Constant Effective Duty Cycle Control for Flying Capacitor Balancing in flying Capacitor Multi-Level Converters

Andrew Stillwell, Enver Candan, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

One of the challenges of utilizing Flying Capacitor Multi-Level (FCML) converters is the flying capacitor balancing. Poorly balanced flying capacitors increase the switch voltage stress, which is detrimental to performance and device rating requirements. Previously, valley current detection was shown as a potential method to balance flying capacitors, but the method suffers from poor flying capacitor balancing performance at light load. Here, we investigate the light load conditions that lead to poor balancing and propose a new method, constant effective duty cycle (CEDC) compensation, which provides active balancing for the full load range of the converter. The proposed method is validated with an 4-level FCML experimental prototype, demonstrating excellent flying capacitor balancing over all load ranges and across multiple induced flying capacitor imbalances.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2018 IEEE 19th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Print)9781538655412
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 10 2018
Event19th IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018 - Padova, Italy
Duration: Jun 25 2018Jun 28 2018

Publication series

Name2018 IEEE 19th Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018

Other

Other19th IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2018
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityPadova
Period6/25/186/28/18

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Optimization

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