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A Soft‐Switching Bidirectional AC/DC Converter with MERS Turn‐Off Snubber Circuit and Discontinuous Current Mode
Author(s) -
Isobe Takanori,
Kato Kyohei,
Kojima Naoto,
Shimada Ryuichi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
electrical engineering in japan
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.136
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1520-6416
pISSN - 0424-7760
DOI - 10.1002/eej.22679
Subject(s) - snubber , emi , inductor , converters , electronic engineering , electrical engineering , power (physics) , electromagnetic interference , engineering , topology (electrical circuits) , capacitor , voltage , physics , quantum mechanics
SUMMARY With an increase in renewable energy source installations in the domestic field, bidirectional ac/dc converters are attracting attention. Efficiency, power density improvement, and EMI reduction are necessary for converters in this field. Using high‐frequency switching can reduce the size of passive components and help to achieve a high‐power‐density converter; however, the switching losses and EMI can increase. In this study, we propose a new bidirectional ac/dc converter circuit topology that can reduce the switching losses and EMI with soft‐switching operation. The soft‐switching operation is based on discontinuous current mode (DCM) operation and a magnetic energy recovery switch (MERS)‐type turn‐off snubber. This paper focuses on a modulation technique applied to this converter. Experiments with a fabricated 1‐kW converter were conducted and the principles of operation were confirmed. Loss analysis indicates that inductor design is the key design issue for the proposed converter.