Balancing Limits of Flying Capacitor Voltages in Coupled Inductor FCML Converters

Daniel H. Zhou, Janko Celikovic, Youssef Elasser, Dragan Maksimovic, Minjie Chen

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

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ensuring that the flying capacitor voltages are balanced is critical to the operation of flying capacitor multilevel (FCML) converters. This paper systematically explores robust voltage balancing of FCML converters using coupled inductors. Coupled inductors are shown to balance FCML converters with any number of levels or even number of phases, with some singularities. Balancing is improved with an even number of phases, levels, and higher coupling coefficients. The two-phase, three-level FCML converter yields the strongest and most reliable benefit from coupled inductor balancing. Coupled inductors with a modest coupling ratio can also improve balancing. A piece-wise linear model of the converter is developed to show that coupled inductor balancing is effective in intrinsically unbalanced con-verters. The theoretical predictions are verified using simulations and experimental results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2022 IEEE 23rd Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2022
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781665410816
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Event23rd IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2022 - Tel-Aviv, Israel
Duration: Jun 20 2022Jun 23 2022

Publication series

NameProceedings of the IEEE Workshop on Computers in Power Electronics, COMPEL
Volume2022-June
ISSN (Print)1093-5142

Conference

Conference23rd IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics, COMPEL 2022
Country/TerritoryIsrael
CityTel-Aviv
Period6/20/226/23/22

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • charge balancing
  • coupled in-ductors
  • flying capacitor multilevel converter
  • natural balancing
  • piece-wise linear model
  • transient response
  • voltage balancing

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