There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

This paper presents an impedance-source (or impedance-fed) power converter (abbreviated as Z-source converter) and its control method for implementing DC-to-AC, AC-to-DC, AC-to-AC, and DC-to-DC power conversion. The Z-source converter employs a unique impedance network (or circuit) to couple the converter main circuit to the power source, thus providing unique features that cannot be obtained in the traditional voltage-source (or voltage-fed) and current-source (or current-fed) converters where a capacitor and inductor are used, respectively. The Z-source converter overcomes the conceptual and theoretical barriers and limitations of the traditional voltage-source converter (abbreviated as V-source converter) and current-source converter (abbreviated as I-source converter) and provides a novel power conversion concept. The Z-source concept can be applied to all DC-to-AC, AC-to-DC, AC-to-AC, and DC-to-DC power conversion. To describe the operating principle and control, this paper focuses on an example: a Z-source inverter for DC-AC power conversion needed in fuel cell applications. Simulation and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the new features.

Z-source inverter

This paper reviews the current status and implementation of battery chargers, charging power levels, and infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles and hybrids. Charger systems are categorized into off-board and on-board types with unidirectional or bidirectional power flow. Unidirectional charging limits hardware requirements and simplifies interconnection issues. Bidirectional charging supports battery energy injection back to the grid. Typical on-board chargers restrict power because of weight, space, and cost constraints. They can be integrated with the electric drive to avoid these problems. The availability of charging infrastructure reduces on-board energy storage requirements and costs. On-board charger systems can be conductive or inductive. An off-board charger can be designed for high charging rates and is less constrained by size and weight. Level 1 (convenience), Level 2 (primary), and Level 3 (fast) power levels are discussed. Future aspects such as roadbed charging are presented. Various power level chargers and infrastructure configurations are presented, compared, and evaluated based on amount of power, charging time and location, cost, equipment, and other factors.

/pdf/review-of-battery-charger-topologies-charging-power-levels-85yy2igx2w.pdf

Review of Battery Charger Topologies, Charging Power Levels, and Infrastructure for Plug-In Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

The global electrical energy consumption is rising and there is a steady increase of the demand on the power capacity, efficient production, distribution and utilization of energy. The traditional power systems are changing globally, a large number of dispersed generation (DG) units, including both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources such as wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) generators, fuel cells, small hydro, wave generators, and gas/steam powered combined heat and power stations, are being integrated into power systems at the distribution level. Power electronics, the technology of efficiently processing electric power, play an essential part in the integration of the dispersed generation units for good efficiency and high performance of the power systems. This paper reviews the applications of power electronics in the integration of DG units, in particular, wind power, fuel cells and PV generators.

Power electronics as efficient interface in dispersed power generation systems

Power Electronics as Efficient Interface in Dispersed Power Generation Systems

Plug-in vehicles can behave either as loads or as a distributed energy and power resource in a concept known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) connection. This paper reviews the current status and implementation impact of V2G/grid-to-vehicle (G2V) technologies on distributed systems, requirements, benefits, challenges, and strategies for V2G interfaces of both individual vehicles and fleets. The V2G concept can improve the performance of the electricity grid in areas such as efficiency, stability, and reliability. A V2G-capable vehicle offers reactive power support, active power regulation, tracking of variable renewable energy sources, load balancing, and current harmonic filtering. These technologies can enable ancillary services, such as voltage and frequency control and spinning reserve. Costs of V2G include battery degradation, the need for intensive communication between the vehicles and the grid, effects on grid distribution equipment, infrastructure changes, and social, political, cultural, and technical obstacles. Although V2G operation can reduce the lifetime of vehicle batteries, it is projected to become economical for vehicle owners and grid operators. Components and unidirectional/bidirectional power flow technologies of V2G systems, individual and aggregated structures, and charging/recharging frequency and strategies (uncoordinated/coordinated smart) are addressed. Three elements are required for successful V2G operation: power connection to the grid, control and communication between vehicles and the grid operator, and on-board/off-board intelligent metering. Success of the V2G concept depends on standardization of requirements and infrastructure decisions, battery technology, and efficient and smart scheduling of limited fast-charge infrastructure. A charging/discharging infrastructure must be deployed. Economic benefits of V2G technologies depend on vehicle aggregation and charging/recharging frequency and strategies. The benefits will receive increased attention from grid operators and vehicle owners in the future.

Review of the Impact of Vehicle-to-Grid Technologies on Distribution Systems and Utility Interfaces

Various aspects of averaged modeling of hard-switching pulse-width modulated (PWM) converters operating in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) are studied. A more streamlined modeling procedure is proposed which serves as a general framework for comparing different models. A duty ratio constraint that defines the diode conduction interval is identified to be the key to accurate prediction of high-frequency behavior. A new duty-ratio constraint is proposed that leads to full-order averaged models of DCM converters. Numerical analyses and experimental measurements confirm that the new models correctly predict the small-signal responses up to one third of the switching frequency and are more accurate than all previous models. Moreover, new analytical results are included to show the origin of the high-frequency pole in DCM operation and to explain why the full-order model is capable of accurately predicting it. Averaged circuit counterparts of the new models are developed in the form of averaged switch models to facilitate circuit simulation.

/pdf/averaged-modeling-of-pwm-converters-operating-in-3ieidj9o58.pdf

Averaged modeling of PWM converters operating in discontinuous conduction mode

Building on the tradition of its classic first edition, the long-awaited second edition of Elements of Power Electronics provides comprehensive coverage of the subject at a level suitable for undergraduate engineering students, students in advanced degree programs, and novices in the field. It establishes a fundamental engineering basis for power electronics analysis, design, and implementation, offering broad and in-depth coverage of basic material. Streamlined throughout to reflect new innovations in technology, the second edition also features updates on renewable and alternative energy. Elements of Power Electronics features a unifying framework that includes the physical implications of circuit laws, switching circuit analysis, and the basis for converter operation and control. It discusses dc-dc, ac-dc, dc-ac, and ac-ac conversion tasks and principles of resonant converters and discontinuous converters. The text also addresses magnetic device design, thermal management and drivers for power semiconductors, control system aspects of converters, and both small-signal and geometric controls. Models for real devices and components-including capacitors, inductors, wire connections, and power semiconductors-are developed in depth, while newly expanded examples show students how to use tools like Mathcad, Matlab, and Mathematica to aid in the analysis and design of conversion circuits. Features: *More than 160 examples and 350 chapter problems support the presented concepts*An extensive Companion Website includes additional problems, laboratory materials, selected solutions for students, computer-based examples, and analysis tools for Mathcad, Matlab, and Mathematica

Elements Of Power Electronics

Converters with a dc port and a single-phase ac port must store energy to buffer the inherent double-frequency power flow at the ac port. The minimum energy storage required to isolate the power ripple from the dc port is presented, and leads to the minimum capacitance required for converters that use capacitive energy storage. This paper presents a ripple power port to manage energy storage and decouple capacitor ripple from power ripple. A ripple power port allows the designer to make a choice of capacitor voltage independent of other system voltages. A combination of an ac link converter and a ripple power port leads to a dramatic increase in reliability: it is shown that converters with nominal ratings up to 200 W can be designed with expected mean-time-between-failure ratings on the order of 1.4 × 106 h-sufficient for hundred-year operation in long-life applications such as photovoltaic converters and LED lamps. This large increase in life is achieved with minimal extra cost.

Philip T. Krein

Papers

Review of Battery Charger Topologies, Charging Power Levels, and Infrastructure for Plug-In Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Review of the Impact of Vehicle-to-Grid Technologies on Distribution Systems and Utility Interfaces

Averaged modeling of PWM converters operating in discontinuous conduction mode

Elements Of Power Electronics

Minimum Energy and Capacitance Requirements for Single-Phase Inverters and Rectifiers Using a Ripple Port