High-frequency-link (HFL) power conversion systems (PCSs) are attracting more and more attentions in academia and industry for high power density, reduced weight, and low noise without compromising efficiency, cost, and reliability. In HFL PCSs, dual-active-bridge (DAB) isolated bidirectional dc-dc converter (IBDC) serves as the core circuit. This paper gives an overview of DAB-IBDC for HFL PCSs. First, the research necessity and development history are introduced. Second, the research subjects about basic characterization, control strategy, soft-switching solution and variant, as well as hardware design and optimization are reviewed and analyzed. On this basis, several typical application schemes of DAB-IBDC for HPL PCSs are presented in a worldwide scope. Finally, design recommendations and future trends are presented. As the core circuit of HFL PCSs, DAB-IBDC has wide prospects. The large-scale practical application of DAB-IBDC for HFL PCSs is expected with the recent advances in solid-state semiconductors, magnetic and capacitive materials, and microelectronic technologies.

Overview of Dual-Active-Bridge Isolated Bidirectional DC–DC Converter for High-Frequency-Link Power-Conversion System

With the requirements for reducing emissions and improving fuel economy, automotive companies are developing electric, hybrid electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Power electronics is an enabling technology for the development of these environmentally friendlier vehicles and implementing the advanced electrical architectures to meet the demands for increased electric loads. In this paper, a brief review of the current trends and future vehicle strategies and the function of power electronic subsystems are described. The requirements of power electronic components and electric motor drives for the successful development of these vehicles are also presented.

Power Electronics and Motor Drives in Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Energy storage systems (ESSs) are enabling technologies for well-established and new applications such as power peak shaving, electric vehicles, integration of renewable energies, etc. This paper presents a review of ESSs for transport and grid applications, covering several aspects as the storage technology, the main applications, and the power converters used to operate some of the energy storage technologies. Special attention is given to the different applications, providing a deep description of the system and addressing the most suitable storage technology. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the subject and to give an updated reference to nonspecialist, academic, and engineers in the field of power electronics.

Energy Storage Systems for Transport and Grid Applications

The issues of global warming and depletion of fossil fuels have paved opportunities to electric vehicle (EV). Moreover, the rapid development of power electronics technologies has even realized high energy-efficient vehicles. EV could be the alternative to decrease the global green house gases emission as the energy consumption in the world transportation is high. However, EV faces huge challenges in battery cost since one-third of the EV cost lies on battery. This paper reviews state-of-the-art of the energy sources, storage devices, power converters, low-level control energy management strategies and high supervisor control algorithms used in EV. The comparison on advantages and disadvantages of vehicle technology is highlighted. In addition, the standards and patterns of drive cycles for EV are also outlined. The advancement of power electronics and power processors has enabled sophisticated controls (low-level and high supervisory algorithms) to be implemented in EV to achieve optimum performance as well as the realization of fast-charging stations. The rapid growth of EV has led to the integration of alternative resources to the utility grid and hence smart grid control plays an important role in managing the demand. The awareness of environmental issue and fuel crisis has brought up the sales of EV worldwide.

A review of energy sources and energy management system in electric vehicles

The fuel efficiency and performance of novel vehicles with electric propulsion capability are largely limited by the performance of the energy storage system (ESS). This paper reviews state-of-the-art ESSs in automotive applications. Battery technology options are considered in detail, with emphasis on methods of battery monitoring, managing, protecting, and balancing. Furthermore, other ESS candidates such as ultracapacitors, flywheels and fuel cells are also discussed. Finally, hybrid power sources are considered as a method of combining two or more energy storage devices to create a superior power source.

Energy Storage Systems for Automotive Applications

In the zero-emission electric power generation system, a multiple-input DC-DC converter is useful to obtain the regulated output voltage from several input power sources such as a solar array, wind generator, fuel cell, and so forth. A new multiple-input DC-DC converter is proposed and analyzed. As a result, the static and dynamic characteristics are clarified theoretically, and the results are confirmed by experiment.

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Characteristics of the multiple-input DC-DC converter

Recently, the clean electric power generation systems have attracted a great deal of social attention to exploit the clean-energy resources such as solar arrays, wind generators, fuel cells, and so forth. In this case, a multiple-input dc–dc converter is useful to combine the several input power sources and to supply the regulated output voltage for the load from the power sources. The novel solar-cell power supply system using the buck–boost-type two-input dc–dc converter is proposed, in which a solar array and a commercial ac line are employed as power sources and are combined by two input windings of the energy-storage reactor. Also, its operation principle and performance characteristics are discussed. Furthermore, the solar-cell optimum-operating-point tracker is proposed and examined. It is confirmed by the experiment that the proposed solar-cell power supply system has excellent performance characteristics.

Novel Solar-Cell Power Supply System Using a Multiple-Input DC&#8211;DC Converter

This paper proposes a unique standalone hybrid power generation system, applying advanced power control techniques, fed by four power sources: wind power, solar power, storage battery, and diesel engine generator, and which is not connected to a commercial power system. Considerable effort was put into the development of active-reactive power and dump power controls. The result of laboratory experiments revealed that amplitudes and phases of ac output voltage were well regulated in the proposed hybrid system. Different power sources can be interconnected anywhere on the same power line, leading to flexible system expansion. It is anticipated that this hybrid power generation system, into which natural energy is incorporated, will contribute to global environmental protection on isolated islands and in rural locations without any dependence on commercial power systems.

Standalone Hybrid Wind-Solar Power Generation System Applying Dump Power Control Without Dump Load

When the solar array is used as an input power source, the excellent operating point tracker is often employed to exploit more effectively the solar array as an electric power source and to obtain the maximum electric power at all times even when the light intensity and environmental temperature of the solar array are varied. Usually, the excellent operating point is determined by computing the electric power from the solar-array power supply with a microcomputer, digital signal processor, etc. However, such a method has the following problems: 1) complex control-circuit configuration; 2) high cost; and 3) low control speed. From this viewpoint, this paper proposes a new excellent operating point tracker of the solar-cell power supply system, in which inexpensive p-n junction diodes are used to generate the reference voltage of the operating point of the solar array. Using the proposed method, the high degree of the solar-array excellent point tracking performance can be obtained even when the light intensity and environmental temperature of the solar array are varied. Furthermore, this paper provides the operation principle, design-oriented analysis, etc., of the proposed solar-cell power supply system.

An excellent operating point tracker of the solar-cell power supply system

A new solar cell power supply system is presented, in which the boost type bidirectional dc-dc converter and the simple control circuit with a small monitor solar cell are employed to track the maximum power point of the solar array. It is confirmed by the experiment that the new system has sufficiently precise tracking operation performance and satisfactorily high power efficiency. Also, a comparison of the power efficiencies is made theoretically, as well as experimentally, on the new and the conventional solar cell power supply systems. As a result, it is revealed that the new system is superior to the conventional one in the power efficiency.

Hirofumi Matsuo

Papers

Characteristics of the multiple-input DC-DC converter

Novel Solar-Cell Power Supply System Using a Multiple-Input DC–DC Converter

Standalone Hybrid Wind-Solar Power Generation System Applying Dump Power Control Without Dump Load

An excellent operating point tracker of the solar-cell power supply system

New Solar Cell Power Supply System Using a Boost Type Bidirectinal DC-DC Converter

Hirofumi Matsuo

Papers

Characteristics of the multiple-input DC-DC converter

Novel Solar-Cell Power Supply System Using a Multiple-Input DC&#8211;DC Converter

Standalone Hybrid Wind-Solar Power Generation System Applying Dump Power Control Without Dump Load

An excellent operating point tracker of the solar-cell power supply system

New Solar Cell Power Supply System Using a Boost Type Bidirectinal DC-DC Converter

Novel Solar-Cell Power Supply System Using a Multiple-Input DC–DC Converter