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Optimized Operation of Current-Fed Dual Active

Bridge DC-DC Converter for PV Applications
Yuxiang Shi, Student Member, IEEE, Rui Li, Member, IEEE, Yaosuo Xue, Senior
Member, IEEE, Hui Li, Senior Member, IEEE

 improve the performance of DAB converter [14]-[23].

Abstract—The current-fed dual active bridge (CF-DAB) dc-dc
converter gains growing applications in photovoltaic (PV) and
energy storage systems due to the advantages of wide input
voltage range, high step-up ratio, low input current ripple and
multiport interface capability. In addition, the direct input
current controllability and extra control freedom of CF-DAB
converter make it possible to buffer the double-line-frequency
energy in grid-interactive PV systems without using electrolytic
capacitors in the dc-link. Therefore, the PV system achieves high
reliability as well as high efficient maximum power point tracking.
This paper studies the optimized operation of CF-DAB converter
for PV application in order to improve the system efficiency. The
operating principle and soft-switching conditions over the wide
operating range are thoroughly analyzed with phase shift and
duty cycle control, and an optimized operating mode is proposed
to achieve minimum root-mean-square (rms) transformer current.
The proposed operating mode can extend the soft-switching
region and reduce the power loss, especially under heavy load and
high input voltage. And the efficiency can be further improved
with higher dc-link voltage. A 5 kW hardware prototype was built
in the lab, and experimental results are provided for verification.
The paper provides a design guideline for CF-DAB converter
applied to PV systems, as well as other applications with wide
input voltage variation.
Index Terms—Current-fed dual active bridge, optimized
operation, rms current, soft-switching, photovoltaic.
I. INTRODUCTION
For traditional DAB converter with the phase-shift
modulation (PSM) [1], the ZVS range is limited by voltage
conversion ratio and load conditions [14]. Reference [15]
introduced duty cycle modulation in one side of the DAB
converter to extend the ZVS range and reduce the transformer
root-mean-square (rms) current. The dual phase shift (DPS)
control methods were proposed to reduce the reactive current
using additional phase shift control inside H-bridges [16]-[18].
Optimal phase shift pairs with extend DPS control was further
proposed to minimize non-active power loss [19]. In [2] and
[20], advanced modulation methods such as trapezoidal
modulation (TZM) and triangular modulation (TRM) had been
presented, where transformer current are modulated in
triangular or trapezoidal waveforms to reduce the conduction
and switching loss. A hybrid modulation strategy combining
different existing modulation schemes in [21]-[22] and hybrid
modulations with variable switching frequency in [23] were
reported, which further improve efficiency over wide operating
range. With these modulation methods, the performance and
efficiency of DAB converter can be greatly improved.
However, all these methods are specific for voltage-fed DAB
(VF-DAB) converter and not applicable for current-fed DAB
(CF-DAB) converters due to more complicated operating
principle and ZVS conditions of the latter [24], [25].
The CF-DAB converter gains growing recognitions in
photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage applications [26]-[30].

T he dual active bridge (DAB) dc-dc converter have been
popular for various applications over the past two decades
due to its advantages of high-frequency galvanic isolation,
soft-switching characteristic and bidirectional power flow
[1]-[10]. Moreover, it can be easily extended to multi-terminal
topologies to integrate dc sources, energy storage devices or
loads [11]-[13]. However, to achieve high efficiency, wide
zero-voltage switching (ZVS) range and low circulating energy
are both desired for the converter, which are in conflict with
each other. Therefore, many efforts have been devoted to
Manuscript received October 29, 2014; revised February 10, 2015; accepted
April 2, 2015.
Copyright (c) 2015 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted.
However, permission to use this material for any other purposes must be
obtained from the IEEE by sending a request to pubs-permissions@ieee.org.
Y. Shi, R. Li and H. Li are with the Center for Advanced Power Systems,
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310 USA (e-mail:
shi@caps.fsu.edu; rli@caps.fsu.edu; hli@caps.fsu.edu).
Y. Xue author is with Siemens Corporate Research, Princeton, NJ 08540
USA (e-mail: yaosuo.xue@siemens.com).
Compared to VF-DAB converter, the CF-DAB converter has
unique advantages, e.g. wide input voltage range, high step-up
ratio, low input current ripple and multiport interface, which
make the topology suitable for PV applications [29]. With
direct input current controllability and extra control freedom,
the CF-DAB converter allows using small dc-link capacitor
instead of large electrolytic capacitor, without affecting input
PV side, in grid-interactive PV systems where
double-line-frequency energy oscillation exists [29], [30].
Therefore, the PV system can achieve high reliability as well as
high efficient maximum power point tracking.
There are few studies on optimizing operation of CF-DAB
converter with soft-switching conditions, while some methods
have been reported to optimize the operation of current-fed type
isolated dc-dc converters. Phase shift with duty cycle
modulation was proposed for current-voltage-fed bidirectional
dc-dc converter in [31]. Voltage balancing strategy by adjusting
duty cycle that minimizes transformer peak current is
implemented to reduce the circulating energy. Nonetheless, the

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Figg. 1. Current-fed D
DAB dc-dc conveerter for PV appliication.

cirrculating enerrgy is still reelatively largge. In [32], aan rms

cuurrent optimizzed operationn mode had been proposeed for
cuurrent-fed duaal-half-bridge (CF-DHB) dc-dc converrter in
ennergy storage applications. H However, the CF-DHB connverter
is not suitable for
f high poweer applications, and the CF F-DAB
coonverter is quiite different froom the CF-DH HB converter due to
exxtra operating modes and diffferent ZVS opperating rangee.
This paper proposes an optimized ooperating modde for
CF F-DAB convverter in PV application, which miniimizes
traansformer rm ms current annd extends tthe soft swiitching
opperating rangee. The analysiis and experim mental resultss show
that, this operatiing mode exteends the ZVS range and gives less
poower loss, espeecially under hheavy load andd high input vooltage.
Inn addition, thee efficiency aand performaance can be ffurther
im
mproved if higgher dc-link vooltage can be applied. The rrest of
the paper is orgganized as folllow. In sectioon II, the opeerating
prrinciple of CF--DAB converter with duty cyycle plus phase-shift
coontrol is presennted over the whole operatiing range, as w well as
the soft-switchinng conditions analysis. The proposed optiimized
opperating modee is described in details andd compared wiith the
m
minimum peak current mode, i.e. “d = 1” m mode, in sectiion III.
Thhe influence oof dc-link volttage on conveerter performaance is
alsso addressed. A 5 kW harddware prototyype was built in the
labboratory, annd experimenntal results are provided for
veerification in section VI. F Finally, concluusions are draawn in
seection V.
III. OPERATION
N PRINCIPLE ANALYSIS OF CURRENT-FED DUAL
ACTIVE BRIDGGE PV CONVER RTER
Fig. 1 showss a simplifiedd converter m module of CF F-DAB
dcc-dc converterr based grid-coonnected casccaded multilevvel PV
syystem in [30]. The frontt-end CF-DA AB dc-dc connverter
prrovides galvannic isolation and boosts thhe PV voltagee to a
suuitable level, sso that both dc-dc
d convertter and invertter can
opperate efficieently. Since the potenttial of efficciency
im
mprovement iss limited for a traditional H--bridge invertter, the
total efficiency of the PV cconverter largely depends on o the
opptimized operaation of dc-dcc stage. The aanalysis of CF F-DAB
coonverter coveriing all the opeerating range hhas not been reeported
beefore. Althouugh operatingg principle of o the “3+1”” port
bidirectional isoolated dc-dc converter hadd been analyzzed in
[228], the topollogy is diffeerent. Two ooperation moddes of
CF F-DAB conveerter had beenn introduced inn [29]; nonethheless,
otther operationn modes and ssoft-switchingg condition annalysis
Fig. 2. Operating areaas of CF-DAB connverter
have not been inccluded. Thereffore, the operaating principlee and
softt-switching conndition are thooroughly analyyzed in this secction
in order
o to deriive the optim mized operatioon in sectionn III.
Connsidering widde input volltage operatinng range of PV
applications, 50%% - 100% variaation of PV vooltage is takenn into
accoount in the stuudy.
A.. Operation pprinciple of CF F-DAB dc-dc converter
T
The operating range of CF F-DAB conveerter with possitive
powwer flow is illuustrated in Figg. 2, where duuty cycle D vvaries
fromm [0, 1] and phhase shift anglle ϕ from [0, ππ]. There are seven
s
sub--areas which can be com mbined into 4 operating m modes
symmmetrically, annd each one haas two conditioons: D < 0.5 annd D
> 0..5. The key waaveforms of C CF-DAB dc-dcc converter in each
modde are depicteed in Fig. 3. For negativee power flow, the
operating principlle can be derivved symmetriccally. Althoughh the
trannsformer voltaage and currennt patterns aree similar to thhat of
VF--DAB converrter, the opeerating principple for CF-D DAB
converter is differrent due to addditional dc indductor current flow
throough the LVS bbridges, resultting in differennt ZVS condittions.
T
The key wavefforms of operaating mode I aare shown in F Fig. 3
(a), where 0 < ϕ < min{2D DTπ, π – 2DTππ}, and DT iss the
minnimum value oof D and 1 – D. vpri and vsec′ are transformer
primmary side and primary reeferred seconddary side volltage
resppectively. iLdc1 is dc inductoor current, andd iLs is transformer
primmary current. IIt can be obserrved that the trransformer cuurrent
is periodic and syymmetrical ovver a switchingg cycle; hencee, the
wavveforms in a hhalf switching cycle are usedd for analysis.. The
insttantaneous currrent iLs(ωt) oover a half sswitching cyccle is

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(a) (
(b)

(c) (
(d)
Figg. 3. Key waveforrms of CF-DAB converter: (a) modde I: 0 < ϕ < min{22D π, π - 2D π}, ((b) mode II: 0.25 ≤ D ≤ 0.5, 2D π ≤ ϕ ≤ π - 2DT π, (cc) mode III: max{22DTπ,
T T T T

π - 2DTπ} < ϕ < π, aand (d) mode IV: 0 < DT < 0.25, 2D
DTπ ≤ ϕ ≤ π - 2DTπ.
π DT = min{D, 1 – D}.

reppresented as inn
 Vd  Vd
  L t  1  d  D   , 0<t   iLs (2 D  )   L  d  1  d  D   , d  1
T T T

 s  s
 Vd I pk1   (3)


 
d  1  d  t  DT   ,  <t  2 DT  V
i ( )  d   1  d  DT   , d 1
 Ls  
 s L  Ls
iLss (t )  
 Vd  d   t   1  d  DT   , 2 DT  <t  2 DT    (1) The power floow equation iis calculated bby integratingg the
T
  Ls
 insttant power oveer a half switchhing cycle as ffollow.
 Vd 1  d DT  , 2 DT    <t  
 L  
 s Vd 2  
1  

P1  p ( t )iLs ( t ) d  t 
v pri d  2 DT  (4)
0  Ls  
2 
whhere ω is the angular switcching frequenccy, Ls is the leeakage
inductance, d iis the primaryy referred voltage ratio off HVS
dcc-link to LVS dc-link, nameely d = Vo/nVVd, Vo and Vd aare the wheere vpri(ωt) is the primary sside voltage of
o transformerr and
high voltage sidde (HVS) andd low voltage side (LVS) ddc-link ωt) is the prim
iLs(ω mary side trannsformer curreent. Similarlyy, the
vooltage respecttively, and n is the transsformer turns ratio. trannsformer rms and
a peak current, and power flow equationns for
Thherefore, the transformer primary rmss current andd peak otheer operating m
modes can be deerived, which are summarized in
cuurrent can be derived
d in (2) and
a (3), respecctively. Tabble I.
1  As the converrter mainly ooperates in mode
A m I and II,, the

I rms1  iLs (t ) 2 dt
0 minnimized transfformer peak cuurrent in (3) ffor a fixed dc-link
(2) volttage is achieveed when the vvoltage on the LVS and HVS S are
V  4  2 d  6 D    
T 2

 d 1  DT  1  d  DT    mattched, i.e. d = 1. However, d = 1 will nott minimize thee rms

 Ls  3  3

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TABLE I
AND TRANSFORME
POWER A ER CURRENT OF CCF-DAB DC-DC CONVERTER
M
Mode Thrroughout Power Transformer rm
ms current Transfoormer peak currennt

  d  6D    
2
Vd  V  4 
T 2
I d  2 DT   d
2
1  DT 1  d  DT     Vd
 Ls  2   Ls  3   3  L  d  1  d  D T   , d  1
 s


II
Vd 2   
d  1
 Ls   
  T 2
  1  2 D   Vd  4 T  2
1  D  1  d  DT   

d  6 DT      2    1  2 DT   
3
  Vd
  Ls
  1  d  D T   , d  1
 2   Ls  3  3

III
Vd 2 
d     

 1  2 DT   Vd  4 T  2
1  D  1  d  DT   

d  3  2 DT   2 DT      1  2 DT   
2 3

 Ls  2   Ls  3 3
 Vd
1  d  D T 
 Ls
d  3  2 DT   2 DT  
2 2
2Vd
d   DT 
2
Vd  4 T  2
IV 1  D  1  d  D   
T
 Ls  Ls  3  3

(a) (bb)
when Vd = 1 and d = 1: (a) surface plot, and (b) conttour plot.
Figg. 4. Power flow w

cuurrent in (2). Since

S ZVS tecchnique is applied to the CF F-DAB
coonverter, the switching losss is greatly reduced, whiile the
coonduction losss become ddominating inn the devicee loss.
Thherefore, the rmms current is m
more critical thhan the peak ccurrent
foorm the perspeective of reduucing power looss. To achievve low
poower loss, the operating moode with minim mized rms currrent is
highly desired aand will be ddiscussed in seection III. Froom the
poower equationns derived in T Table I, the reelationship of power
floow with (D, ϕ) is depicted inn Fig. 4 with Vd = 1 pu and d = 1.
Thhe power flow w plots when Vd ≠ 1 pu annd d ≠ 1 havee same
shhapes but diffeerent values. B By analyzing the contour plotp in
Fiig. 4 (b), the maximal
m deliveerable power is at the centraal point
in area II of Fig.. 2 where (D, ϕ
ϕ) = (0.5, 0.5π
π), and can be w
written
ass

Fig. 5. ZVS boundariees of secondary sw

witches under diffferent d.
d  Vd 2  Vo 2
Pmax   (5)
4 Ls 4dn 2 Ls
iLs ( )  0, for Ss1 S s 3 , D < 0.5

B
B. Soft-switching conditionn analysis iLs (   2 DT  )  0, for Ss1 Ss 3 , D > 0.5
It can be seeen from Fig. 33, that the ZV
VS condition ffor the  (6)
seecondary side sswitches can bbe expressed in  iLs (  2 DT  )  0, for Ss 2 Ss 4 , D < 0.5
i
 Ls (  )  0, for S s 2 Ss 4 , D > 0.5

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(a) (b) (cc)

Figg. 6. ZVS boundaaries of Sp2 and Sp44 under different m:
m (a) d = 0.8, (b)) d = 1, and (c) d = 1.2.

(a) (b) (c)

Figg. 7. Transformerr primary peak currrent and rms currrent under differeent conditons wheen Vo = 1 pu: (a) Vin = 2/3 pu, (b) Vin = 1 pu, and (c) Vin = 4/3 pu.

 P2 Vin (1  D ) Vd  d   (1  d )(1  D ) 
By substitutiing instant ccurrent, the ZVS Z boundarry for     0,
 2Vin m Ls  Ls
seecondary switcches can be oobtained as shhown in Fig. 5. 5 The
 for S p1 , S p 3
ZV VS boundary of upper andd lower switchhes are symm metrical 

wiith D = 0.5, aand the ZVS area is extendded with a larrger d.  P2 Vin (1  D ) Vd  d      (1  d )(11  D )  (8)
W
When d > 1, Z ZVS can be always achieved for the secoondary  2V    0,
m Ls  Ls
swwitches.  in
As to primaryy side, the currrent flow throough switchess is not  for S p 2 , S p 4
onnly affected bby the transforrmer current, but also by the dc
inductor currennt. As shown in i Fig. 3, the dc inductor ccurrent wheere Vin is the innput voltage aand m = Ldc1/Ls.
waaveforms for D > 0.5 and D < 0.5 are diifferent, so dooes the S
Similarly, ZVS S condition forr Sp2 and Sp4 inn other areas caan be
sooft switching cconditions. Thhe ZVS condiition on the prrimary alsoo derived. As iit is difficult too get a closed fform solution,, Fig.
swwitches can bee written as 6 pllots the ZVS bboundaries foor Sp2 and Sp4 under differennt m,
wheere soft switchhing is achieveed for the outsside. It is clearr that
iLs (0)  iLLdc1(0)  0, for S p1 S p 3 , D < 0.5 the ZVS range will be extended with a smalller d. When d < 1,
 softt switching cann be always m maintained in thet left half reegion
iLs (  2 DT  )  iLdc1(  2 DT  )  0, for S p1 S p 3 , D > 0.5 wheere D < 0.5. H However, d < 1 will result inn hard switchinng in
 (7)
 iLdc1(2 DT  )  iLs (2 DT  )  0, 0 for S p 2 S p 4 , D < 0.5 the secondary sw witches. The ssoft switchingg region will also
i incrrease when m decreases, i.e. with a small dc induuctor.
 Ldc1( )  iLs ( )  0, for S p 2 S p 4 , D > 0.5 Nevvertheless, sm mall dc inductoor will result in large induuctor
currrent ripple. Forrtunately, the ttotal input currrent ripple willl not
For Sp1 and Sp3, ZVS can be easily sattisfied, and thhey are incrrease much duue to the canceellation effect of the interleeaved
alwways soft swittched if Sp2 annd Sp4 are soft switched. How
wever, inpuut structure.
ZVVS condition ffor the lower sswitches depennds on many ffactors
annd becomes m much difficult tot be maintainned. For the sppecific IIII. OPTIMIZED
D OPERATING MODE WITH MINIMIZED RM
MS
opperating modee II with D > 0.5, equationn (7) can be ffurther CUR
RRENT
exxpressed as A
As there are m
multiple operatting points (D
D, ϕ) deliveringg the
sam
me output powwer but with ddifferent power loss, optim mized
operating point ccan be selectted to achievee high efficieency.

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(a)

(b)
Figg. 8. Operating looci and ZVS conditions under diffeerent Vin with P = 0 ~ 1 pu : (a) Vo = 1 pu, and (b) Vo = 1.25 pu.

(a) (b) (c)

Figg. 9. RMS currentt comparison of ““d = 1” mode and minimum rms cuurrent mode whenn Vo = 1 pu: (a) Vinn = 2/3 pu, (b) Vin = 1 pu, and (c) Vin = 4/3 pu.

Siince hard swittching is one oof the main reeasons causingg high
poower loss in high-frequenccy converters, ZVS condittion is
esssential to reduuce power losss. Another impmportant aspectt is the
peeak and rm ms transformeer currents which relateed to
noon-conductingg and conductiing loss respecctively, and thhey are
coonsidered heree to represent the power losss of the transfformer
annd switches.
Fig. 7 depicts the peak aand rms curreents of transfformer
prrimary side at different
d operaating points foor a certain conndition
(VVin, Vo, P). It can be seen thaat the (D, ϕ) ffor minimum Ipk and
Irmms varies with operating conndition (Vin, Vo, P), and thhey are
inconsistent witth each other. In “d = 1” m mode, the miniimized
peeak current opeeration can bee easily obtaineed in most opeerating
coonditions. How wever, the rmms current is uusually more ccritical
foor loss reductioon and desiredd to be minimizzed, especiallyy when
ZV VS is employeed.
Fig. 8 showss operating locci of minimum m rms currentt mode
andd “d = 1” modee for varied ouutput power unnder different (Vin,
Vo).. The correspoonding ZVS opperating rangees for primaryy and
secoondary switchhes are also prresented in thee figure. Theree are
seveeral observatioons. Firstly, foor a fixed Vo, tthe ZVS operaating
rangge for Sp2 and Sp4 are decreaased with a higgher input voltage,
whiile it increase the ZVS area for secondaryy switches. W With a
highher Vo, the opptimized operrating points (D, ( ϕ) are puushed
tow
ward the originn, and this ennhances the ZVS Z conditionn for
prim
mary switches. Secondly, foor “d = 1” modde, ZVS conddition
for secondary sw witches are alw ways satisfied.. However, iff D ≠
0.5,, either upperr switches or lower switchhes will be att the
bouundary conditioon depending on (Vin, P). A And Sp2 and Sp44 will
losee ZVS conditioon at high inpput voltage under “d = 1” mode.m
Thirrdly, the minnimum rms cuurrent mode w will not bringg the
converter to enterr hard switchinng from ZVS; on the contraary, it
enhances ZVS ccondition and allows Sp2 aand Sp4 to be soft
swittched at high input voltage and high pow wer. Finally, wwhen

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Figg. 10. Minimized rms current versuus Vo under differrent (Vin, P). (
(a)

Figg. 11. Prototype oof 5 kW CF-DAB converter modulle.

((b)
TA
ABLE II
CIIRCUIT PARAMETTERS OF THE CONV
VERTER
Items Descripptions Specifications
PN Rated power 5 kW
Vin Input voltage 100-200 V
Vo HVS dc-link vvoltage 600-750 V
n Transformer tuurns ratio 2
Ls Leakage inducctor 28.5 μH
Ldc1, Ldc2 DC inductor 143.1μH
Cin Input capacitoor 10 μF
Cd LVS dc-link capacitor
c 30 μF
Co HVS dc-link ccapacitor 80 μF
fsw Switching freqquency 50.4 kHz

Vo ≥ Vin, the coonverter will ooperate underr D ≤ 0.5, andd ZVS

coondition of all switches for bboth mode are satisfied, exceept for
the boundary coondition of Ss2 and Ss4 with ““d = 1” mode.
Fig. 9 comppares the rm ms current off the two diffferent ((c)
opperating modees. For low poower flow, thhe two loci geenerate Fig. 12. Experimental waveforms at Vinn = 200 V, Vo = 6000 V, P = 4 kW: (aa) “d =
1” m
mode with Vd = 3077 V, (b) minimum m rms current modde with Vd = 343 V
V, and
simmilar rms currrent. Howeverr, rms currentt with “d = 1”” mode (c) bbest efficiency opeerating with Vd = 355 V (time basee: 5 μs/div).
increases fasterr when output power increaases, especiallyy with
high Vin, resultinng in lower effficiency at higgh output pow wer. A
As presented above,
a minim
mum rms curreent mode willl not
Fig. 10 illusstrates the m minimized rmss current locii with onlyy benefit the C
CF-DAB with lower conduccting loss, butt also
respect to Vo unnder different condition of (V ( in, P). It is cclearly enhance the ZVS S condition of the converter.. Neverthelesss, the
shhowed that the rms currentt is significanntly reduced with w a optiimized operaating points vary from m applicationn to
higher output vooltage. As a reesult, to reducee rms current, a high application, whichh makes it moore complicateed. “d = 1” moode is
HV VS dc-link vooltage should bbe selected. However,
H the ddc-link veryy simple comppared to minimmum rms curreent mode, andd soft
vooltage is subjected to applicaations. swittching conditiion is guarantteed with D = 0.5. To achhieve

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(a)

((a)

(b)
Figg. 13. Experimenttal waveforms unnder “d = 1” modee at Vin = 200 V, Vd = 376
V, Vo = 750 V: (a) P = 4 kW and (b) P = 1 kW (time bbase: 5 μs/div). (bb)

high efficiency over wide innput voltage range

r with “dd = 1”
m
mode, Vo could be coordinateed with Vin in a certain rangee to let
D = 0.5, if allow
wed.

IV. EXPERIM
MENTAL RESU
ULTS
A 5 kW protootype of current-fed DAB coonverter was bbuilt in
the laboratory aas shown in
Fig. 11. The converter is iintended to bee implementeed as a
dcc-dc converterr module in a 12 kV - 3 M MW grid-connnected
caascaded multillevel PV system proposed in [30]. Hencce, the
HV VS dc-link voltage is set relatively high att 600 V - 750 V V. The
cirrcuit parameteers are listed inn Table II. Thee leakage induuctance
waas designed baased on the asssumption thatt the base pow wer for
peer unit system
m defined in A Appendix equuals the convverter’s
raated power. Ass a result, the pphase shift anggle at rated poower is (cc)
arround 0.2π (ssee Fig. 4 ((b)), which eensures both small
Fig.114. Experimental curves when Vin = 200 V with diffferent Vo and operrating
cirrculating eneergy and hiigh control accuracy. Thhe dc modee: (a) peak currennt, (b) rms currentt, and (c) efficienccy
inductance was selected to be 5 times of the leakage inducctance,
coonsidering the ZVS operatinng range and thhe inductor’s ccurrent inpuut voltage (Vinn = 4/3 pu) are given to verrify the theoreetical
rippple. To reduuce switching loss, FCN766N60NF SupreeMOS anallysis.
annd CMF201200D SiC MOSF FET were usedd as the primaary and Fig. 12 shows experimental waveforms w
F when the convverter
seecondary switcches, respectivvely. Experimeent results witth high operated under diifferent modess when Vin = 2000 V (4/3 pu), Vo =
6000 V (1 pu) andd input powerr P = 4 kW (00.8 pu). As caan be

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seen, the “d = 1” mode in Fig. 12 (a) has the minimum peak
current, while its rms current is much larger than that of
minimum rms current mode (d = 0.875) in Fig. 12 (b). And the
lower switches in primary side, Sp2 and Sp4, suffers from hard
switching in “d = 1” mode, while soft-switching is realized in
minimum rms current mode. This is consistent with analysis in
section II that the minimum rms current mode can extend the
soft-switching range at high input voltage. It should be noted
that, differing from analysis in section III, zero voltage
switching is not fully achieved for Sp2 in Fig. 12 (b). This is
because the analysis is based on ideal model, without
considering parasitic capacitance and power loss in the circuit.
In a real case, to achieve ZVS, the energy in the circuit must be
sufficient to charge or discharge the output capacitance of the
switches (Coss) during the dead time. In Fig. 12 (c), ZVS of Sp2
is achieved when Vd is further increased to 355 V, i.e. d = 0.845.
Thanks to the ZVS turn on, the converter achieves highest
efficiency despite increased peak and rms current over
minimum rms current mode. Fig. 13 gives the operating
waveforms when the converter operated at different power
under “d = 1” mode at Vin = 200 V (4/3 pu), Vo = 750 V (1.25
pu). With the higher dc-link voltage Vo, both the peak and rms
current are much lower compared to the current with Vo = 600
V. As shown in Fig. 13 (a) where P = 4 kW, the converter
achieves ZVS for Sp2 under “d = 1” mode. These benefits
greatly reduce the power loss of the converter and boost the
system efficiency. However, when P = 1 kW in Fig. 13 (b), Sp2
lose the ZVS condition due to insufficient energy to charge or
discharge Coss of the switches during the dead time.
The measured peak and rms current curves under different
operating modes and HVS dc-link voltage when Vin = 200 V
(4/3 pu) are depicted in Fig. 14 (a) and (b), and the
corresponding efficiency curves are shown in Fig. 14 (c). The
minimum rms current mode presents lower rms current but
higher peak current than “d = 1” mode, resulting in higher
efficiency over wide input power range, especially at high
power. And the rms current curve of best efficiency operation is
very close to that in minimal rms current mode, while the peak
current is even larger, benefiting the converter with ZVS
operation. As seen from the two efficiency curves under “d = 1”
mode in Fig. 14, the higher dc-link voltage can achieve much
higher efficiency at high power because of reduced current and
extended ZVS condition; while it results in lower efficiency at
low power due to partial hard switching. Therefore, to achieve
high efficiency over full load range, variable dc-link voltage
corresponding to input voltage and power could be applied.
V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a CF-DAB converter for PV application is
proposed. A thorough study for CF-DAB converters over the
whole operating range employing duty cycle plus phase-shift
control is presented. To achieve high efficiency over the wide
input voltage range, an optimized operating mode generating
low power loss is developed with selected (D, ϕ). Operating
loci with minimum rms current of transformer for different
operating conditions are derived, as well as soft-switching
conditions. The analysis and experimental results verifies that
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9
this operating mode can extend the ZVS range and achieve
lower conducting loss compared to “d = 1” mode, especially for
high input voltage; and the efficiency can be further improved
by choosing higher variable dc-link voltage corresponding to
input voltage. Since CF-DAB converters can be extended to
multi-terminal applications, this research provides a foundation
to study the optimized operation for those topologies.
APPENDIX
The per unit system in this paper is defined as following
(Vin_base is the medium value of the input voltage and PN is the
converter’s power rating).
Vd_base = 2Vin_base Vo_base = 2nVin_base
Ibase = 2Vin_base/ωLs Pbase = Vin_baseIbase = PN
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A Professoor. He
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m Hui Li (S’97-M’00-SM’01) received the B.S S. and
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Yuxiang S Shi (S’13) receiveed the B.S. in Electrical

Engineeringg from Xi’an Jiaootong University, China,
in 2007 andd the M.S. in Eleectrical Engineerinng from
Zhejiang UUniversity, China, in 2010. He is currently
c
working tow wards the Ph.D. degree in Departtment of
Electrical aand Computer Enngineering at the Florida
State Univeersity, Tallahasseee, FL.
From 20010 to 2011, he w was an electrical eengineer
at Philips L
Lighting Electroniics, Shanghai, Chhina. His
research iinterests includde bidirectional dc-dc
connverters, grid-tiedd PV systems with WBG device and cascaded m multilevel
invverters.

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