Totem-Pole Single-Phase PFC Zero-Crossing Leakage Current Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In totem-pole single-phase PFC converters, excessive surge currents and leakage currents cause noise and inefficiency, and existing techniques fail to sufficiently reduce leakage currents, which is a concern for preventing electric shock.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves controlling the low frequency-side node voltage into a linear shape by adjusting the duty of switching elements FETs Q1 and Q2, ensuring a constant rate of change in voltage during the Vn CTRL period, thereby reducing the peak value of leakage current.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a totem-pole single-phase PFC converter is used to improve power factor and reduce losses, then efficiency is improved, but excessive surge current flows through the inductor at zero crossing points causing noise and EMI

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidsurge current
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary detection of the input voltage polarity and proactively adjusts the duty ratio of switching elements before the zero crossing point is reached. This preliminary action prevents the surge current from occurring in the first place by preparing the circuit in advance for the upcoming polarity change.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The duty ratio of the switching elements is dynamically adjusted based on the input voltage waveform and polarity detection. The controller continuously modifies the duty ratio to maintain optimal performance while preventing surge current, making the system adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3799289B1Totem pole-type single phase PFC converter
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3799289B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3799289B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3799289B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A totem-pole single-phase PFC converter which controls low frequency-side node voltage to which an inductor is not connected into a linear shape within two poles of an AC power supply at a timing where a polarity of an input to the AC power supply is reversed.