• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1127-1136
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• 2017

This paper proposes a new soft switching dual input converter for renewable energy systems. Multi-input converters are produced by combining discrete converters. These converters reduce the number of circuit elements, cost, volume and weight of the converter and provide a constant output power in different weather conditions. Furthermore, soft switching techniques can be applied to increase efficiency. In this paper, a Zero Voltage Transition (ZVT) dual input boost converter is presented. Only one auxiliary circuit is used to provide the soft switching condition for all of the semiconductor elements. The proposed converter, which is simulated by ORCAD software, is theoretically analyzed. To confirm the validity of the theoretical analysis, a prototype of proposed converter was constructed. Simulation and experimental results confirm the theoretical analysis. An efficiency comparison shows a one percent improvement at nominal loads.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.902-909
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• 2018

This study investigates the influences of different core parameters on the dynamic performances, such as rise time and overshoot, in pulse transformers for the triggering circuit of SCRs. First, a simplified transformer equivalent circuit, which emerges from a standard transformer equivalent circuit, is developed to analyze the step response. Second, the relations between the dynamic performances and the parasitic parameters are calculated by the simplified equivalent circuit. Third, the variations of rise time and overshoot, which are vital to the stability of triggering SCRs, with different core parameters, such as mechanic dimensions and topologies, are comprehensively investigated by analyzing the parasitic parameters. Finally, prototype transformers are fabricated to experimentally validate the analysis. The presented method can practically instruct the design of a pulse transformer for triggering SCRs.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.910-922
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• 2018

Conventional battery state-of-charge (SoC) estimation methods either involve sophisticated models or consume considerable computational resource. This study constructs an enhanced coulomb counting method (Ah method) for the SoC estimation of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) by expanding the Peukert equation for the discharging process and incorporating the Coulombic efficiency for the charging process. Both the rate- and temperature-dependence of battery capacity are encompassed. An SoC mapping approach is also devised for initial SoC determination and Ah method correction. The charge counting performance at different sampling frequencies is analyzed experimentally and theoretically. To achieve a favorable compromise between sampling frequency and accumulation accuracy, a frequency-adjustable current sampling solution is developed. Experiments under the augmented urban dynamometer driving schedule cycles at different temperatures are conducted on two LiBs of different chemistries. Results verify the effectiveness and generalization ability of the proposed SoC estimation method.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.826-840
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• 2018

This paper presents a distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) algorithm based on the reference voltage perturbation (RVP) method for the PV modules of a series PV string. The proposed RVP-DMPPT algorithm is developed to accurately track the maximum power point (MPP) for each PV module operating under all atmospheric conditions with a reduced hardware overhead. To study the influence of parameters such as the controller reference voltage ($V_{ref}$) and PV current ($I_{pv}$) on the PV string voltage, a small signal model of a unidirectional differential power processing (DPP) based PV-Bus architecture is developed. The steady state and dynamic performances of the proposed RVP DMPPT algorithm and small signal model of the unidirectional DPP based PV-Bus architecture are demonstrated with simulations and experimental results. The accuracy of the RVP DMPPT algorithm is demonstrated by obtaining a tracking efficiency of 99.4% from the experiment.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.736-745
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• 2018

This paper presents an extended state observer (ESO) based direct torque control (DTC) for use in induction motor systems to handle the issues of time delays, load torque disturbances and parameter uncertainties. Direct torque control offers an excellent torque response and it does not require a proportion integration (PI) controller in the current loop. However, a PI controller is still adopted in the outer speed loop to generate the torque reference value, which is a slow method. An ESO based compound control scheme is proposed to improve the response rate and accuracy of the torque reference signal, especially when load torque is injected. In addition, the time delay problem is analyzed and compensated for in this paper to reduce torque ripples. The proposed disturbance compensation technique based direct control scheme is shown to have good performance both in the transient and stable states via simulations and experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.871-878
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• 2018

In this paper, the conducted EMI reduction performances of active feed-forward current-sensing current-actuation (CSCA) and voltage-sensing current-actuation (VSCA) filters for a three-phase induction motor drive system are evaluated by experiments. For comparison purposes, the conducted EMI (CM emission, DM emission and total emission) of a three-phase induction motor drive with a conventional CM choke, a conventional CM choke in series with an active VSCA filter, and an active CSCA filter (where the CM choke was modified and used as a sensing current transformer) were compared to the case of a system without any filter inserted. Experimental results show that the active CSCA and VSCA filters can improve the CM reduction performance of the conventional CM choke by about 5 dB especially at low-frequencies. However, for DM comparisons, it shows that there is no different between cases with and without filters inserted.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.651-661
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• 2018

This paper suggests a new non-isolated high voltage gain DC-DC converter with two switches. The proposed two-switch converter has the following characteristics: a high voltage gain, a continuous input current with a small ripple, a reduction in the size of the inductor, and a simple circuit with only a few elements. A theoretical analysis, guidelines for parameter selection, and a comparison with conventional non-isolated high step-up converters are presented. A prototype of 250 W is set up to demonstrate the correctness of the proposed converter. Results obtained from simulations and experiments are presented.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.672-680
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• 2018

A bidirectional exponential-gain switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC converter is developed in this paper. When compared with existing exponential SC converters, the number of switches is significantly reduced and its structure is simplified. The voltage transfer features, voltage ripple across capacitors, efficiency and output impedance of the proposed converter are analyzed in detail. Optimization of the output impedance is also discussed and the best type of capacitance distribution is determined. A common function of the voltage gain to the output impedance is found among the proposed converter and other popular SC voltage multipliers. Experimental evaluation is carried out with a 6-24V bidirectional prototype converter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.879-891
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• 2018

A bidirectional dc-dc converter is used in battery energy storage systems owing to the growing requirements of a charging and discharging mode of battery. The magnetic coupling of output or input inductors in parallel-connected multi modules of a bidirectional dc-dc converter is often utilized to reduce the peak-to-peak ripple size of the inductor current. This study proposes a novel design guideline to achieve minimal ripple size of the inductor current under bidirectional power flow. The newly proposed design guideline of optimized coupling factor is applicable to the buck and boost operation modes of a bidirectional dc-dc converter. Therefore, the coupling factor value of the coupled inductor does not have to be optimized separately for buck and boost operation modes. This new observation is explained using the theoretical model of coupled inductor and confirmed through simulation and experimental test.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.817-825
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• 2018

In this paper, a current hysteresis control with good decoupling properties for doubly-fed brushless induction machines (BDFIMs) has been proposed based on a generalized vector model. The independent control of the reactive power and speed for BDFIMs has been achieved by controlling the d-axis and the q-axis current of the control windings (CW). The proposed vector control method has been developed for the power winding (PW) flux frame. Experimental verification of a type Y180M-4 BDFIM prototype with 1/4 pole-pairs has been presented. Evidence of its good performance has been shown through experimental results.