ISOP Power Converter Segmentation for Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power converters face a trade-off between voltage regulation capability and power conversion efficiency, with wider voltage regulation ranges generally resulting in lower efficiency and vice versa, and existing partial power processing converters struggle to achieve balanced efficiency across varying input and output voltage ranges while maintaining a reduced size and minimizing power loss.
Innovation Solution
The development of ISOP-type and IPOS-type power converter circuits, which employ a non-isolated, regulated DC-to-DC converter in combination with resonant tanks and transformers to optimize voltage regulation and efficiency, utilizing half-bridge inverters and rectifier circuits to process power through high and low efficiency paths based on input and output voltage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a power converter is designed with wider voltage regulation range, then voltage regulation capability is improved, but power conversion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter is divided into multiple parallel power processing paths: a regulated path with a DC-DC converter for precise voltage control, and an unregulated path with a direct connection for high-efficiency power transfer. This segmentation allows the system to handle different voltage conditions through appropriate paths, achieving both wide regulation range and high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial regulation only when necessary. The regulated path is activated only when voltage adjustment is needed, while the unregulated path handles the majority of power transfer for maximum efficiency. This partial action approach maintains efficiency while providing voltage regulation capability when required.
2Loss of energy
If a power converter is designed with narrower voltage regulation range, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but voltage regulation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter is divided into multiple parallel power processing paths: a regulated path with a DC-DC converter for precise voltage control, and an unregulated path with a direct connection for high-efficiency power transfer. This segmentation allows the system to handle different voltage conditions through appropriate paths, achieving both wide regulation range and high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between the regulated and unregulated paths based on real-time voltage conditions and load requirements. The controller adjusts the distribution of power between paths, enabling the converter to adapt to varying voltage ranges while maintaining optimal efficiency for each operating condition.
3Device complexity
If partial power processing converters are used to reduce size and minimize power loss, then device complexity is reduced, but achieving balanced efficiency across varying voltage ranges becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter is divided into multiple parallel power processing paths: a regulated path with a DC-DC converter for precise voltage control, and an unregulated path with a direct connection for high-efficiency power transfer. This segmentation allows the system to handle different voltage conditions through appropriate paths, achieving both wide regulation range and high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates voltage and current sensing with a controller that monitors operating conditions and dynamically adjusts the power distribution between regulated and unregulated paths. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal efficiency across varying voltage ranges while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These circuits achieve higher efficiency and lower power loss over a wide input and output voltage range, providing improved balance between voltage regulation and power conversion efficiency in a compact design, outperforming prior art partial power processing converters.
Implementation Method 1
a first resonant tank circuit coupled between the first half bridge inverter and the transformer and a second resonant tank circuit coupled between the second half bridge inverter and the transformer
Implementation Method 2
a transformer having at least one primary winding coupled to outputs of the plurality of resonant tanks
Data Source
AI summary
In an Input-Series-Output-Parallel (ISOP)-type power converter circuit, a DC-to-DC converter has a positive input coupled to a DC power source and a negative input connected to a negative output. A plurality of capacitors are coupled in series between a positive output of the converter and a circuit ground, the negative output of the converter coupled to a common node of first and second capacitors. A half-bridge inverter network is coupled between the positive output and a circuit ground, each inverter having an input respectively coupled to the first capacitor and the second capacitor. A plurality of resonant tanks are coupled to an output of a respective one of first and second half-bridge inverters. A transformer is coupled to outputs of the plurality of resonant tanks. A rectifier circuit is coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer to provide a DC output voltage.