Experimental Validation of a Control Strategy Enhancing the Dynamic Performance of Current-Fed Triple-Active-Bridge DC-DC Converters

IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), pp. 666–672

Abstract

This paper provides the experimental validation of a control strategy that enhances the dynamic performance of current-fed triple-active-brigde (CFTAB) converters to its physical limits. So far, current transients in the inductors of CFTAB converters are often accepted or ignored in the literature, as the considered time interval of simulation and measurement results is typically very large so that the transient behavior of the current is not visible. In this work, a model-based control strategy is examined that reaches the new steady state after a load step as fast as physically possible and furthermore reduces current oscillations, saturation and additional losses. A 1kW GaN-based CFTAB converter prototype is presented and the benefits of the examined control strategy are demonstrated by measurement results. It is shown that the settling time after a load step can be significantly reduced from about a millisecond down to several microseconds.

Authors 5

1. Paul Kowalewski Aachen Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives,Aachen,Germany

   Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Adrian Tissen Aachen Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives,Aachen,Germany

   Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. André Thönnessen Aachen Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives,Aachen,Germany

   Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Niklas Fritz Aachen Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives,Aachen,Germany

   Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Rik W. De Doncker Aachen Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives (ISEA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University,Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives,Aachen,Germany

   Institute for Power Electronics and Electrical Drives, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany