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This paper presents a direct model-based predictive control scheme for voltage source inverters (VSIs) with reduced common-mode voltages (CMVs). The developed method directly finds optimal vectors without using repetitive calculation of a cost function. To adjust output currents with the CMVs in the range of –Vdc/6 to +Vdc/6, the developed method uses voltage vectors, as finite control resources, excluding zero voltage vectors which produce the CMVs in the VSI within ±Vdc/2. In a model-based predictive control (MPC), not using zero voltage vectors increases the output current ripples and the current errors. To alleviate these problems, the developed method uses two non-zero voltage vectors in one sampling step. In addition, the voltage vectors scheduled to be used are directly selected at every sampling step once the developed method calculates the future reference voltage vector, saving the efforts of repeatedly calculating the cost function. And the two non-zero voltage vectors are optimally all...

This paper proposes a finite control set predictive control (FCS-PC) scheme for the shunt hybrid power filter (SHPF) to reduce the power loss while maintaining satisfactory power quality at the utility’s grid terminals. By means of the instantaneous power theory, the controller for the proposed method can generate the reference voltage for the SHPF voltage source inverter (VSI) for the future sampling time. Therefore, during a sampling time, the vector of the reference voltage is compared with the finite number of voltage vectors existent in the VSI to select the vector that best fits the cost function of the controller. The proposed method, compared with the conventional pulse width modulation (PWM) carrier method, has the capability of suppressing similarly the harmonic currents at grid terminals and controlling VSI DC-link voltage while maintaining low switching frequencies in the devices. This method shows simplicity in digital implementation because it does not need a PWM block to obtain the ...

This article describes a novel resonant gate driver for charging the gate capacitor of power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MOSFETs) that operate at a high switching frequency in power converters. The proposed resonant gate driver is designed with three small MOSFETs to build up the inductor current in addition to an inductor for temporary energy storage. The proposed resonant gate driver recovers the CV2 gate loss, which is the largest loss dissipated in the gate resistance in conventional gate drivers. In addition, the switching loss is reduced at the instants of turn on and turn off in the power MOSFETs of power converters by using the proposed gate driver. Mathematical analyses of the total loss appearing in the gate driver circuit and the switching loss reduction in the power switch of power converters are discussed. Finally, the proposed resonant gate driver is verified with experimental results at a switching frequency of 1 MHz.

In an effort to reduce switching and gate-drive losses in power converters when the energy density is increased by increasing the switching frequency, various resonant gate drivers (RGDs) based on a current source have been proposed to drive metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors in low-voltage high-current power converters. The resonant gate drivers enable high efficiency owing to energy recovery and the reduction of switching losses. Recently, many studies have been performed on the design of new topologies and loss analyses. Despite numerous proposed studies on RGDs, a comparative study based on a theoretical analysis has not been carried out. In this paper, a theoretical loss analysis in terms of the conduction, switching and gate-drive losses is presented according to the operation stages. In particular, the conduction loss has been expressed in terms of a general loss model that can generally applied to all topologies. Five RGD topologies are evaluated for their efficiency performance wi...

Sustain drivers based on the LC resonant operation have a significant influence on the entire circuit efficiency and cost of plasma display panels (PDPs). Although circuit efficiency of PDP drivers is extremely important, theoretical loss analysis and comparative studies of the sustain drivers have been missed in the literature, despite a variety of developed PDP sustain drivers. This paper presents in detail theoretical analyses and systematic comparisons of semiconductor losses in the PDP sustain drivers, including the inevitable conduction losses by the displacement currents, the undesirable extra conduction losses, the switching losses by the forced current commutations and the switching losses by the step voltage changes. Based on derived theoretical analysis and comparative features, sustain drivers are evaluated in terms of PDP operating speed as well as circuits’ efficiency.

A fault diagnosis algorithm, which is necessary for constructing a reliable power conversion system, should detect fault occurrences as soon as possible to protect the entire system from fatal damages resulting from system malfunction. In this paper, a fault diagnosis algorithm is proposed to detect open- and short-circuit faults that occur in a boost converter switch. The inductor voltage is abnormally kept at a positive DC value during a short-circuit fault in the switch or at a negative DC value during an open-circuit fault condition until the inductor current becomes zero. By employing these abnormal properties during faulty conditions, the inductor voltage is compared with the switching function to detect each fault type by generating fault alarms when a fault occurs. As a result, from the fault alarm, a decision is made in response to the fault occurrence and the fault type in less than two switching time periods using the proposed algorithm constructed in analogue circuits. In addition, the propose...

This paper proposes a robust and simple direct power control (DPC) of a thyristor-based current-fed drive for generator applications. A current-fed drive and permanent magnet-assisted synchronous reluctance generator (PMa-SynRG) are investigated to deliver 3 kW power using a combustion engine. The current-fed drive utilises a thyristor-based three-phase rectifier to convert generator power to DC-link power and a single-phase current-fed inverter to supply a single-phase inductive load. In addition, a new control algorithm is developed based on DPC for the current-fed drive. The DC-link voltage-based DPC is proposed in order to directly control the output power. The goal of the DPC is to maintain the DC-link voltage at the required output power operating point. The DPC has advantages such as a simple algorithm for constant speed operation. Another feature of the developed current-fed drive is its inherent capability to provide generating action by making the PMa-SynRG operates as a generator, rectifying th...

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been gradually used for backlight modules for liquid crystal display as a substitute for cold cathode fluorescent lamps. In most of LED applications, it is required to connect several LED strings in parallel to limit the dc voltage level to be applied to the single LED string. Due to considerable current variations through each LED string with inevitable parameter deviations as well as temperature and ageing effects, techniques to balance currents flowing through LED strings are required for LED drivers. This article proposes a pulse-driven LED circuit with transformer-based current balancing scheme, which can simply regulate currents through the LED strings. The transformers are placed in series with the LED strings in such a way that the LED currents are automatically balanced. Since the developed current sharing technique employs no dissipative resistors and no linear-mode transistors, the proposed driver has high efficiency, low power dissipation and reduced thermal p...

A three-phase-to-two-phase ac–ac converter is, along with a modulation strategy based on the space vector scheme, introduced to directly drive two-phase output ac systems with high input power quality. The converter is capable of synthesising two sinusoidal output voltages with variable output frequency and arbitrary magnitude in quadrature phase-shift as well as sinusoidal input currents.

In this article, a current source inverter (CSI) fed induction motor drive with an optimal power distribution control is proposed for high-power applications. The CSI-fed drive is configured with a six-step CSI along with a pulsewidth modulated voltage source inverter (PWM–VSI) and capacitors. Due to the PWM–VSI and the capacitor, sinusoidal motor currents and voltages with high quality as well as natural commutation of the six-step CSI can be obtained. Since this CSI-fed drive can deliver required output power through both the six-step CSI and PWM–VSI, this article shows that the kVA ratings of both the inverters can be reduced by proper real power distribution. The optimal power distribution under load requirements, based on power flow modelling of the CSI-fed drive, is proposed to not only minimise the PWM–VSI rating but also reduce the six-step CSI rating. The dc-link current control of the six-step CSI is developed to realise the optimal power distribution. Furthermore, a vector controlled drive for ...