Analysis and Design of Bidirectional Parallel-Series DAB-Based Converter

Unprecedented expansion of renewable, energy storage, and fast charger system applications has diversified the bidirectional converter designs over the past decade. This article presents a new dual-active bridge (DAB) converter topology, which employs parallel and series switches arrangements for low-voltage bridge configurations. The additional switch inclusion provides high dc conversion gain, which enables attractive fast charger applications. The performance of the proposed DAB-based converter with wide dc range has been investigated through several design techniques and comparisons. The use of use of silicon carbide (SiC) devices in higher power conversion significantly improves switching losses. However, unsupervised design will result in significant switching losses and increased electromagnetic emissions. Since the DAB-based converter's high switching frequency allows operation with smaller magnetics, the system stray capacitance plays a critical role. The common-mode current propagated through the system's stray capacitance generates undesired electromagnetic interferences (EMI) and impacts the soft-switching achievable range. To overcome the common-mode current circulation issue, design solutions have been employed to reduce the emergence of system stray capacitance. A harmonic analysis is further discussed along with evaluation of transformer design comparisons. The experimental results show the performance of the DAB-based converter in bidirectional operation and improved common mode current generation with respect to EMI emissions. The simulation and experimental results have been performed using a 5 kW rated power DAB-based converter with SiC power semiconductors.