Power Conversion System Zero Current Switching Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power conversion systems require high capacitance smoothing capacitors, leading to increased circuit size and difficulty in stably reversing polarity across the primary winding, resulting in switching losses and reduced withstand voltage of switching devices.

Innovation Solution

A power conversion system with a transformer circuit unit and converter units, where the control unit alternately applies positive and negative voltages across the primary winding, forming a current circulation path during polarity reversal to prevent power transfer and enable zero current switching, eliminating the need for high capacitance capacitors and reducing switching losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high capacitance smoothing capacitors are used in conventional power conversion systems, then power transfer stability is improved, but circuit size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transfer stabilityVSAvoidcircuit size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the smoothing capacitor component from the circuit by implementing zero current switching control. The control unit coordinates switching devices to ensure current naturally reaches zero before polarity reversal, removing the need for high capacitance capacitors while maintaining power transfer stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters of the switching devices by implementing zero current switching control. The control unit adjusts switching timing based on current detection, ensuring switches operate at zero current points. This parameter change eliminates the need for large smoothing capacitors while maintaining stable power transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If polarity reversal is performed in conventional power conversion systems, then bidirectional power transfer is enabled, but switching losses increase and withstand voltage decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebidirectional power transferVSAvoidswitching losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements preliminary action by detecting when current reaches zero before polarity reversal occurs. The control unit uses current detection to determine the optimal timing for switching device operation, ensuring that polarity reversal happens at the precise moment when current is zero, thereby eliminating switching losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements feedback control by continuously detecting current and using this information to control switching device timing. The control unit adjusts switching operations based on real-time current detection feedback, ensuring that polarity reversal occurs at zero current points, which eliminates switching losses while enabling bidirectional power transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If polarity reversal frequency is increased to improve power transfer efficiency, then productivity increases, but switching device reliability decreases due to voltage stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidswitching device withstand voltage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses current detection feedback to precisely control switching timing. By continuously monitoring current and triggering polarity reversal only when current reaches zero, the system can increase reversal frequency without compromising switching device reliability, as each switch operates under ideal zero-voltage conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the timing parameter of polarity reversal to occur at zero current points. This parameter optimization allows the system to operate at higher frequencies with improved efficiency while maintaining switching device reliability, as the zero-current switching condition eliminates voltage stress regardless of frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The system downsizes the circuit, stabilizes polarity reversal, and reduces switching losses and voltage stress on devices, allowing for efficient power transfer without high capacitance capacitors.

Implementation Method 1

a secondary winding magnetically coupled with the primary winding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3528373B1Power conversion system
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3528373B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3528373B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3528373B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object would be to propose a power conversion system capable of stably performing a reversal of polarity of a voltage applied across a primary winding with a circuit scale downsized. The control unit (13) controls the converter unit (7) not to cause transfer of power between the transformer circuit unit (5) and the converter unit (7) in the first time period including the reversal time period in which a reversal of polarity of the voltage across the primary winding (531) occurs. The control unit (13) controls the converter unit (7) to cause transfer of power in the first direction from the transformer circuit unit (5) to the converter unit (7) or the second direction opposite to the first direction in the second time period different from the first time period.