Showing papers in "Journal of Power Electronics in 2011"

Accurate MATLAB Simulink PV System Simulator Based on a Two-Diode Model

Abstract: This paper proposes a MATLAB Simulink simulator for photovoltaic (PV) systems. The main contribution of this work is the utilization of a two-diode model to represent a PV cell. This model is known to have better accuracy at low irradiance levels which allows for a more accurate prediction of PV system performance. To reduce computational time, the input parameters are reduced to four and the values of Rp and Rs are estimated by an efficient iteration method. Furthermore, all of the inputs to the simulator are information available on a standard PV module datasheet. The simulator supports large array simulations that can be interfaced with MPPT algorithms and power electronic converters. The accuracy of the simulator is verified by applying the model to five PV modules of different types (multi-crystalline, mono-crystalline, and thin-film) from various manufacturers. It is envisaged that the proposed work can be very useful for PV professionals who require a simple, fast and accurate PV simulator to design their systems.

Elimination of Low Order Harmonics in Multilevel Inverters Using Genetic Algorithm

Abstract: The selective harmonic elimination pulse width modulation (SHEPWM) switching strategy has been applied to multilevel inverters to remove low order harmonics. Naturally, the related equations do not have feasible solutions for some operating points associated with the modulation index (M). However, with these infeasible points, minimizing instead of eliminating harmonics is performed. Thus, harmful harmonics such as the 5 th harmonic still remains in the output waveform. Therefore, it is proposed in this paper to ignore solving the equation associated with the highest order harmonics. A reduction in the eliminated harmonics results in an increase in the degrees of freedom. As a result, the lower order harmonics are eliminated in more operating points. A 9-level inverter is chosen as a case study. The genetic algorithm (GA) for optimization purposes is used. Simulation results verify the proposed method.

A Novel Filter Design for Output LC Filters of PWM Inverters

Abstract: The cutoff frequency of the output LC filters of PWM inverters limits the control bandwidth of the converter system while it attenuates voltage ripples that are caused by inverter switching activities. For a selected cutoff frequency of an output LC filter, an infinite number of L-C combinations is possible. This paper analyses the characteristics of output LC filters for PWM inverters terms of the L-C combinations. Practical circuit conditions such as no-loads, full resistive-loads, and inductive-load conditions are considered in the analysis. This paper proposes a LC filter design method for PWM inverters considering both the voltage dynamics and the inverter stack size. An experimental PWM inverter system based on the proposed output LC filter design guideline is built and tested.

Comparison and Evaluation of Anti-windup PI Controllers

Abstract: This paper proposes a method for comparing and evaluating anti-windup proportional-integral (PI) control strategies. The so-called PI plane is used and its coordinate is composed of the error and the integral state. In addition, an anti-windup PI controller with integral state prediction is proposed. The anti-windup scheme can be easily analyzed and evaluated on the PI plane in detail. Representative anti-windup methods are experimentally applied to the speed control of a vector-controlled induction motor driven by a pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage-source inverter (VSI). The experimental results compare the anti-windup PI controllers. It is empathized that the initial value of the integral state at the beginning of the linear range dominates the control performance in terms of overshoot and settling time.

PI and Fuzzy Logic Controller Based 3-Phase 4-Wire Shunt Active Filters for the Mitigation of Current Harmonics with the I d -I q Control Strategy

Abstract: Commencing with incandescent light bulbs, every load today creates harmonics. Unfortunately, these loads vary with respect to their amount of harmonic content and their response to problems caused by harmonics. The prevalent difficulties with harmonics are voltage and current waveform distortions. In addition, Electronic equipment like computers, battery chargers, electronic ballasts, variable frequency drives, and switching mode power supplies generate perilous amounts of harmonics. Issues related to harmonics are of a greater concern to engineers and building designers because they do more than just distort voltage waveforms, they can overheat the building wiring, cause nuisance tripping, overheat transformer units, and cause random end-user equipment failures. Thus power quality is becoming more and more serious with each passing day. As a result, active power filters (APFs) have gained a lot of attention due to their excellent harmonic compensation. However, the performance of the active filters seems to have contradictions with different control techniques. The main objective of this paper is to analyze shunt active filters with fuzzy and pi controllers. To carry out this analysis, active and reactive current methods (id-iq) are considered. Extensive simulations were carried out. The simulations were performed under balance, unbalanced and non sinusoidal conditions. The results validate the dynamic behavior of fuzzy logic controllers over PI controllers.

Classification and Comparison of EMI Mitigation Techniques in Switching Power Converters – A Review

Abstract: Power electronic systems such as switching power supplies are accounted as noise sources for other sensitive circuits. EMI caused by power converters can disturb the normal operation of the converter and other adjacent systems. Major research is concentrated on EMI mitigation for power converters in which the main concern is compliance with EMC standards to ensure proper operation of converters and nearby systems. This paper reviews EMI reduction techniques related to switching power converters with emphasis on the conducted EMI. A comprehensive review of significant research works is performed and various methods are thoroughly discussed and compared. Also, a classification of methods is presented. Moreover, converter prototypes are realized which contain several EMI mitigation techniques and their effects are presented via experimental results.

Optimal Speed Control of Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Abstract: The main objective of this paper is to control the speed of Nonlinear Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) by controlling the throttle position. Various control techniques such as well known Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller in conjunction with state feedback controller (SFC) such as Pole Placement Technique (PPT), Observer Based Controller (OBC) and Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) Controller are designed. Some Intelligent control techniques e.g. fuzzy logic PD, Fuzzy logic PI along with Adaptive Controller such as Self Organizing Controller (SOC) is also designed. The design objective in this research paper is to provide smooth throttle movement, zero steady-state speed error, and to maintain a Selected Vehicle (SV) speed. A comparative study is carried out in order to identify the superiority of optimal control technique so as to get improved fuel economy, reduced pollution, improved driving safety and reduced manufacturing costs.

Variable step size maximum power point tracker using a single variable for stand-alone battery storage pv systems

Abstract: The subject of variable step size maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms has been addressed in the literature. However, most of the addressed algorithms tune the variable step size according to two variables: the photovoltaic (PV) array voltage (VPV) and the PV array current (I PV ). Therefore, both the PV array current and voltage have to be measured. Recently, maximum power point trackers that are based on a single variable (I PV or V PV ) have received a great deal of attention due to their simplicity and ease of implementation, when compared to other tracking techniques. In this paper, two methods have been proposed to design a variable step size MPPT algorithm using only a single current sensor for stand-alone battery storage PV systems. These methods utilize only the relationship between the PV array measured current and the converter duty cycle (D) to automatically adapt the step change in the duty cycle to reach the maximum power point (MPP) of the PV array. Detailed analyses and flowcharts of the proposed methods are included. Moreover, a comparison has been made between the proposed methods to investigate their performance in the transient and steady states. Finally, experimental results with field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are presented to verify the performance of the proposed methods.

Control and Analysis of an Integrated Bidirectional DC/AC and DC/DC Converters for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Applications

Abstract: The plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are specialized hybrid electric vehicles that have the potential to obtain enough energy for average daily commuting from batteries. The PHEV battery would be recharged from the power grid at home or at work and would thus allow for a reduction in the overall fuel consumption. This paper proposes an integrated power electronics interface for PHEVs, which consists of a novel Eight-Switch Inverter (ESI) and an interleaved DC/DC converter, in order to reduce the cost, the mass and the size of the power electronics unit (PEU) with high performance at any operating mode. In the proposed configuration, a novel Eight-Switch Inverter (ESI) is able to function as a bidirectional single-phase AC/DC battery charger/ vehicle to grid (V2G) and to transfer electrical energy between the DC-link (connected to the battery) and the electric traction system as DC/AC inverter. In addition, a bidirectional-interleaved DC/DC converter with dual-loop controller is proposed for interfacing the ESI to a low-voltage battery pack in order to minimize the ripple of the battery current and to improve the efficiency of the DC system with lower inductor size. To validate the performance of the proposed configuration, the indirect field-oriented control (IFOC) based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed to optimize the efficiency of the AC drive system in PHEVs. The maximum efficiency of the motor is obtained by the evaluation of optimal rotor flux at any operating point, where the PSO is applied to evaluate the optimal flux. Moreover, an improved AC/DC controller based Proportional-Resonant Control (PRC) is proposed in order to reduce the THD of the input current in charger/V2G modes. The proposed configuration is analyzed and its performance is validated using simulated results obtained in MATLAB/ SIMULINK. Furthermore, it is experimentally validated with results obtained from the prototypes that have been developed and built in the laboratory based on TMS320F2808 DSP.

Sensorless Passivity Based Control of a DC Motor via a Solar Powered Sepic Converter-Full Bridge Combination

Abstract: This article deals with the sensor-less control of a DC Motor via a SEPIC Converter-Full Bridge combination powered through solar panels. We simultaneously regulate, both, the output voltage of the SEPIC-converter to a value larger than the solar panel output voltage, and the shaft angular velocity, in any of the turning senses, so that it tracks a pre-specified constant reference. The main result of our proposed control scheme is an efficient linear controller obtained via Lyapunov. This controller is based on measurements of the converter currents and voltages, and the DC motor armature current. The control law is derived using an exact stabilization error dynamics model, from which a static linear passive feedback control law is derived. All values of the constant references are parameterized in terms of the equilibrium point of the multivariable system: the SEPIC converter desired output voltage, the solar panel output voltage at its Maximun Power Point (MPP), and the DC motor desired constant angular velocity. The switched control realization of the designed average continuous feedback control law is accomplished by means of a, discrete-valued, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Experimental results are presented demonstrating the viability of our proposal.

Torque Density Improvement of Five-Phase PMSM Drive for Electric Vehicles Applications

Abstract: In order to enhance torque density of five-phase permanent magnetic synchronous motor with third harmonic injection for electric vehicles (EVs) applications, optimum seeking method for injection ratio of third harmonic was proposed adopting theoretical derivation and finite element analysis method, under the constraint of same amplitude for current and air-gap flux. By five-dimension space vector decomposition, the mathematic model in two orthogonal space plane, d₁ ?q₁ and d₃ ?q₃, was deduced. And the corresponding dual-plane vector control method was accomplished to independently control fundamental and third harmonic currents in each vector plane. A five-phase PMSM prototype with quasi-trapezoidal flux pattern and its fivephase voltage source inverter were designed. Also, the dual-plane vector control was digitized in a single XC3S1200E FPGA. Simulation and experimental results prove that using the proposed optimum seeking method, the torque density of five-phase PMSM is enhanced by 20%, without any increase of power converter capacity, machine size and iron core saturation.

Multilevel Inverter to Reduce Common Mode Voltage in AC Motor Drives Using SPWM Technique

Abstract: In this paper, an approach to reduce common-mode voltage (CMV) at the output of multilevel inverters using a phase opposition disposed (POD) sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) technique is proposed. The SPWM technique does not require computations therefore, this technique is easy to implement on-line in digital controllers. A good tradeoff between the quality of the output voltage and the magnitude of the CMV is achieved in this paper. This paper realizes the implementation of a POD-SPWM technique to reduce CMV using a five-level diode clamped inverter for a three phase induction motor. Experimental and simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique.

Novel State-of-Charge Estimation Method for Lithium Polymer Batteries Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Abstract: Lithium batteries are widely used in mobile electronic devices due to their higher voltage and energy density, lighter weight and longer life cycle when compared to other secondary batteries. In particular, a high demand for lithium batteries is expected for electric cars. In the case of the lithium batteries used in electric cars, driving distance must be calculated accurately and discharging should not be done below a level that makes it impossible to crank. Therefore, accurate information on the state-of-charge (SOC) becomes an essential element for reliable driving. In this paper, a novel method for estimating the SOC of lithium polymer batteries using AC impedance is proposed. In the proposed method, the parameters are extracted by fitting the measured impedance spectrum on an equivalent impedance model and the variation in the parameter values at each SOC is used to estimate the SOC. Also to shorten the long length of time required for the measurement of the impedance spectrum, a novel method is proposed that can extract the equivalent impedance model parameters of lithium polymer batteries with the impedance measured at only two specific frequencies. Experiments are conducted on lithium polymer batteries, with similar capacities, made by different manufacturers to prove the validity of the proposed method.

Control of a Bidirectional Z-Source Inverter for Electric Vehicle Applications in Different Operation Modes

Abstract: This paper proposes two control strategies for the bidirectional Z-source inverters (BZSI) supplied by batteries for electric vehicle applications. The first control strategy utilizes the indirect field-oriented control (IFOC) method to control the induction motor speed. The proposed speed control strategy is able to control the motor speed from zero to the rated speed with the rated load torque in both motoring and regenerative braking modes. The IFOC is based on PWM voltage modulation with voltage decoupling compensation to insert the shoot-through state into the switching signals using the simple boost shoot-through control method. The parameters of the four PI controllers in the IFOC technique are designed based on the required dynamic specifications. The second control strategy uses a proportional plus resonance (PR) controller in the synchronous reference frame to control the AC current for connecting the BZSI to the grid during the battery charging/discharging mode. In both control strategies, a dual loop controller is proposed to control the capacitor voltage of the BZSI. This controller is designed based on a small signal model of the BZSI using a bode diagram. MATLAB simulations and experimental results verify the validity of the proposed control strategies during motoring, regenerative braking and grid connection operations.

Quasi Resonant DC Link Inverter with a Simple Auxiliary Circuit

Abstract: In this paper, a new soft switching three phase inverter with a quasi-resonant dc-link is presented. The proposed inverter has a dc-link switch and an auxiliary switch. The inverter switches are turned on and off under zero voltage switching condition and all auxiliary circuit switches and diodes are also soft switched. The control utilizes PWM and the auxiliary switch does not require an isolated gate drive circuit. In this paper, the operation analysis and design considerations of the proposed soft switching inverter are discussed. The presented experimental results of a realized prototype confirm the theoretical analysis.

DC Micro-Grid Operational Analysis with a Detailed Simulation Model for Distributed Generation

Abstract: This paper describes the operational analysis results of a DC micro-grid using a detailed model of distributed generation. A detailed model of wind power generation, photo-voltaic generation and fuel cell generation was implemented with an userdefined model created with PSCAD/EMTDC software and coded in C-language. The operational analysis was carried out using PSCAD/EMTDC software, in which the power circuit is implemented by a built-in model and the controller is modeled by an user-defined model that is also coded in C-language. Various simulation results confirm that a DC micro-grid can operate without any problems in both the grid-tied mode and in the islanded mode. The operational analysis results confirm that the DC micro-grid makes it feasible to provide power to the load stably. It can also be utilized to develop an actual system design.

Extending Switching Frequency for Torque Ripple Reduction Utilizing a Constant Frequency Torque Controller in DTC of Induction Motors

Abstract: Direct torque control (DTC) of induction machines is known to offer fast instantaneous torque and flux control with a simple control structure. However, this scheme has two major disadvantageous, namely, a variable inverter switching frequency and a high torque ripple. These problems occur due to the use of hysteresis comparators in conventional DTC schemes, particularly in controlling the output torque. This paper reviews the utilization of constant frequency torque controllers (CFTC) in DTC to solve these problems while retaining the simple control structure of DTC. Some extensions of the work in utilizing a CFTC will be carried out in this paper which can further reduce the torque ripple. This is particularly useful for a system which has a limited/low sampling frequency. The feasibility of a CFTC with an extended carrier frequency in minimizing the torque ripple is verified through experimental results.

Improved Active Power Filter Performance Based on an Indirect Current Control Technique

Abstract: This paper presents a method for the performance improvement of a shunt active power filter (SAPF) using the indirect current control (ICC) scheme. Compared to the conventional direct current control (DCC) scheme, the ICC gives better performance with a lower number of sensors. A simplified and efficient control algorithm using a low cost Intel 80C196KC microcontroller is implemented using only two current sensors for the source current and one voltage sensor for the DC-link voltage of the SAPF circuit. The objective is to eliminate harmonics and to compensate the reactive power produced by non-linear loads such as an uncontrolled rectifier feeding an inductive load. The APF is realized using a three phase voltage source inverter (VSI) with a dc bus capacitor. Experimental results are presented to prove the better performance of the ICC method over the DCC one.

Active Frequency with a Positive Feedback Anti-Islanding Method Based on a Robust PLL Algorithm for Grid-Connected PV PCS

Abstract: This paper proposes an active frequency with a positive feedback in the d-q frame anti-islanding method suitable for a robust phase-locked loop (PLL) algorithm using the FFT concept. In general, PLL algorithms for grid-connected PV PCS use d-q transformation and controllers to make zero an imaginary part of the transformed voltage vector. In a real grid system, the grid voltage is not ideal. It may be unbalanced, noisy and have many harmonics. For these reasons, the d-q transformed components do not have a pure DC component. The controller tuning of a PLL algorithm is difficult. The proposed PLL algorithm using the FFT concept can use the strong noise cancelation characteristics of a FFT algorithm without a PI controller. Therefore, the proposed PLL algorithm has no gain-tuning of a PI controller, and it is hardly influenced by voltage drops, phase step changes and harmonics. Islanding prediction is a necessary feature of inverter-based photovoltaic (PV) systems in order to meet the stringent standard requirements for interconnection with an electrical grid. Both passive and active anti-islanding methods exist. Typically, active methods modify a given parameter, which also affects the shape and quality of the grid injected current. In this paper, the active anti-islanding algorithm for a grid-connected PV PCS uses positive feedback control in the d-q frame. The proposed PLL and anti-islanding algorithm are implemented for a 250kW PV PCS. This system has four DC/DC converters each with a 25kW power rating. This is only one-third of the total system power. The experimental results show that the proposed PLL, anti-islanding method and topology demonstrate good performance in a 250kW PV PCS.

Investigating Buck DC-DC Converter Operation in Different Operational Modes and Obtaining the Minimum Output Voltage Ripple Considering Filter Size

Abstract: This paper investigates the operational modes of buck dc-dc converters and their energy transmission methods. The operational modes of such converters are classified in two types, discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) and continuous conduction mode (CCM). In this paper, the critical inductance relation of DCM and CCM is determined. The equations of the output voltage ripple (OVR) for each mode are obtained for a specific input voltage and load resistance range. The maximum output voltage ripple (MOVR) is also obtained for each mode. The filter size is decreased and the minimum required inductance value is calculated to guarantee the minimization of the MOVR. The experimental and simulation results in PSCAD/EMTDC prove the correctness of the presented theoretical concepts.

Sliding Mode Controller for Torque and Pitch Control of PMSG Wind Power Systems

Abstract: We propose a torque and pitch control scheme for variable speed wind turbines with permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). A torque controller is designed to maximize the power below the rated wind speed and a pitch controller is designed to regulate the output power above the rated wind speed. The controllers exploit the sliding mode control scheme considering the variation of wind speed. Since the aerodynamic torque and rotor acceleration are difficult to measure in practice, a finite time convergent observer is designed which estimates them. In order to verify the proposed control strategy, we present stability analysis as well as simulation results.

Active Damping Method Using Grid-Side Current Feedback for Active Power Filters with LCL Filters

Abstract: LCL filters installed at converter outputs offer a higher harmonic attenuation than L filters. However, as a three order resonant circuit, it is difficult to stabilize and has a risk of oscillating with the power grid. Therefore, careful design is required to damp LCL resonance. Compared to a passive damping method, an active damping method is a more attractive solution for this problem, since it avoids extra power losses. In this paper, the damping capabilities of capacitor current, capacitor voltage, and grid-side current feedback methods, are analyzed under the discrete-time state-space model. Theoretical analysis shows that the grid-side current feedback method is more suitable for use in active power filters, because it can damp LCL resonance more effectively than the other two methods when the ratio of the resonance and the control frequency is between 0.225 and 0.325. Furthermore, since there is no need for extra sensors for additional states measurements, this method provides a cost-efficient solution. To support the theoretical analysis, the proposed method is tested on a 7-kVA single-phase shunt active power filter.

Z-Source Inverter with SiC Power Semiconductor Devices for Fuel Cell Vehicle Applications

Abstract: Power electronics is a key technology for electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. Typical power electronics converters used in electric drive vehicles include dc/dc converters, inverters, and battery chargers. New semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and novel topologies such as the Z-source inverter (ZSI) have a great deal of potential to improve the overall performance of these vehicles. In this paper, a Z-source inverter for fuel cell vehicle application is examined under three different scenarios. 1. a ZSI with Si IGBT modules, 2. a ZSI with hybrid modules, Si IGBTs/SiC Schottky diodes, and 3. a ZSI with SiC MOSFETs/SiC Schottky diodes. Then, a comparison of the three scenarios is conducted. Conduction loss, switching loss, reverse recovery loss, and efficiency are considered for comparison. A conclusion is drawn that the SiC devices can improve the inverter and inverter-motor efficiency, and reduce the system size and cost due to the low loss properties of SiC devices. A comparison between a ZSI and traditional PWM inverters with SiC devices is also presented in this paper. Based on this comparison, the Z-source inverter produces the highest efficiency.

Charge Balance Control Methods for a Class of Fundamental Frequency Modulated Asymmetric Cascaded Multilevel Inverters

Abstract: Modulation strategies for multilevel inverters have typically focused on synthesizing a desired set of sinusoidal voltage waveforms using a fixed number of dc voltage sources. This makes the average power drawn from different dc voltage sources unequal and time varying. Therefore, the dc voltage sources are unregulated and require that corrective control action be incorporated. In this paper, first two new selections are proposed for determining the dc voltage sources values for asymmetric cascaded multilevel inverters. Then two modulation strategies are proposed for the dc power balancing of these types of multilevel inverters. Using the charge balance control methods, the power drawn from all of the dc sources are balanced except for the dc source used in the first H-bridge. The proposed control methods are validated by simulation and experimental results on a single-phase 21-level inverter.

Feedforward Pitch Control Using Wind Speed Estimation

Abstract: The dynamic response of a multi-MW wind turbine to a sudden change in wind speed is usually slow, because of the slow pitch control system. This could cause a large excursion of the rotor speed and an output power over the rated. A feedforward pitch control can be applied to minimize the fluctuations of these parameters. This paper introduces the complete design steps for a feedforward pitch controller, which consist of three stages, i.e. the aerodynamic torque estimation, the 3-dimensional lookup table for the wind seed estimation, and the calculation of the feedforward pitch amount. The effectiveness of the feedforward control is verified through numerical simulations of a multi-MW wind turbine.

High-Efficiency Power Conditioning System for Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract: This paper presents a high-efficiency power conditioning system (PCS) for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) modules. The proposed PCS consists of a step-up DC-DC converter and a single-phase DC-AC inverter for the grid-connected PV modules. A soft-switching step-up DC-DC converter is proposed to generate a high DC-link voltage from the low PV module voltage with a high-efficiency. A DC-link voltage controller is presented for constant DC-link voltage regulation. A half-bridge inverter is used for the single-phase DC-AC inverter for grid connection. A grid current controller is suggested to supply PV electrical power to the power grid with a unity power factor. Experimental results are obtained from a 180 W grid-connected PV module system using the proposed PCS. The proposed PCS achieves a high power efficiency of 93.0 % with an unity power factor for a 60 Hz / 120 Vrms AC power grid.

A DSP-Based Dual Loop Digital Controller Design and Implementation of a High Power Boost Converter for Hybrid Electric Vehicles Applications

Abstract: This paper presents a DSP based direct digital control design and implementation for a high power boost converter. A single loop and dual loop voltage control are digitally implemented and compared. The real time workshop (RTW) is used for automatic real-time code generation. Experimental results of a 20 kW boost converter based on the TMS320F2808 DSP during reference voltage changes, input voltage changes, and load disturbances are presented. The results show that the dual loop control achieves better steady state and transient performance than the single loop control. In addition, the experimental results validate the effectiveness of using the RTW for automatic code generation to speed up the system implementation.

An Experimental Analysis of the Ripple Current Applied Variable Frequency Characteristic in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract: Differences in the frequency characteristic applied to a ripple current may shorten fuel cell life span and worsen the fuel efficiency. Therefore, this paper presents an experimental analysis of the ripple current applied variable frequency characteristic in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). This paper provides the first attempt to examine the impact of ripple current through immediate measurements on a single cell test. After cycling for hours at three frequencies, each polarization and impedance curve is obtained and compared with those of a fuel cell. Through experimental results, it can be absolutely concluded that low frequency ripple current leads to long-term degradation of a fuel cell. Three different PEMFC failures such as membrane dehydration, flooding and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning that lead to an increase in the impedance magnitude at low frequencies are simply introduced.

A Current-Fed Parallel Resonant Push-Pull Inverter with a New Cascaded Coil Flux Control for Induction Heating Applications

Abstract: This paper presents a cascaded coil flux control based on a Current Source Parallel Resonant Push-Pull Inverter (CSPRPI) for Induction Heating (IH) applications. The most important problems associated with current source parallel resonant inverters are start-up problems and the variable response of IH systems under load variations. This paper proposes a simple cascaded control method to increase an IH system’s robustness to load variations. The proposed IH has been analyzed in both the steady state and the transient state. Based on this method, the resonant frequency is tracked using Phase Locked Loop (PLL) circuits using a Multiplier Phase Detector (MPD) to achieve ZVS under the transient condition. A laboratory prototype was built with an operating frequency of 57-59 ㎑ and a rated power of 300 W. Simulation and experimental results verify the validity of the proposed power control method and the PLL dynamics.

A Five-Phase Induction Motor Speed Control System Excluding Effects of 3rd Current Harmonics Component

Abstract: In this paper an effective five-phase induction motor (IM) and its drive methods are proposed. Due to the additional degrees of freedom, the five-phase IM drive presents unique characteristics for enhancing the torque producing capability of the motor. Also the five-phase motor drives possess many other advantages when compared to traditional three-phase motor drives. Some of these advantages include, reducing the amplitude and increasing the frequency of the torque pulsation, reducing the amplitude of the current without increasing the voltage per phase and increasing the reliability. In order to maximize the torque per ampere, the proposed motor has concentrated winding, the produced back electromotive force (EMF) is almost trapezoidal, and the motor is supplied with the combined sinusoidal plus the third harmonic of the currents. For demonstrating the superior performance of the proposed five-phase IM, the motors are also analyzed on the synchronously rotating reference frame. To supply trapezoidal current waveform and to exclude the effect of the 3 rd harmonic current, a new control stratagem is proposed. The proposed control method is based on direct torque control (DTC) and rotor flux oriented control (RFOC) of the five-phase IM drives. It is able to reduce the acoustical noise, the torque, the flux, the current, and the speed pulsations during the steady state. The DTC transient merits are preserved, while a better quality steady-state performance is produced in the five phase motor drive for a wide speed range. Experimental results clearly demonstrated a more dynamic steady state performance with the proposed control system.