The Kobe University-developed direct current voltage increase converter has actually much decreased electro-magnetic noise and a high energy efficiency of over 91 percent, which is unprecedented for a MHz drive with high voltage multiplier ratio. This ratio is likewise more than 1.5 times higher than existing designs. Credit: Mishima TomokazuA brand-new electrical power converter design developed by Kobe University offers substantially enhanced effectiveness at a minimized cost and lower upkeep. This direct existing voltage increase converter is set to make a considerable effect on the development of electric and electronic parts in different sectors, including power generation, movement, information, and healthcare technology.Devices that gather energy from sunshine or vibrations, or power medical devices or hydrogen-fueled cars have one crucial part in typical. This so-called “boost converter” converts low-voltage direct existing input into high-voltage direct present output. Because it is such a common and essential element, it is desirable that it utilizes as few parts as possible for reduced maintenance and cost and at the exact same time that it runs at the greatest possible effectiveness without creating electro-magnetic sound or heat. The primary working concept of increase converters is to rapidly change in between two states in a circuit, one that stores energy and another that launches it. The faster the changing is, the smaller the parts can be and for that reason the entire device can be scaled down. This also increases the electromagnetic sound and heat production, which deteriorate the efficiency of the power converter.The team of Kobe University power electronics scientist Mishima Tomokazu made considerable progress in developing a brand-new direct present power conversion circuit. They handled to combine high-frequency switching (about 10 times greater than before) with a strategy that decreases electromagnetic sound and power losses due to heat dissipation, called “soft switching,” while likewise decreasing the number of elements and, therefore, keeping cost and intricacy low.The Kobe University group provided a new circuit design which utilizes “resonant tank” circuits that can keep energy throughout the changing duration and therefore have much lower losses. In addition, they utilize a component-saving style with flat elements printed onto a circuit board, called a “planar transformer,” which is extremely compact and has both good effectiveness and thermal performance. Credit: Mishima Tomokazu”When the circuit modifications between 2 states, there is a short period when the switch is not completely closed, and at that point there is both a voltage and an existing across the switch. This means that during this time the switch imitates a resistor and therefore dissipates heat. The more often a switch state modifications, the more this dissipation happens. Soft changing is a strategy that guarantees that the switch shifts happen at no voltage, therefore decreasing the heat loss,” explains Dr. Mishima. Generally, this has been attained by “snubbers,” elements that provide alternative energy sinks during the transition period, which subsequently results in energy losses.Publication and Prototype DevelopmentThe Kobe University team provided their new circuit design and its assessment in the journal IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. The secret to their accomplishment is using “resonant tank” circuits that can store energy throughout the switching period and for that reason have much lower losses. In addition, they utilize a component-saving design with flat components printed onto a circuit board, called a “planar transformer,” which is really compact and has both excellent efficiency and thermal performance.Mishima and his coworkers also built a prototype of the circuit and measured its performance. “We confirmed that our snubberless design has actually much lowered electro-magnetic sound and a high energy efficiency of up to 91.3 percent, which is unprecedented for a MHz drive with high voltage conversion ratio. This ratio is likewise more than 1.5 times higher than existing styles.” They desire to more increase the performance by lowering the power dissipation of the magnetic components used.Considering how ubiquitous electrical devices are in our society, the high-efficiency and low-noise operation of direct present power materials with a high voltage multiplier ratio is very essential. This Kobe University advancement will be of excellent relevance to applications in electrical power, renewable energy, transport, info and telecoms and medical care. Mishima explains their strategies moving forward, stating “The existing advancement is a 100W-class small-capacity prototype, but we aim to broaden the power capability to a larger kW-class capacity in the future by improving the electronic circuit board and other components.”Reference: “MHz-Driven Snubberless Soft-Switching Current-Fed Multiresonant DC-DC Converter” by Tomokazu Mishima, Shiqiang Liu, Ryotaro Taguchi and Ching-Ming Lai, 21 March 2024, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.DOI: 10.1109/ TPEL.2024.3380069 This research was conducted in partnership with scientists from the National Chung Hsing University.
This also increases the electro-magnetic sound and heat production, which degrade the performance of the power converter.The team of Kobe University power electronics scientist Mishima Tomokazu made substantial development in developing a new direct existing power conversion circuit. They handled to combine high-frequency changing (about 10 times higher than before) with a method that reduces electro-magnetic sound and power losses due to heat dissipation, called “soft switching,” while likewise decreasing the number of parts and, for that reason, keeping expense and complexity low.The Kobe University team presented a brand-new circuit design which uses “resonant tank” circuits that can save energy throughout the changing duration and for that reason have much lower losses. Generally, this has actually been accomplished by “snubbers,” parts that use alternative energy sinks during the transition period, which subsequently leads to energy losses.Publication and Prototype DevelopmentThe Kobe University group presented their new circuit design and its examination in the journal IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics. They desire to more increase the performance by decreasing the power dissipation of the magnetic parts used.Considering how common electrical gadgets are in our society, the high-efficiency and low-noise operation of direct present power products with a high voltage multiplier ratio is incredibly important.
