• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.714-723
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• 2012

A new Z-source inverter (ZSI) topology is developed to improve voltage boost ability. The proposed topology is modified from the switched inductor topology by adding some more inductors and diodes into inductor branch to the conventional Z-source network. The modulation methods developed for the conventional ZSI can be easily utilized in the proposed ZSI. The proposed ZSI has an ability to obtain a higher voltage boost ratio compared with the conventional ZSI under the same shoot-through duty ratio. Since a smaller shoot-through duty ratio is required for high voltage boost, the proposed ZSI is able to reduce the voltage stress on Z-source capacitor and inverter-bridge. Theoretical analysis and operating principle of the proposed topology are explicitly described. In addition, the design guideline of the proposed Z-source network as well as the PWM control method to achieve the desired voltage boost factor is also analyzed in detail. The improved performances are validated by both simulation and experiment.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1351-1365
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• 2019

This paper proposes two modified Z-source inverter topologies, namely an embedded L-Z-source inverter (EL-ZSI) and a coupled inductor L-Z source inverter (CL-ZSI). The proposed topologies offer a high voltage gain with a reduced passive component count and reduction in source current ripple when compared to conventional ZSI topologies. Additionally, they prevent overshoot in the dc-link voltage by suppressing heavy inrush currents. This feature reduces the transition time to reach the peak value of the dc-link voltage, and reduces the risk of component failure and overrating due to the inrush current. EL-ZSI and CL-ZSI possess all of the inherent advantages of the conventional L-ZSI topology while eliminating its drawbacks. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed topologies, MATLAB/Simulink models and scaled down laboratory prototypes were constructed. Experiments were performed at a low shoot through duty ratio of 0.1 and a modulation index as high as 0.9 to obtain a peak dc-link voltage of 53 V. This paper demonstrates the superiority of the proposed topologies over conventional ZSI topologies through a detailed comparative analysis. Moreover, experimental results verify that the proposed topologies would be advantageous for renewable energy source applications since they provide voltage gain enhancement, inrush current, dc-link voltage overshoot suppression and a reduction of the peak to peak source current ripple.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.606-611
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• 2011

Power electronics is a key technology for electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. Typical power electronics converters used in electric drive vehicles include dc/dc converters, inverters, and battery chargers. New semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and novel topologies such as the Z-source inverter (ZSI) have a great deal of potential to improve the overall performance of these vehicles. In this paper, a Z-source inverter for fuel cell vehicle application is examined under three different scenarios. 1. a ZSI with Si IGBT modules, 2. a ZSI with hybrid modules, Si IGBTs/SiC Schottky diodes, and 3. a ZSI with SiC MOSFETs/SiC Schottky diodes. Then, a comparison of the three scenarios is conducted. Conduction loss, switching loss, reverse recovery loss, and efficiency are considered for comparison. A conclusion is drawn that the SiC devices can improve the inverter and inverter-motor efficiency, and reduce the system size and cost due to the low loss properties of SiC devices. A comparison between a ZSI and traditional PWM inverters with SiC devices is also presented in this paper. Based on this comparison, the Z-source inverter produces the highest efficiency.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2018

This study investigates a bidirectional quasi-Z-source inverter (Bq-ZSI) system with bidirectional power transfer capability and a modified space vector modulation scheme for reducing the ripple of the inductor current. By replacing the diode in the impedance network with an active switch, the power flow can be bidirectional. The average inductor current of the Bq-ZSI network is negative in the regenerative braking mode, thereby regenerating the power. In addition, modified space vector modulation scheme is applied to the Bq-ZSI to control shoot-through time effectively. A 5 kW prototype is built and tested to implement the proposed system. Experimental results show that the Bq-ZSI system is capable of regenerative braking of the induction motor and that the modified space vector modulation method is efficient.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.1996-2005
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• 2010

This paper proposes a new method for constant control of the output AC voltage of a voltage-fed three phase Z-source inverter (ZSI), in case of Z-network DC voltage variation or heavy change of load. The modulation index for the reference output AC voltage of ZSI can be calculated by the basic definition of ZSI, the input DC voltage and capacitor voltage of Z-network. And, the output AC voltage of ZSI is controlled by the modified space vector modulation (SVM) with the calculated modulation index. By the proposed method, the modulation index of output AC voltage is closely following in the reference modulation index. The validity of the proposed method is verified using PSIM simulation. In case which the input DC voltage of ZSI is heavily changed from 100[V] to 70[V] (or to 150[V]) and in case which load is changed from $30[\Omega]$ to $10[\Omega]$, we confirmed that the output AC voltage of ZSI is constantly controlled by the proposed method because the modulation index of ZSI is also simultaneously changed. Finally, FFT and %THD of the output voltage and current of ZSI by the proposed method are analyzed.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.61 no.10
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• pp.1432-1441
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• 2012

In this study, an improved LCCT(Inductor-Capacitor-Capacitor-Trans) Z-source inverter(Improved LCCT ZSI) with characteristics of Quasi Z-source inverter(QZSI) and LCCT Z-source inverter(LCCT ZSI) is proposed. The proposed inverter can also reduce the voltage stress and input current/capacitor voltage ripples compared with conventional LCCT ZSI and Quasi ZSI. A two winding trans in Z-impedance network of the conventional LCCT ZSI is replaced by a three winding trans in the proposed inverter. To verify the validity of the proposed inverter, a DSP controlled hardware was made and PSIM simulation was executed for each method. Comparing the current and voltage ripples of each method under the condition of input DC voltage 70[V] and output AC voltage 76[Vrms], the input current and capacitor voltage ripple factors of the proposed inverter were low as 11[%] and 1.4[%] respectively. And, for generation of the same output AC voltage of each method, voltage stress of the proposed inverter was low as 175[V] under the condition of duty ratio D=0.15. As mentioned above, we could know that the proposed inverter have the characteristics of low voltage stress, low ripple factor and low operation duty ratio compared with the conventional methods. Finally, the efficiency according to load change/duty ratio and the transient state characteristics were discussed.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1195-1202
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• 2017

This paper presents a novel topology named a modified capacitor-assisted Z-source inverter (MCA-ZSI) based on the traditional ZSI. The impedance network of the proposed MCA-ZSI consists of two symmetrical cells coupled with two capacitors with an X-shape structure, and each cell has two inductors, two capacitors, and one diode. Compared with other topologies based on switched ZSI with the same number of components used at impedance network, the proposed topology provides higher boost ability, lower voltage stress across inverter switching devices, and lower capacitor voltage stress. The improved performances of the proposed topology are demonstrated in the simulation and experimental results.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.57-66
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• 2012

When typical Z-source DC/AC inverter(ZSI) is operated in high voltage gain area, because of its high duty ratio, voltage and current stress in Z-network of typical ZSI are increased. This paper proposes a new switched trans ZSI(STZSI) with two switched trans cells which consist of one trans and two diodes. To confirm the operation performance of the proposed system, the PSIM simulation is performed for typical ZSI, switched inductor ZSI and the proposed STZSI. Voltage / current stress and transient state characteristics of each method are compared under the condition of DC input voltage 100[V] and output phase voltage 66[Vrms]. As a result, we confirmed that transient state of the proposed STZSI is short compared with the conventional ZSI because the high voltage gain is obtained using the same duty ratio, also a low duty ratio is required for the same output voltage. Finally, we could know the proposed system have low voltage and current stress in Z-network compared with the conventional ZSI.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.225-227
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• 2009

본 논문에서는 전압형 3상 ZSI(Z-source Inverter)의 입력전압과 커패시터 충전전압을 검출하고 ZSI의 기본 정의를 이용해 지령전압에 대한 변조지수(Modulation Index)를 결정하는 방법과 출력전압 제어가 가능한 변형된 SVM(공간벡터 변조방식)으로 구성된 알고리즘을 소개한다. 제안된 알고리즘은 ZSI의 이득과 변조지수의 정의를 이용한 간단한 방법으로 변조지수를 변화시켜 출력전압을 일정하게 유지하는 방법이다. PSIM을 통하여 타당성을 입증하였다.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.369-375
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• 2008

In this paper, a method for controlling the a single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic(PV) system using Z-source inverter (ZSI) is proposed. The operating region of grid-connected ZSI system with a variation of PV output voltage are analyzed by considering the voltage stress across switching devices. The switching patterns for controlling effectively the shoot-through time while reducing the switching loss are suggested. Both the simulation studies and experimental results with 32-bit DSP are carried out to verify the performances of proposed system.