Analysis and design of efficient SiC-based load-resonant converter with advanced features for arc welding applications

Abstract

This letter presents a novel and efficient SiC-based harmonic-current-assisted LCC load-resonant converter for arc welding applications. A higher OCV, required for arc strike, can be obtained by using the harmonic gain of the resonant network at no-load condition. Resonant elements have been designed to reduce the input DC voltage to about half compared to that in a quasi-resonant converter. This reduces the core losses of the isolation transformer. The efficiency of the converter is further increased by ensuring ZVS operation of the switching devices, irrespective of load variations. The self inductance of the lead wires make the selection of the resonant elements an interesting exercise. A Finite element (FE) based simulation is used to determine the leakage inductance. The converter is fabricated in the laboratory and the experiments are conducted up to 1.0 kW load. Excellent mutual agreement between simulated and experimental results upholds the accuracy of the FE modelling and estimation of the lead inductances with the preciseness of the experimental set-up.

Novel and simplified implementation of digital high-power pulsed MIG welding power supply with LLC resonant converter

“…Chaouch et al (2021) proposed a model representing the current-output PSFB LCLC resonant converter in arc welding application, which can be applied either in constant voltage characteristic or dropped characteristic welding machines to fulfill either ZCS or ZVS, depending on the switching frequency. Progressively, Kar et al (2021) proposed an efficient SiC-based harmonic-current-assisted LCC load-resonant converter for the arc welding application. The efficiency of converter was further increased by ensuring the ZVS operation of switching devices, irrespective of the load variations.…”