A Generalized State Space Average Model for Parallel DC-to-DC Converters

The high potentiality of integrating renewable energies,such as photovoltaic,into a modern electrical microgrid system,using DC-to-DC converters,raises some issues associated with controller loop design and system stability.The generalized state space average model(GSSAM)concept was consequently introduced to design a DC-to-DC converter controller in order to evaluate DC-to-DC converter performance and to conduct stability studies.This paper presents a GSSAM for parallel DC-to-DC converters,namely:buck,boost,and buck-boost converters.The rationale of this study is that modern electrical systems,such as DC networks,hybrid microgrids,and electric ships,are formed by parallel DC-to-DC converters with separate DC input sources.Therefore,this paper proposes a GSSAM for any number of parallel DC-to-DC converters.The proposed GSSAM is validated and investigated in a time-domain simulation environment,namely a MATLAB/SIMULINK.The study compares the steady-state,transient,and oscillatory performance of the state-space average model with a fully detailed switching model.

Modeling the System for Hybrid Renewable Energy Using Highly Efficient Converters and Generator

High-efficient isolated DC/DC converters with a high-efficiency synchronous reluctance generator(SRG)are the ultimate solutions in DC microgrid systems.The design and modeling of isolated DC/DC converters with the performance of SRG are carried out.On the generator side,reactive and active powers are used as pulse width modulation(PWM)control variables.Further,the flux estimator is used.Three-phase PWM rectifier is used by applying space vector modulation(SVM)with a constant switching frequency for direct power control.Further,the paper also includes the experimental validation of the results.The paper also proposes that highly efficient power converters and synchronous reluctance generators are required to achieve high performance for hybrid renewable energy systems applications.

Modular System of Cascaded Converters Based onModel Predictive Control

A modular system of cascaded converters based on model predictive control(MPC)is proposed to meet the application requirements ofmultiple voltage levels and electrical isolation in renewable energy generation systems.The system consists of a Buck/Boost+CLLLC cascaded converter as a submodule,which is combined in series and parallel on the input and output sides to achieve direct-current(DC)voltage transformation,bidirectional energy flow,and electrical isolation.The CLLLC converter operates in DC transformer mode in the submodule,while the Buck/Boost converter participates in voltage regulation.This article establishes a suitable mathematical model for the proposed system topology,and uses MPC to control the system based on this mathematical model.Module parameters are designed and calculated,and simulation is built in MATLAB/Simulink to complete the simulation comparison experiment between MPC and traditional proportional integral(PI)control.Finally,a physical experimental platform is built to complete the physical comparison experiment.The simulation and physical experimental results prove that the control accuracy and response speed ofMPC are better than traditional PI control strategy.

Recovery of Solid Oxide Fuel CellWaste Heat by Thermoelectric Generators and AlkaliMetal Thermoelectric Converters

A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell(SOFC)is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a substance into electrical energy through an oxidation-reduction mechanism.The electrochemical reaction of a solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)generates heat,and this heat can be recovered and put to use in a waste heat recovery system.In addition to preheating the fuel and oxidant,producing steam for industrial use,and heating and cooling enclosed rooms,this waste heat can be used for many more productive uses.The large waste heat produced by SOFCs is a worry that must be managed if they are to be adopted as a viable option in the power generation business.In light of these findings,a novel approach to SOFC waste heat recovery is proposed.The SOFC is combined with a“Thermoelectric Generator and an Alkali Metal Thermoelectric Converter(TG-AMTC)”to transform the excess heat generated by both the SOFC and the TG-AMTC.The proposed TG-AMTC is evaluated using a number of performance indicators including power density,operating temperature,heat recovery rate,exergetic efficiency,energy efficiency,and recovery time.The experimental results state that TG-AMTC has provided an exergetic efficiency,energetic efficiency,and recovery time of 97%,98%,and 23%,respectively.The study proves that the proposed TG-AMTC for SOFC is an efficient method of recovering waste heat.

Analysis of Modeling the Influence of Electromagnetic Fields Radiated by Industrial Static Converters and Impacts on Operators Using Maxwell’s Equations

The study of Electromagnetic Compatibility is essential to ensure the harmonious operation of electronic equipment in a shared environment. The basic principles of Electromagnetic Compatibility focus on the ability of devices to withstand electromagnetic disturbances and not produce disturbances that could affect other systems. Imperceptible in most work situations, electromagnetic fields can, beyond certain thresholds, have effects on human health. The objective of the present article is focused on the modeling analysis of the influence of geometric parameters of industrial static converters radiated electromagnetic fields using Maxwell’s equations. To do this we used the analytical formalism for calculating the electromagnetic field emitted by a filiform conductor, to model the electromagnetic radiation of this device in the spatio-temporal domain. The interactions of electromagnetic waves with human bodies are complex and depend on several factors linked to the characteristics of the incident wave. To model these interactions, we implemented the physical laws of electromagnetic wave propagation based on Maxwell’s and bio-heat equations to obtain consistent results. These obtained models allowed us to evaluate the spatial profile of induced current and temperature of biological tissue during exposure to electromagnetic waves generated by this system. The simulation 2D results obtained from computer tools show that the temperature variation and current induced by the electromagnetic field can have a very significant influence on the life of biological tissue. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis using advanced mathematical models to evaluate the influence of electromagnetic fields. The findings have direct implications for workplace safety, potentially influencing standards and regulations concerning electromagnetic exposure in industrial settings.

Application of Power Electronics Converters in Renewable Energy

Against the backdrop of global energy shortages and increasingly severe environmental pollution,renewable energy is gradually becoming a significant direction for future energy development.Power electronics converters,as the core technology for energy conversion and control,play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and stability of renewable energy systems.This paper explores the basic principles and functions of power electronics converters and their specific applications in photovoltaic power generation,wind power generation,and energy storage systems.Additionally,it analyzes the current innovations in high-efficiency energy conversion,multilevel conversion technology,and the application of new materials and devices.By studying these technologies,the aim is to promote the widespread application of power electronics converters in renewable energy systems and provide theoretical and technical support for achieving sustainable energy development.

Extreme Responses of An Integrated System with A Semi-Submersible Wind Turbine and Four Torus-Shaped Wave Energy Converters in Different Survival Modes

Offshore wind power is a kind of important clean renewable energy and has attracted increasing attention due to the rapid consumption of non-renewable energy.To reduce the high cost of energy,a possible try is to utilize the combination of wind and wave energy considering their natural correlation.A combined concept consisting of a semi-submersible wind turbine and four torus-shaped wave energy converters was proposed and numerically studied under normal operating conditions.However,the dynamic behavior of the integrated system under extreme sea conditions has not been studied yet.In the present work,extreme responses of the integrated system under two different survival modes are evaluated.Fully coupled time-domain simulations with consideration of interactions between the semi-submersible wind turbine and the torus-shaped wave energy converters are performed to investigate dynamic responses of the integrated system,including mooring tensions,tower bending moments,end stop forces,and contact forces at the Column-Torus interface.It is found that the addition of four tori will reduce the mean motions of the yaw,pitch and surge.When the tori are locked at the still water line,the whole integrated system is more suitable for the survival modes.

Analysis and synchronization controller design of dual-port gridforming voltage-source converters for different operation modes

Grid-tie voltage source converters(VSCs)can operate in three distinct modes:AC-dominant,DC-dominant,and balanced,depending on the placement of the stiff voltage sources.The distinct operation modes of the VSCs traditionally demand different synchronization control techniques,leading to heterogeneous VSCs.It is challenging for the power system to accommodate and coordinate heterogeneous VSCs.A promising universal synchronization control technique for VSCs is the DC-link voltage synchronization control(DVSC)based on a lead compensator(LC).The LC DVSC stabilizes both the DC and AC voltages of a VSC while achieving synchronization with the AC grid.This results in a dual-port grid-forming(DGFM)characteristic for the VSC.However,there has been very limited study on the stability and synchronization controller design of the VSCs with the LC DVSC operating in various modes.To bridge this gap,the paper presents a quantitative analysis on the stability and steady-state performance of the LC DVSC in all three operation modes of the DGFM VSC.Based on the analysis,the paper provides step-by-step design guidelines for the LC DVSC.Furthermore,the paper uncovers an instability issue related to the LC DVSC when the DGFM VSC operates in the balanced mode.To tackle the instability issue,a virtual resistance control is proposed and integrated with the LC DVSC.Simulation results validate the analysis and demonstrate the effectiveness of the DGFM VSC with the LC DVSC designed using the proposed guidelines in all three operation modes.Overall,the paper demonstrates the feasibility of employing the DGFM VSC with the LC DVSC for all three possible operation modes,which can help overcome the challenges associated with accommodating and coordinating heterogeneous VSCs in the power system.

Current Share Control IC Design for Paralleled DC/DC Converters

To keep even current distribution among DC/DC converters in a paralleled power system,an automatic master-slave control （AMSC） current sharing scheme is presented,which was implemented by a current share control IC. A current feedback loop for output voltage adjustment is proposed for low signal distortion. Moreover,a special startup control logic is designed to improve startup timing and to speed up the initial current sharing. It was completed in 1.5μm bipolar-CMOS-DMOS （BCD） technology with an area of 3.6mm^2 . Using it,a paralleled power system of two DC/DC converters capable of outputting 12V/3A was built. Experimental results show that the current sharing error at full load is kept within 1%.

A Piecewise Linear Slope Compensation Circuit for DC-DC Converters

To prevent sub-harmonic oscillation and improve the stability and load capacity of the system,a piecewise linear slope compensation circuit is designed. Compared with the traditional design, this circuit provides a compensation signal whose slope varies from different duty cycles at - 40-85℃ ,and reduces the negative effect of slope compensation on the system＇s load capacity and transient response. A current mode PWM Boost DC-DC converter employing this slope compensation circuit is implemented in a UMC 0.6μm-BCD process. The results indicate that the circuit works well and effectively,and the load capacity is increased by 20%. The chip area of the piecewise linear slope compensation circuit is 0.01mm^2 ,which consumes only 8μA quiescent current,and the efficiency ranges up to 93%.

Integration of Power MOSFETs for Synchronous Buck Converters

Efficiency and power loss in the microelectronic devices is a major issue in power electronics applications. The engineers are challenged every year to increase power density and at the same time reduce the amount of power dissipated in the applications to keep the maximum temperatures under specifications. This situation drives a constant demand for better efficiencies in smaller packages. Traditional approaches to improve efficiency in DC/DC synchronous buck converters include reducing conduction losses in the MOSFETs （metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors） through lower RDS （ON） （resistance drain to source in the ON state） devices and lowering switching losses through low-frequency operation. However, the incremental improvements in RDS （ON） are at a point of diminishing returns and low RDS （ON） devices have large parasitic capacitances that do not facilitate the high-frequency operation required to improve power density. The drive for higher efficiency and increased power in smaller packages is being addressed by advancements in both silicon and packaging technologies. The NexFET power block combines these two technologies to achieve higher levels of performance, and in half the space versus discrete MOSFETs. This article explains these new technologies and highlights their performance advantage.

Novel forward mode AC/AC converters with high frequency link

A circuit configuration and a circuit topologic family of the novel forward mode AC/AC converters with high frequency link are presented. The circuit configuration is constituted of input cycloconverter, high frequency transformer, output cycloconverter, input and output filters. The circuit topologic family includes eight circuit topologies, such as full-bridge-full-wave mode, etc. The bi-polarity phase-shifted control strategy and steady principles are thoroughly investigated. The output characteristics are obtained. By using the bi-polarity phase-shifted control strategy with phase-shifted control between the output cycloconveter and the input cycloconverter, commutation overlap period of the output cycloconverter, and polarity selection of the output filtering inductance current and the input voltage, the leakage inductance energy and the output filtering inductance current are naturally commutated, and surge voltage and surge current of the cycloconverters are overcome. The converters have such advantages as simple topology, two-stage power conversions(LFAC/HFAC/LFAC), bi-directional power flow, high frequency electrical isolation, good output waveforms, and strong ability to stabilize voltage. The converters lay key technical foundation on a new-type of regulated sinusoidal AC power supplies and electronic transformers. The correction and advancement of the converters are well verified by a principle test.

On-Line Fault Diagnosis and Fault-Tolerant Operation of Modular Multilevel Converters –A Comprehensive Review

Modular multilevel converters(MMCs)have been one of the most broadly used multilevel converter topologies in industrial applications,particularly in medium-voltage motor drives and high-voltage dc power conversion systems.However,due to the utilization of large amount of semiconductor devices,the reliability of MMCs becomes one of the severe challenges constraining their further development and applications.In this paper,common electrical faults of the MMC have been summarized and analyzed,including open-circuit switching faults,short-circuit switching faults,dc-bus short-circuit faults,and single line-to-ground faults on the ac side.A thorough and comprehensive review of the existing online fault diagnostic methods has been conducted.In addition,fault-tolerant operation strategies for such various fault scenarios in MMCs have been presented.All the fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant operation strategies are comparatively evaluated,which aims to provide a state-of-the-art reference on the MMC reliability for future research and industrial applications.

Pole placement method of controlling chaos in DC-DC buck converters

Based on the mechanism for the generation of chaos in a buck converter, a pole placement method is proposed and applied to controlling the chaos in a circuit. The control circuit is designed and tested. Numerical calculation and circuit implementation demonstrate the validity of this chaos control method.

Hybrid Predictive Control with Simple Linear Control Based Circulating Current Suppression for Modular Multilevel Converters

The modular multilevel converter(MMC)has become a promising topology for widespread power converter applications.However,an evident circulating current flowing between the phases will increase system losses and complicate the heatsink design.This paper proposes a novel hybrid model predictive control method for MMCs.This method utilizes an indirect structure MPC and a sorting algorithm to implement current tracking and capacitor voltages balancing,considerably resulting in reduced calculation burden.In addition,different from the conventional MPC solutions,we add a simple proportional-integral(PI)controller to suppress circulating current through modifying the submodule(SM)inserted number,which is parallel to the MPC loop.This hybrid control solution combines both advantages of MPC and linear control,evidently resulting in improved performance of circulating current.Finally,the MATLAB/Simulink results of an 11-level MMC system verify the effectiveness of the proposed solution.

Two-Mode Converters at 1.3μm Based on Multimode Interference Couplers on InP Substrates

Two-mode converters at 1.3μm, aiming at applications in mode-division multiplexing in Ethernet systems, are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Based on multimode interference couplers, the two-mode converters with 50% and 66% mode conversion efficiencies are designed and fabricated on InP substrates. AIode conver- sion from the fundamental mode （TEo） to the first order mode （TE1） is successfully demonstrated within the wavelength range of 1280-1320nm. The 1.3-μm mode converters should be important devices in mode-division multiplexing systems in Ethernet systems.

Overview of Energy-Efficient Successive-Approximation Analog-to-Digital Converters: State-of-the-Art and a Design Example

This paper makes a review of state-of-the- arts designs of successive-approximation register analog-to-digital converters （SAR ADCs）. Methods and technique specifications are collected in view of innovative ideas. At the end of this paper, a design example is given to illustrate the procedure to design an SAR ADC. A new method, which extends the width of the internal clock, is also proposed to facilitate different sampling frequencies, which provides more time for the digital-to-analog convert （DAC） and comparator to settle. The 10 bit ADC is simulated in 0.13 μm CMOS process technology. The signal-to-noise and distortion ratio （SNDR） is 54.41 dB at a 10 MHz input with a 50 MS/s sampling rate, and the power is 330 μW.

Symmetrical dynamics of peak current-mode and valley current-mode controlled switching dc-dc converters with ramp compensation

The discrete iterative map models of peak current-mode （PCM） and valley current-mode （VCM） controlled buck converters, boost converters, and buck-boost converters with ramp compensation are established and their dynamical behaviours are investigated by using the operation region, parameter space map, bifurcation diagram, and Lyapunov exponent spectrum. The research results indicate that ramp compensation extends the stable operation range of the PCM controlled switching dc-dc converter to D 〉 0.5 and that of the VCM controlled switching dc-dc converter to D 〈 0.5. Compared with PCM controlled switching dc-dc converters with ramp compensation, VCM controlled switching dc-dc converters with ramp compensation exhibit interesting symmetrical dynamics. Experimental results are given to verify the analysis results in this paper.

Developments, Expectations of Wave Energy Converters and Mooring Anchors in the UK

The paper introduces the important developments of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) in the UK, and the generic an- chor types for WECs and similar structures. Several WECs and their characteristics are introduced to explain the development direction. The anchors are discussed in relation to the behaviour and performance of WECs, and comparisons are made with simi- lar aspects of the offshore industry. Typical and desirable features of anchors for WECs are summarized. Additionally, expectations and research suggestions for WECs and their anchor design are presented.

NEW PERTURBATION TECHNIQUE FOR TRANSIENT ANALYSIS AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN DC-DC PWM SWITCHING POWER CONVERTERS

An improved perturbation technique proposed in a recent paper (Int. J. Electronics, vol. 63, pp.403-414) has been successfully applied to steady-state analysis of PWM switching converters. This paper extends the algorithm to transient analysis of a broader class of non-linear systems. As an example, the transient response of a Boost PWM switching converter is analyzed to demonstrate its simplicity and accuracy.