• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.172-180
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• 2012

Z-source inverters (ZSI) are used to realize both DC voltage boost and DC-AC inversion in single stage with a reduced number of power switching devices. A traditional MPPT control algorithm provides a shoot-through interval which should be inserted in the switching waveforms of the inverter to output the maximum power to the Z-network. At this instant, the voltage across the Z-source capacitor is equal to the output voltage of a PV array at the maximum power point (MPP). The control of the Z-source capacitor voltage beyond the MPP voltage of a PV array is not facilitated in traditional MPPT algorithms. This paper presents a unified MPPT control algorithm to simultaneously achieve MPPT as well as Z-source capacitor voltage control. Development and implementation of the proposed algorithm and a comparison with traditional results are discussed. The effectiveness of the proposed unified MPPT control strategy is implemented in Matlab/Simulink software and verified by experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.164-171
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• 2012

Variable step size maximum power point trackers (MPPTs) are widely used in photovoltaic (PV) systems to extract the peak array power which depends on solar irradiation and array temperature. One essential factor which judges system dynamics and steady state performances is the scaling factor (N), which is used to update the controlling equation in the tracking algorithm to determine a new duty cycle. This paper proposes a novel stability study of variable step size incremental resistance maximum power point tracking (INR MPPT). The main contribution of this analysis appears when developing the overall small signal model of the PV system. Therefore, by using linear control theory, the boundary value of the scaling factor can be determined. The theoretical analysis and the design principle of the proposed stability analysis have been validated using MATLAB simulations, and experimentally using a fixed point digital signal processor (TMS320F2808).

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.157-163
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• 2012

Internet Data Centers (IDCs), which are essential facilities in the modern IT industry, typically have scores of MW of concentrated electric loads. The provision of an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is necessary for the power feed system of IDCs owing to the need for stable power. Thus, conventional IDC AC power feed systems have three cascaded power conversion stages, (AC-DC), (DC-AC), and (AC-DC), resulting in a very low conversion efficiency. In comparison, DC power feed systems require only a single power conversion stage (AC-DC) to supply AC main power to DC server loads, resulting in comparatively high conversion efficiency and reliability [4-11]. This paper compares the efficiencies of a 220V AC power feed system with those of a 300V DC power feed system under equal load conditions, as established by the Mok-Dong IDC of Korea Telecom Co. Ltd. (KT). Experimental results show that the total operation efficiency of the 300V DC power feed system is approximately 15% higher than that of the 220V AC power feed system.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.128-135
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• 2012

In this paper, different switching tables proposed for the Direct Torque Controlled (DTC) of a six-phase induction machine are simulated and implemented. A six-phase induction motor has 64 space voltage vectors which result in increased complexity in the selecting of inverters switching. The unsuitable selection of a switching table leads to large harmonics especially at low speed and it also reduces drive efficiency. A six-phase induction machine has large zero sequence harmonic currents of the order $6{\kappa}{\pm}1$. These harmonic currents are varied in various techniques. Decreasing this loss is essential in a six-phase induction machine. The main purpose of this paper is to improve the ST-DTC of six-phase induction machines to reduce the voltage and current harmonics and the torque pulsation. Selecting a suitable method for minimizing these harmonics is very important.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.113-119
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• 2012

This paper describes the design and control of a phase shift full bridge converter with a current doubler, which can be used for the on-board charger for the lead-acid battery of electric forklifts. Unlike the common resistance load, the battery has a large capacitance element and it absorbs the entire converter output ripple current, thereby shortening the battery life and degrading the system efficiency. In this paper a phase shift full bridge converter with a current doubler has been adopted to decrease the output ripple current and the transformer rating of the charger. The charge controller is designed by using the small signal model of the converter, taking into consideration the internal impedance of the battery. The stability and performance of the battery charger is then verified by constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) charge experiments using a lead-acid battery bank for an electric forklift.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

This study investigates an application of the Hamming network-dual extended Kalman filter (DEKF) based on pattern recognition for high accuracy state-of-charge (SOC)/capacity estimation and state-of-health (SOH) prediction at various temperatures. The averaged nine discharging/charging voltage-temperature (DCVT) patterns for ten fresh Li-Ion cells at experimental temperatures are measured as representative patterns, together with cell model parameters. Through statistical analysis, the Hamming network is applied to identify the representative pattern that matches most closely with the pattern of an arbitrary cell measured at any temperature. Based on temperature-checking process, model parameters for a representative DCVT pattern can then be applied to estimate SOC/capacity and to predict SOH of an arbitrary cell using the DEKF. This avoids the need for repeated parameter measuremet.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.181-192
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• 2012

The increased penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) is challenging the entire architecture of conventional electrical power system. Microgrid paradigm, featuring higher flexibility and reliability, becomes an attractive candidate for the future power grid. In this paper, an overview of microgrid configurations is given. Then, possible structure options and control methods of DER units are presented, which is followed by the descriptions of system controls and power management strategies for AC microgrids. Finally, future trends of microgrids are discussed pointing out how this concept can be a key to achieve a more intelligent and flexible power system.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.136-144
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• 2012

In this paper, the different techniques for the field weakening, also known as constant power speed range (CPSR) operation, for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) will be introduced and analysed. Field weakening of PMSM, can be done using either vector control (VC) or conventional phase in advance (CPA). Implementation of these techniques depending on some features and constrains. Most of these features and constrains came from the motor parameters. One of these constrains is the motor inductance which determining whether the motor can be driven in the CPSR or not. A new approach for the field weakening will be discussed and to be verified to overcome this constrain. The new approach will be verified through both techniques VC and CPA.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.88-97
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• 2012

This paper presents a method for the digital control of a high power factor AC/DC converter employing the power balance control technique to achieve a fast response of the output voltage control. To avoid the effects of an output voltage ripple in the voltage control loop, the average output voltage is sampled and used as a feedback signal for the output voltage controller. The proposed control technique was verified by simulations using MATLAB/Simulink and its implementation was realized by a dsPIC30F4011 digital signal processor to control a CUK topology AC/DC converter with a 48V output voltage and a 250 W output power. The experimental results agree with the simulation results. The proposed control technique achieves a fast transient response with a lower line current distortion than is achieved when using a conventional proportional-integral controller and the power balance control technique with the conventional sampling method.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.98-103
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• 2012

This paper presents a digital pulse width modulator (DPWM) with a reduced digital modulation delay (a transport delay of the modulator) during the transient response of power converters. During the transient response operation of a power converter, as a result of dynamic variations such as load step-up or step-down, the closed loop controller will continuously adjust the duty cycle in order to regulate the output voltage. The larger the modulation delays, the larger the undesired output voltage deviation from the reference point. The three conventional DPWM techniques exhibit significant leading-edge and/or trailing-edge modulation delays. The DPWM technique proposed in this paper, which results in modulation delay reductions, is discussed, experimentally tested and compared with conventional modulation techniques.