Unfolding-based single-stage ac-dc converters offer benefits in terms of efficiency and power density due to the low-frequency operation of the Unfolder, resulting in negligible switching losses. However, the operation of the Unfolder results in time-varying dc voltages at the input of the subsequent dc-dc converter, complicating its soft-switching analysis. The complication is further enhanced due to the nonlinear nature of the output capacitance ( Coss ) of MOSFETs employed in the dc-dc converter. Furthermore, unlike two-stage topologies with a constant dc-link voltage, as seen in high-frequency grid-tied converters, grid voltage fluctuations also impact the dc input voltages of the dc-dc converter in unfolding-based systems. This work comprehensively analyzes the soft-switching phenomenon in the T-type primary bridge-based dc-dc converter used in unfolding-based topologies, considering all the aforementioned challenges. An energy-based methodology is proposed to determine the minimum zero-voltage switching (ZVS) current and ZVS time during various switching transitions of the T-type bridge. It is shown that the existing literature on the ZVS analysis of the T-type bridge-based resonant dc-dc converter, relying solely on capacitive energy considerations, substantially underestimates the required ZVS current values, with errors reaching up to 50%. The proposed analysis is verified through both simulation and hardware testing. The hardware testing is conducted on a 20-kW 3- ϕ unfolding-based ac-dc converter designed for high-power electric vehicle battery charging applications. The ZVS analysis is verified at various grid angles with the proposed analysis ensuring a complete ZVS operation of the ac-dc system throughout the grid cycle.
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Hybrid AC Transmission System with Back-to-Back Converter Configuration and MTDC Operation Considering PV Energy Integration
MMC-based back-to-back (B2B) converters are promising for hybrid AC/DC transmission systems when integrating large scale PV sources. This paper proposes a novel configuration for hybrid AC transmission systems with B2B converters and multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) operation which facilitates the integration of PV energy and enhances the system stability and reliability. This is achieved by an advanced interconnection with two operation modes: 1-A bi-directional power flow via AC connections, and 2- Direct active power injection to the MTDC from PV source. Conventional outer, inner and capacitor voltage balancing control systems are utilized in this study for regulating the currents and voltages of B2B converter. Also, The Perturb and observe (P and O) technique is implemented for obtaining maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of the PV generation considering a dc-dc boost converter. The efficacy of this proposed configuration is verified through time-domain simulations carried out by MATLAB/SIMULINK.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1939144
- PAR ID:
- 10317602
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 2021 6th IEEE Workshop on the Electronic Grid (eGRID)
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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