Chaper 5

Power Conditioning
Presentation #4

Dr. Weidong Xiao

School of Electrical and Information Engineering

University of Sydney, Australia

2017
c

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Outline

1 Battery side converter for DC/DC stage

2 Introduction to dual active bridge (DAB)

Typical waveform in steady state
System operation and simulation model
Simulation model by Simulink
Steady state analysis for battery discharge operation
Case study and design
Charge operation
Steady state analysis for battery charge operation

3 Zero voltage switching of DAB

4 Summary of battery side converter and dual active bridge

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Battery side converter for DC/DC stage

Battery is critical in standalone PV systems.

In the concept of DC microgrid, bidirectional power flow is required that can
exchanges power between the DC bus and energy storage system.
The battery bank contributes power to the DC bus when the load demand is
higher than the PV power generation.
Otherwise, the current flow in a different direction to charge the battery when
additional PV power is available.
One solution for the bidirectional conversion is to utilize two DC/DC converters
that each is dedicated for either charge operation or discharge operation.
Since the charge and discharge model for one battery storage unit do not
happen at the same time period, one bidirectional DC/DC converter can used,
which switches the operating mode to meet the above requirement.
One special DC/DC topology draws recent research attention, which is the
dual active bridge (DAB) DC/DC converter.
The topology fit the applications of battery power interfaces and solid state
transformers thanks to the capability of bi-directional power flow, high power
density, controllability of power flow, and inherent soft switching
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Dual active bridge

The transformer provides galvanic isolation and the winding turn ratio (1 : N)
shows the flexibility to achieve high conversion ratio of voltage between the
battery and the DC link.
The diagonal devices in both bridges are paired and controlled by the same
gate signal.
The on/off operation of Q11 , Q12 , Q21 , and Q22 are the same as that of Q14 ,
Q13 , Q24 , and Q23 , correspondingly. VT 2 .

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Typical waveform in steady state

The switching operation creates two square waves in HVAC format, VT 1 and
VT 2 .

Voltage (V)
The voltage difference Vbat
0
between VT 1 and VT 2 −Vbat VT1 VT2
appears across the inductor, T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
L. 2Vbat v =v −v
Vbat

vL (V))
L T1 T2
0
Limited by the inductance in −Vbat
−2Vbat
L, the energy can be T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
transferred in both direction

iL (A)
depending on the leading 0

and lagging phase between

T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
the square waveforms of Pbat (A)

VT 1 and VT 2 . 0
Power volume is controllable
T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
by the phase shift between Time
the two HFAC waveforms.
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System operation and simulation model

The discharge operation refers to the power is delivered to the DC bus from
the battery bank.
The power exchange level is determined by the degree of phase shift between
the two AC signals, which is the control variable for regulating the flow of
active power.
Both bridges are switched by the same switching frequency and a constant 50
% duty cycle.
The dynamics of the inductor current is shown as
Z
1
iL = (VT 1 − VT 2 )dt
L
Thus, the simulink model of dual active bridge can be built according to the
switching operation and the inductor current dynamics.
Besides the control signals for the eight power switches, the signals of input
and output voltage are the model inputs.
The model outputs the signals of vT 1 , vT 2 , iL .
The signals of the delivered power and the input current are also computed
for the output variables.
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Simulation model by Simulink

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Steady state analysis for charge operation

The initial value of the inductor current, iL (0), can be determined by

T2 Vbat + 2T1 Vdc /N − T2 Vdc /N

iL (T0 ) = −
2L
The power flow equation in steady state can be derived as
Vbat Vo ϕ(π − ϕ) Vo ϕ(π − ϕ)
Pbat = Ibat =
πωLN πωLN
The maximum power flow can be determined by the extermum theory.
When the phase shift to 90o in degree or π/2 in radian, the highest power
delivery can be achieved.
This is the highest power capacity that the DAB can be operated and based
on the specific rating of the switching frequency, the inductance, the input,
and output voltages.
For the predefined maximum power level, the inductance can be specified by
Vbat Vo
L≤
8fsw NPbat (max)

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Case study and design

A design example is given to design the power interface that link the battery
bank with the DC bus.
Due to the high voltage conversion ratio and bidirectional power flow, the DAB
topology is selected for the power interface.
For the maximum power delivery, the inductance can be calculated and rated
as 1.9 µH.
All parameters are summarized in Table.
Parameters Value
Nominal battery voltage: 48 V
Nominal DC bus voltage: 380 V
Transformer winding turns ratio: (N = 6)
Switching frequency: 200 kHz
Inductance L = 1.9 µH
Maximum power capacity: 1000 W
Nominal power rating: 750 W

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Simulated waveforms in full power of the DAB topology

Voltage (V)
50
0
VT1 VT2
−50
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

40
20
iL (A)

0
−20
−40
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
power (W)

2000
1000
0 pbat averaged
−1000
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

40
ibat (A)

20
0
−20
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time (µs)

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Simulated waveforms of the DAB topology when the phase shift is 45 degree

Voltage (V)
50
0
VT1 VT2
−50
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

20
iL (A)

0
−20
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
power (W)

1000
500
0 pbat averaged
−500
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

20
ibat (A)

10
0
−10
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time (µs)

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Steady state analysis for charge operation

The initial value of the inductor current, iL (0), can be determined by

πVbat − 2ϕVdc /N − πVdc /N

iL (T0 ) = −
2ωL
where the symbol of ϕ represents the lagging phase angle, which shows the
negative value for the equations.
The power flow equation in steady state can be derived as
Vbat Vo ϕ(π + ϕ) Vo ϕ(π + ϕ)
Pbat = Ibat =
πωLN πωLN
The power output is calculated as -750 W when the phase shift becomes -45◦
or −π/4, which indicates the phase of vT 1 is lagging from that of vT 2 .
The initial value of the inductor current and the power flow can be expressed
in the general formats by uniforming the discharge and charge.
Vbat Vo ϕ(π − |ϕ|)
πVbat + 2|ϕ|Vdc /N − πVdc /N Pbat =
iL (T0 ) = − πωLN
2ωL

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Simulated waveforms of battery charge when the phase shift is -45◦

Voltage (V)
50
0
VT1 VT2
−50
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

20
iL (A)

0
−20
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
power (W)

500
0
−500 pbat averaged
−1000
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

10
ibat (A)

0
−10
−20
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Time (µs)

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Flattop when the magnitudes of vT 1 and vT 2 is equal

Zero voltage switching (ZVS) can be always maintained if the amplitude of vT 1 and
that of vT 2 are equal in steady state
Vbat
Voltage (V)
0
VT1 VT2
−Vbat
T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
2Vbat
Vbat vL = vT1− vT2
vL (V))

0
−Vbat
−2Vbat
T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
i (A)

0
L

T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
(A)

0
bat
P

T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3 T0 T1 T2 T3
Time

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Zero voltage switching of DAB

ZVS works if the current direction allows the diode to conduct before the the
MOSFET switches.
The ZVS can be achieved for turning on either Q12 &Q13 or Q21 &Q24 when
iL > 0.
The turning-on switch of either Q11 &Q14 or Q22 &Q23 requires iL < 0 for ZVS.
The condition can be preserved if the magnitude of vT 1 and that of vT 2 are
equal in steady state since the inductor current is always in the correct
direction
Time Current Switching Status
T1 iL > 0; Q11 and Q14 are conducting; Q22 and Q23 are ZVS
iDC > 0 switched off; Q21 and Q24 are switched on.
T2 iL > 0; Q21 and Q24 are conducting; Q11 and Q14 are ZVS
iDC > 0 switched off; Q12 and Q13 are switched on
T3 iL < 0; Q12 and Q13 are conducting; Q21 and Q24 are ZVS
iDC < 0 switched off; Q22 and Q23 are switched on.
T0 iL < 0; Q22 and Q23 are conducting; Q12 and Q13 are ZVS
iDC < 0 switched off; Q11 and Q14 are switched on.
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Loss of ZVS

Even with perfect design, the flat-top condition is difficult to be maintained for
the battery power interface since the battery voltage varies in a large range
depending on the state of charge (SOC) and the temperature condition.
Based on the same case study, when the system is operated in discharge
mode, the battery voltage can drops to 44 V, which shows that the
magnitudes of vT 1 is 19.33 V lower than that of vT 2 .
When the phase shift angle is in low range, 10◦ , the discharge power can be
calculated as 210 W.
Time Current Switching Status
T1 iL > 0; Q11 and Q14 are conducting; Q22 and Q23 are ZVS
iDC > 0 switched off; Q21 and Q24 are switched on.
T2 iL < 0; Q21 and Q24 are conducting; Q11 and Q14 are ZVS
iDC < 0 switched off; Q12 and Q13 are switched on lost

T3 iL < 0; Q12 and Q13 are conducting; Q21 and Q24 are ZVS
iDC < 0 switched off; Q22 and Q23 are switched on.
T0 iL > 0; Q22 and Q23 are conducting; Q12 and Q13 are ZVS
iDC > 0 switched off; Q11 and Q14 are switched on. lost
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Simulation to show the loss of ZVS: ϕ = 10◦

Voltage (V)
Vbat
0
−Vbat V V
T1 T2
T0 T1 T2 T3
2Vbat v =v −v
L T1 T2
Vbat
vL (V))

0
−Vbat
−2Vbat
T0 T1 T2 T3
iL (A)

T0 T1 T2 T3
Pbat (A)

T0 T1 T2 T3
Time

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Condition to maintain ZVS

To maintain the ZVS of all switches, the inductor current, iL , should not be
positive at the moment of T0 , which can be expressed
iL (T0 ) ≤ 0
The minimal phase angle for the ZVS of all switches can be determined by
π(Vdc − NVbat )
|ϕ| ≥
2Vdc
The value becomes lower when the difference between Vbat and Vdc /N is
lower and reaches zero they are equal.
The case study shows the battery voltage of 44 V, the DC bus voltage of 380
V, and the transformer turn ratio, N = 6. The minimal phase angle can be
calculated as 27.47 ◦ for the ZVS at the switch-on moments.
The circulating power is also eliminated when the operation condition exactly
at the critical point, which is the shift angle of 27.47 ◦ or 0.48 rad in this case
study.
The critical operating condition is desirable since both the ZVS and zero
circulating current are achieved.
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To maintain both ZVS and zero circuiting of active power

Voltage (V)
VT1 VT2
Vbat
0
−Vbat

T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3

vL = vT1− vT2
2Vbat
vL (V))

0
−2Vbat

T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3

i (A)

0
L

T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3

(A)

0
bat
P

T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3 T0T1 T2T3

Time

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Summary of battery side converter and dual active bridge

This section focuses on the battery side converter.

One topology, dual active bridge (DAB), has been analyzed and demonstrated
to be the suitable converter for the battery side power interface.
The feature of bidirectional power operation and zero voltage switching is
attractive to be utilized to not only the battery side converter but also other
areas, such as solid-state transformer and electric vehicle etc.
The circuiting power is noticeable in the power waveform, pbat , since it
appears to be negative in certain moments.
In certain conditions, the zero voltage switching is lost.
The concerns of DAB lie in the loss of zero voltage switching and the
significance of circulating power, which affect the conversion efficiency.

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