DC-DC Converter Ripple Control via DC-Link Voltage Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing DC-DC converters in electric energy storage systems face challenges in minimizing current ripple without increasing losses, size, or cost, which affects power efficiency and the lifespan of energy storage devices.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dynamically adjusting the DC-link voltage to optimize the ratio of energy storage voltage to DC-link voltage, thereby controlling the current ripple to a desired level, including zero or near-zero ripple, using techniques such as interleaved multi-phase converters and selective phase switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If stronger passive filtering is used to reduce current ripple, then current ripple is reduced, but the filter becomes bulky and expensive and introduces extra losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent rippleVSAvoidpower loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the operating parameters of the DC-DC converter, specifically the duty cycle and switching frequency, to minimize current ripple without requiring additional filtering components. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the converter achieves optimal ripple reduction while maintaining high efficiency and avoiding the energy losses associated with traditional passive filters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If inductance in output filter is increased to reduce current ripple, then current ripple is reduced, but the filter becomes bulky and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent rippleVSAvoidfilter size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses parameter optimization of the existing inductor and capacitor values, combined with dynamic duty cycle adjustment, to achieve ripple reduction without increasing the physical size of the filter components. The method finds optimal operating points where minimal filtering components are sufficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If switching frequency is increased to reduce inductance requirement, then current ripple is reduced, but switching losses and core losses increase drastically

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent rippleVSAvoidswitching loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the switching frequency parameter to find the optimal balance between ripple reduction and loss minimization. Rather than simply increasing frequency, the method identifies specific frequency ranges and duty cycle values that achieve effective ripple suppression while keeping switching and core losses within acceptable limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If more phases are added to interleaved converter to reduce current ripple, then current ripple is reduced to 1/N, but complexity and switching losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent rippleVSAvoidconverter complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the power conversion function into multiple phases with optimized phase shifting, where each phase operates independently but contributes to overall ripple reduction. This segmentation allows achieving ripple cancellation with fewer phases by optimizing the interaction between phases through controlled duty cycle variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4550642A1Control method for controlling current ripple of DC-DC converter and an electric system
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4550642A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP4550642A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4550642A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electric system comprises a DC-link (2), an energy storage (12), and a DC-DC converter (10) coupled between the DC-link and the energy storage. The DC-link has an adjustable DC-link voltage UDC and the energy storage has a DC energy storage voltage UES. A current ripple control (110) is provided to dynamically adjust the DC-link voltage UDC so that a voltage ratio UES/UDC is controlled to an optimal value or value range that causes a desired current ripple level at the energy storage.