Extended Operational Range of Dual-Active-Bridge Converters by using Variable Magnetic Devices

Abstract

This paper explores the use of a variable inductor as an energy transfer reactive element in a Dual-Active-Bridge (DAB) converter. By using a controlled variable inductor, the optimal switching region in the operation of the phase-shift DAB can be extended, and thus high efficiencies can be achieved over wide-load ranges. Moreover, the combination of the variable inductance with the phase shift as two independent control parameters allows for the linearization of the DAB converter transfer function, which gives significant merit to the implementation of the control function. And finally, it is feasible to reduce the magnetic core size, due to the controlled saturation of the device. To study those proposed improvements, a circuitbased model is developed to simulate the converter system. Furthermore, a prototype is constructed for the DAB converter including a controlled variable inductor and preliminary experimental results are presented which validate the studies carried out.

Improved Inductance Calculation in Variable Power Inductors by Adjustment of the Reluctance Model Through Magnetic Path Analysis

“…Equations (7) and (8) state the calculation of the modified lengths of those reluctance paths under saturation, as clarified by Fig. 10.…”

GMDH Neural Networks - Based Modeling of Variable Power Inductor

“…Accordingly, a great number of researchers are focusing on the calculation of magnetic components [1][2] [3][4] [5] for such applications. Particularly, variable inductors have been gaining a tremendous amount of attention because of their application in optimizing the control of power electronics converters [6] [7] [8] [9][10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15].…”

Modeling of Magnetic Elements Including Losses—Application to Variable Inductor

“…If variable magnetics are used, the same control margins can be obtained at a constant switching frequency, therefore allowing for an optimization of the EMI filters and sampling procedures. In other applications, such as the Dual-Active-Bridge (DAB) converter, in addition to adding a new degree of freedom to the control, the inclusion of variable magnetics can increase operation parameters, such as the soft switching margins [1][2][3].…”