Search Results (9)

Using lightning energy to extinguish the arc is a new lightning protection method. On this basis, the semi-closed multi-compression tube structures (SMTS) combined with the arc extinguishing structure studied in this paper can suppress the power frequency arc at the initial stage of arc establishment by using the coupling effect of current and gas. Firstly, through the simulation comparison method, the promotion effect of the semi-closed tube on the arc discharge was found. Furthermore, the two-dimensional impulse power frequency current coupling discharge model was established to obtain changes in physical quantities, such as temperature and conductivity. The conductivity decreased to the initial value in about 1 ms. Finally, the impulse power frequency combined arc extinguishing test was carried out. The test results show that the arc extinguishing structure can effectively extinguish power frequency freewheeling within 1 ms. It proves the effectiveness of the arc extinguishing structure. Full article

Due to having a number of advantages, Marx generators are still the most widely used devices for generating high-voltage pulses in many fields of science and technology. To ensure their proper operation, especially when the generation of many frequent, highly repetitive pulses is required, a highly efficient high-voltage power supply is needed. The paper describes a specially developed power supply (input voltage 48 V DC, output voltage up to 50 kV) based on the conventional Full Bridge topology with two high-frequency high-voltage transformers and a 6-stage voltage multiplier. In order to avoid many problems caused by low coupling between primary and secondary windings of the transformers and the large parasitic capacitances of the secondary windings, a special quasi-resonant zero-current switching transistor control algorithm with variable switching frequency (dependent on output load) was developed. In the described method, the energy is supplied to the transformer in short pulses, when a pair of diagonal transistors of the full-bridge converter were turned on. Then, the freewheeling state is maintained until all of the energy stored in the leakage inductance of the transformer has been transferred to the secondary side, which means that the current in the primary windings drops to zero. This approach reduces energy losses, electromagnetic disturbances and prevents current distortion in primary winding. Full article

This paper studies the speed control strategy of a switched reluctance motor based on angle-position control (APC). The switched reluctance motor has three control parameters: turn-on angle, turn-off angle and voltage PWM duty cycle. This paper studies the function of the three parameters and designs the control algorithms of the parameters, respectively, which can reduce the coupling degree, simplify the control process, and realize the optimal control of the switched reluctance motor. By studying the nonlinear characteristics of the switched reluctance motor, the optimal current waveform in the effective working range of the inductor is obtained, and then a control strategy of the turn-on angle is designed to realize the ideal winding current waveform. According to the torque characteristics of the motor, taking the coincidence of the freewheeling zero point and the position angle at the end of the maximum inductance interval as the control target, a control strategy for the turn-off angle that makes full use of the effective inductance working interval is proposed, which improves the efficiency of the system. For the nonlinear and time-variant switched reluctance motor running process, a data-driven model-free adaptive control algorithm is introduced, and a switched reluctance motor speed control algorithm based on voltage PWM duty cycle is designed. The main contribution of this paper is to propose a control strategy that is generally applicable to switched reluctance motors, which does not depend on the precise mathematical model of the motor. The control algorithms are designed separately for the three control parameters according to the characteristics of the motor, which reduces the degree of coupling among them. A switched reluctance motor drive system based on angle-position control is designed. This strategy is especially suitable for driving the load with sudden large torque pulsation. Full article

A novel interleaved DC-DC buck converter is proposed to drive high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The circuit configuration mainly consists of two buck converters, which are connected in parallel and use interleaved operation. Through interleaved operation, the power capability of the converter is doubled. Traditionally, two individual inductors are used in the two buck converters. The difference between conventional parallel-operated buck converters using two energy storage inductors and the proposed circuit is that the proposed circuit uses two small inductors and a coupled inductor that replace the two inductors of the buck converters. In this way, both buck converters can be designed to operate in discontinuous-current mode (DCM), even if the magnetizing inductance of the coupled inductor is large. Therefore, the freewheeling diodes can achieve zero-current switching off (ZCS). Applying the principle of conservation of magnetic flux, the magnetizing current is converted between the two windings of the coupled inductor. Because nearly constant magnetizing current continuously flows into the output, the output voltage ripple can be effectively reduced without the use of large-value electrolytic capacitors. In addition, each winding current can drop from positive to negative, and this reverse current can discharge the parasitic capacitor of the active switch to zero volts. In this way, the active switches can operate at zero-voltage switching on (ZVS), leading to low switching losses. A 180 W prototype LED driver was built and tested. Our experimental results show satisfactory performance. Full article

This article presents a numerical model of an aeronautical hybrid electric propulsion system (HEPS) based on an energy method. This model is designed for HEPS with a total power of 100 kW in a parallel configuration intended for ultralight aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The model involves the interaction between the internal combustion engine (ICE), the electric motor (EM), the lithium battery and the aircraft propeller. This paper also describes an experimental setup that can reproduce some flight phases, or entire missions, for the reference aircraft class. The experimental data, obtained by reproducing two different take-offs, were used for model validation. The model can also simulate anomalous operating conditions. Therefore, the tests chosen for the model validation are characterized by the EM flux weakening (“de-fluxing”). This model is particularly suitable for preliminary stages of design when it is necessary to characterize the hybrid system architecture. Moreover, this model helps with the choice of the main components (e.g., ICE, EM, and transmission gear ratio). The results of the investigation conducted for different battery voltages and EM transmission ratios are shown for the same mission. Despite the highly simplified model, the average margin of error between the experimental and simulated results was generally under 5%. Full article

A new hybrid high-frequency link pulse-width modulation (PWM) converter using voltage balance capacitor and current balance magnetic coupling is proposed to realize low freewheeling current loss and wide load range of soft switching operation. Series-connected H-bridge converter is adopted for high voltage applications. In addition, a voltage balance capacitor and a current balance magnetic coupling core are employed for achieving voltage and current balance. To extend zero-voltage switching (ZVS) range of switches at lagging-leg of phase-shift PWM converter, soft switching LLC converter is linked to the lagging-leg of phase-shift PWM converter. Therefore, the wide ZVS load operation is realized in the presented hybrid converter. The other high freewheeling current disadvantage in conventional phase-shift PWM converter is improved by a snubber circuit used on low-voltage side. Thus, the primary current during the freewheeling state is decreased and close to zero. In addition, the conduction losses on primary-side components of studied converter are reduced. The secondary-sides of phase-shift PWM converter and LLC resonant converter are series-connected to achieve power transfer between input and output sides. Experimental results using a laboratory prototype are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the studied circuit and control algorithm. Full article

This study presents a dc/dc converter featuring soft-switching characteristic, high conversion efficiency, and high step-up ratio. The proposed circuit is composed of two parallel-connected boost converters. Only one coupled inductor is used to replace inductors of the boost converters which are interleaved operated at discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM). The current ripples at the input and the output terminals are reduced due to the interleaved operation. By freewheeling the current of the coupled inductor to discharge the stored electric charges in the parasitic capacitors of the active switches, both active switches can fulfill zero-voltage switching on (ZVS). Owing to DCM operation, the freewheeling diodes can fulfill zero-current switching off (ZCS). Therefore, the power conversion efficiency is improved. The operation principle for each operation mode is analyzed in detail and design equations for the component parameters are provided in this report. Finally, a prototype 200 W 48–400 V converter was implemented and measured to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed circuit. Full article

The conventional three-phase split-output inverter (SOI) has been used for grid-connected applications because it does not require dead time and has no shoot-through problems. Recently, the conventional inverter uses the silicon carbide (SiC) schottky diodes for the freewheeling diodes because of its no reverse-recovery problem. Nevertheless, in a practical design, the SiC schottky diodes suffer from current overshoots and voltage oscillations. These overshoots and oscillations result in switching-power losses, decreasing the power efficiency of the inverter. To alleviate this drawback, we present a three-phase SOI using magnetically coupled inductor switching technique. The magnetically coupled inductor switching technique uses one auxiliary diode and coupled inductor for each switching leg in the three-phase SOI. By the operation of the coupled inductor, the main diode current is shifted to the auxiliary diode without the reverse-recovery process. The proposed inverter reduces switching-power losses by alleviating current overshoots and voltage oscillations of SiC schottky diodes. It achieves higher power efficiency than the conventional inverter. We discuss experimental results for a 1.0 kW prototype inverter to verify the performance of the proposed inverter. Full article

This paper examines the benefits of a drivetrain that is able to disengage its propulsion motor from the driveline in an electric vehicle. The drivetrain was developed for an ultra-efficient eco vehicle competing in the Shell 2013 Eco Marathon. Various clutch mechanisms were examined. In spite of the complexity and losses associated with additional bearings and release surfaces, an actuated dog clutch was chosen as it offers superior performance due to the dual capability of freewheeling and regenerative braking that results. Track data from the event is presented along with experimental work that indicates that the clutch mechanism reduces power consumption by more than 35% for a ferrous permanent magnet propulsion motor. Savings were reduced to 5% for a coreless permanent magnet motor coupled to the driveline via an 11:1 straight cut spur gear arrangement. This reduced saving was due to the removal of hysteresis and eddy current losses from the stator. The paper also demonstrates during a competition in which the driver was aware of the energy consumption, the driving style changed when the technological option to free wheel was available. Finally the study was inferred onto a real world application with further experimental and simulation work on the Delta E4 Coupe, a high performance electric sports car. The vehicle uses a ferrous permanent magnet direct drive arrangement, indicated a reduction in power consumption of 10 to 14%. It is hoped that these insights are relevant when considering the development of electric vehicle drivetrains where machine topology and drive cycle will determine the value of a clutch mechanism. Full article