Phase Angle Control in Resonant Inverters with Pulse Phase Modulation

High frequency AC (HFAC) power distribution systems delivering power through a high frequency AC link with sinusoidal voltage have the advantages of simple structure and high efficiency. In a multiple module system, where multiple resonant inverters are paralleled to the high frequency AC bus through connection inductors, it is necessary for the output voltage phase angles of the inverters be controlled so that the circulating current among the inverters be minimized. However, the phase angle of the resonant inverters output voltage can not be controlled with conventional phase shift modulation or pulse width modulation. The phase angle is a function of both the phase of the gating signals and the impedance of the resonant tank. In this paper, we proposed a pulse phase modulation (PPM) concept for the resonant inverters, so that the phase angle of the output voltage can be regulated. The PPM can be used to minimize the circulating current between the resonant inverters. The mechanisms of the phase angle control and the PPM were explained. The small signal model of a PPM controlled half-bridge resonant inverter was analyzed. The concept was verified in a half bridge resonant inverter with a series-parallel resonant tank. An HFAC power distribution system with two resonant inverters connected in parallel to a 500kHz, 28V AC bus was presented to demonstrate the applicability of the concept in a high frequency power distribution system.