Circuit theoretic classification and performance comparison of parallel-connected switching converters

Author name used in this publication: Chi K. TseRefereed conference paper2007-2008 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Circuit theoretic classification of parallel connected dc-dc converters

Author name used in this publication: Chi K. Tse2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Electronic/electric technology benefits study

The benefits and payoffs of advanced electronic/electric technologies were investigated for three types of aircraft. The technologies, evaluated in each of the three airplanes, included advanced flight controls, advanced secondary power, advanced avionic complements, new cockpit displays, and advanced air traffic control techniques. For the advanced flight controls, the near term considered relaxed static stability (RSS) with mechanical backup. The far term considered an advanced fly by wire system for a longitudinally unstable airplane. In the case of the secondary power systems, trades were made in two steps: in the near term, engine bleed was eliminated; in the far term bleed air, air plus hydraulics were eliminated. Using three commercial aircraft, in the 150, 350, and 700 passenger range, the technology value and pay-offs were quantified, with emphasis on the fiscal benefits. Weight reductions deriving from fuel saving and other system improvements were identified and the weight savings were cycled for their impact on TOGW (takeoff gross weight) and upon the performance of the airframes/engines. Maintenance, reliability, and logistic support were the other criteria

Energy-efficient and Power-dense DC-DC Converters in Data Center and Electric Vehicle Applications Using Wide Bandgap Devices

The ever increasing demands in the energy conversion market propel power converters towards high efficiency and high power density. With fast development of data processing capability in the data center, the server will include more processors, memories, chipsets and hard drives than ever, which requires more efficient and compact power converters. Meanwhile, the energy-efficient and power-dense converters for the electric vehicle also result in longer driving range as well as more passengers and cargo capacities. DC-DC converters are indispensable power stages for both applications. In order to address the efficiency and density requirements of the DC-DC converters in these applications, several related research topics are discussed in this dissertation. For the DC-DC converter in the data center application, a LLC resonant converter based on the newly emerged GaN devices is developed to improve the efficiency over the traditional Si-based converter. The relationship between the critical device parameters and converter loss is established. A new perspective of extra winding loss due to the asymmetrical primary and secondary side current in LLC resonant converter is proposed. The extra winding loss is related to the critical device parameters as well. The GaN device benefits on device loss and transformer winding loss is analyzed. An improved LLC resonant converter design method considering the device loss and transformer winding loss is proposed. For the DC-DC converter in the electric vehicle application, an integrated DC-DC converter that combines the on-board charger DC-DC converter and drivetrain DC-DC converter is developed. The integrated DC-DC converter is considered to operate in different modes. The existing dual active bridge (DAB) DC-DC converter originally designed for the charger is proposed to operate in the drivetrain mode to improve the efficiency at the light load and high voltage step-up ratio conditions of the traditional drivetrain DC-DC converter. Design method and loss model are proposed for the integrated converter in the drivetrain mode. A scaled-down integrated DC-DC converter prototype is developed to verify the design and loss model

The ac power system testbed

The object of this program was to design, build, test, and deliver a high frequency (20 kHz) Power System Testbed which would electrically approximate a single, separable power channel of an IOC Space Station. That program is described, including the technical background, and the results are discussed showing that the major assumptions about the characteristics of this class of hardware (size, mass, efficiency, control, etc.) were substantially correct. This testbed equipment was completed and delivered and is being operated as part of the Space Station Power System Test Facility

Multiple Output Power Supply using Toroidal Transformers for Medium Voltage Active Gate Drivers

When operating in high power applications, power devices dissipate tens or hundreds of watts of power in the form of heat. The ability of the power devices to withstand power and dissipation of heat across the power devices becomes a prominent requirement in designing the power converter. This challenge demands a power converter design to be more effective and consistent which factors in size, cost, weight, power density and reliability. This study aims to propose a gate driver isolated power supply design that can be used in medium voltage applications (e.g., up to 10 kV) while respecting the principle of scalability. A versatile design that facilitates addition of another power switch to the converter if needed, without having to alter too many power supply components while retaining the main structure, thus reducing system complexity and size. The proposed topology is a full-bridge converter with a single-turn primary side transformer, realized using a high voltage insulated hook-up wire as primary winding, while the secondary winding is wound around a toroidal core. This structure can supply several gate drivers simultaneously without replicating the primary side converter, but by simply adding a toroidal core with the secondary side converter which effectively reduces the size of the power supply. To satisfy magnetic and electric constraints, the proposed toroidal transformer needs to exhibit a very low primary to secondary coupling capacitance to avoid high common mode current, which leads to control signal distortion. For this, a multi-objective optimization design has been performed for the magnetic components of the topology. In this paper, a single input and three output power supply design is proposed for a 10 kV active gate driver

Multiple Output Power Supply using Toroidal Transformers for Medium Voltage Active Gate Drivers

When operating in high power applications, power devices dissipate tens or hundreds of watts of power in the form of heat. The ability of the power devices to withstand power and dissipation of heat across the power devices becomes a prominent requirement in designing the power converter. This challenge demands a power converter design to be more effective and consistent which factors in size, cost, weight, power density and reliability. This study aims to propose a gate driver isolated power supply design that can be used in medium voltage applications (e.g., up to 10 kV) while respecting the principle of scalability. A versatile design that facilitates addition of another power switch to the converter if needed, without having to alter too many power supply components while retaining the main structure, thus reducing system complexity and size. The proposed topology is a full-bridge converter with a single-turn primary side transformer, realized using a high voltage insulated hook-up wire as primary winding, while the secondary winding is wound around a toroidal core. This structure can supply several gate drivers simultaneously without replicating the primary side converter, but by simply adding a toroidal core with the secondary side converter which effectively reduces the size of the power supply. To satisfy magnetic and electric constraints, the proposed toroidal transformer needs to exhibit a very low primary to secondary coupling capacitance to avoid high common mode current, which leads to control signal distortion. For this, a multi-objective optimization design has been performed for the magnetic components of the topology. In this paper, a single input and three output power supply design is proposed for a 10 kV active gate driver

The 10 kW power electronics for hydrogen arcjets

A combination of emerging mission considerations such as 'launch on schedule', resource limitations, and the development of higher power spacecraft busses has resulted in renewed interest in high power hydrogen arcjet systems with specific impulses greater than 1000 s for Earth-space orbit transfer and maneuver applications. Solar electric propulsion systems with about 10 kW of power appear to offer payload benefits at acceptable trip times. This work outlines the design and development of 10 kW hydrogen arcjet power electronics and results of arcjet integration testing. The power electronics incorporated a full bridge switching topology similar to that employed in state of the art 5 kW power electronics, and the output filter included an output current averaging inductor with an integral pulse generation winding for arcjet ignition. Phase shifted, pulse width modulation with current mode control was used to regulate the current delivered to arcjet, and a low inductance power stage minimized switching transients. Hybrid power Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors were used to minimize conduction losses. Switching losses were minimized using a fast response, optically isolated, totem-pole gate drive circuit. The input bus voltage for the unit was 150 V, with a maximum output voltage of 225 V. The switching frequency of 20 kHz was a compromise between mass savings and higher efficiency. Power conversion efficiencies in excess of 0.94 were demonstrated, along with steady state load current regulation of 1 percent. The power electronics were successfully integrated with a 10 kW laboratory hydrogen arcjet, and reliable, nondestructive starts and transitions to steady state operation were demonstrated. The estimated specific mass for a flight packaged unit was 2 kg/kW