in the optimal operating point

Automatische Abstimmung der Sekundärseite eines dreiphasigen Systems zur berührungslosen induktiven Energieübertragung

Dreiphasige Systeme zur kontaktlosen induktiven Energieversorgung von Elektrofahrzeugen bieten sich insbesondere im höheren Leistungsbereich für Transportmittel des Nahverkehrs an. Auf Störeinflüsse im Betrieb reagieren die Systeme empfindlich mit Leistungs- und Wirkungsgradeinbrüchen. Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt ein Konzept vor, welches diesen Nachteilen mit einer Nachführung entgegenwirkt und so trotz vorhandender Störeinflüsse den jeweils bestmöglichen Betriebspunkt garantiert

Automatische Abstimmung der Sekundärseite eines dreiphasigen Systems zur berührungslosen induktiven Energieübertragung

Dreiphasige Systeme zur kontaktlosen induktiven Energieversorgung von Elektrofahrzeugen bieten sich im höheren Leistungsbereich für typische Transportmittel des Nahverkehrs an. Auf Störeinflüsse wie Temperatur und Fehlpositionierungen reagieren die Systeme im Betrieb empfindlich mit Leistungs- und Wirkungsgradeinbrüchen. Diesen Nachteilen lässt sich mit einer laufenden automatischen Anpassung des Betriebspunktes entgegenwirken und damit der jeweils bestmögliche Betriebspunkt garantieren