The objective of the research is to develop a cost-effective high-power bi-directional dc/dc converter with low total-device ratings, reduced system parasitic effects, and a wide input/output range. Additional objectives of the research are to develop a small-signal model and control methods, and to present performance characterizations. Device stresses in the proposed topology are controlled to maintain minimal levels by varying the duty ratio and phase-shift angle between the primary and the secondary bridges, which results in a low total-device rating, when compared to conventional bi-directional dc/dc topologies. In the proposed topology, soft switching, which reduces power loss, can be realized under specific operating conditions. When the condition that causes minimal device stress is satisfied, zero-voltage switching (ZVS) can be obtained. In the research, ZVS capability is explored for a wide range of voltage conditions as well as for the minimal device-stress condition. The performance characterization includes verifying the soft-switching regions and power-loss estimation. Another part of the thesis is the controller design of the converter. Small-signal models and feedback controllers are developed, and the controllers are experimentally validated. Because in the isolated high-frequency converters, transformer saturation is an important issue, a method to prevent transformer saturation is proposed and experimentally validated.

In order to increase the power density, the discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) and small inductance is adopted for high power bidirectional dc-dc converter. The DCM related current ripple is minimized with multiphase interleaved operation. The turn-off loss caused by the DCM induced high peak current is reduced by snubber capacitor. The energy stored in the capacitor needs to be discharged before device is turned on. A complementary gating signal control scheme is employed to turn on the non-active switch helping discharge the capacitor and diverting the current into the anti-paralleled diode of the active switch. This realizes the zero voltage resonant transition (ZVRT) of main switches. This scheme also eliminates the parasitic ringing in inductor current. This work proposes an inductance and snubber capacitor optimization methodology. The inductor volume index and the inductor valley current are suggested as the optimization method for small volume and the realization of ZVRT. The proposed capacitance optimization method is based on a series of experiments for minimum overall switching loss. According to the suggested design optimization, a high power density hardware prototype is constructed and tested. The experimental results are provided, and the proposed design approach is verified. In this dissertation, a general-purposed power stage model is proposed based on complementary gating signal control scheme and derived with space-state averaging method. The model features a third-order system, from which a second-order model with resistive load on one side can be derived and a first-order model with a voltage source on both sides can be derived. This model sets up a basis for the unified controller design and optimization. The Δ-type model of coupled inductor is introduced and simplified to provide a more clearly physical meaning for design and dynamic analysis. These models have been validated by the Simplis ac analysis simulation. For power flow control, a unified controller concept is proposed based on the derived general-purposed power stage model. The proposed unified controller enables smooth bidirectional current flow. Controller is implemented with digital signal processing (DSP) for experimental verification. The inductor current is selected as feedback signal in resistive load, and the output current is selected as feedback signal in battery load. Load step and power flow step control tests are conducted for resistive load and battery load separately. The results indicate that the selected sensing signal can produce an accurate and fast enough feedback signal. Experimental results show that the transition between charging and discharging is very smooth, and there is no overshoot or undershoot transient. It presents a seamless transition for bidirectional current flow. The smooth transition should be attributed to the use of the complementary gating signal control scheme and the proposed unified controller. System simulations are made, and the results are provided. The test results have a good agreement with system simulation results, and the unified controller performs as expected. / Ph. D.

O presente trabalho visa o desenvolvimento de um sistema de carga e descarga de baterias de chumbo-ácido para sistemas de geração distribuída acoplada a um conjunto de painéis fotovoltaicos e conectada à rede elétrica. O conjunto de painéis opera de forma a maximizar a energia gerada através de um algoritmo MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) e a rede elétrica opera como rota para o excedente produzido pelos painéis. Para que a bateria possa ser carregada e descarregada com eficiência evitando sobrecargas e descarregamentos profundos, uma metodologia de estimação do estado de carga da bateria é implementada visando um controle mais eficiente (maximizando a vida útil da bateria) e um melhor aproveitamento da energia armazenada. Para o gerenciamento da carga e descarga do banco de baterias é utilizada uma topologia bidirecional (Boost-Buck) com controlador fuzzy P+I para estabilização de corrente ou tensão. Em relação à técnica de controle para o sistema PV, um controlador PI clássico é utilizado para regular a tensão terminal e ponto de máxima potência que é definido por um algoritmo de perturbação e observação (P&O). Para validar os controladores e os modelos teóricos desenvolvidos é construído um protótipo do sistema. São analisados, também, o comportamento do sistema de carga das baterias e painel fotovoltaico sob condições extremas como queda abrupta de irradiação solar, desconexão inesperada dos painéis e mudanças no ponto ótimo de funcionamento dos mesmos. / The present work aims to develop a system of charging and discharging lead-acid batteries for distributed generation connected to a set of photovoltaic panels, and used in grid connected applications. The set of panels operates to maximize the energy produced by means of an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm and the power grid absorbs the extra power produced by the panels. For charging and discharging the battery pack and to prevent overload and deep discharge, a methodology for estimating the state of charge is implemented in order to obtain an efficient control technique (maximizing battery life), and more efficient use of the stored energy. To manage the charging and discharging of the battery bank a bidirectional topology (Boost-Buck) with fuzzy P+I controller for stabilization of current or voltage is used. To regards the PV control technique, a classical PI controller is employed to regulate the PV terminal voltage, and the maximum power point is determined by a perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm. To validate the controllers and the theoretical models developed is built a prototype system, and analyzed the behavior of the batteries charger and photovoltaic panel under extreme environmental conditions such as abrupt decrease of solar irradiation, unexpected panels disconnection and changes of the maximum power point of the panels.

O presente trabalho visa o desenvolvimento de um sistema de carga e descarga de baterias de chumbo-ácido para sistemas de geração distribuída acoplada a um conjunto de painéis fotovoltaicos e conectada à rede elétrica. O conjunto de painéis opera de forma a maximizar a energia gerada através de um algoritmo MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) e a rede elétrica opera como rota para o excedente produzido pelos painéis. Para que a bateria possa ser carregada e descarregada com eficiência evitando sobrecargas e descarregamentos profundos, uma metodologia de estimação do estado de carga da bateria é implementada visando um controle mais eficiente (maximizando a vida útil da bateria) e um melhor aproveitamento da energia armazenada. Para o gerenciamento da carga e descarga do banco de baterias é utilizada uma topologia bidirecional (Boost-Buck) com controlador fuzzy P+I para estabilização de corrente ou tensão. Em relação à técnica de controle para o sistema PV, um controlador PI clássico é utilizado para regular a tensão terminal e ponto de máxima potência que é definido por um algoritmo de perturbação e observação (P&O). Para validar os controladores e os modelos teóricos desenvolvidos é construído um protótipo do sistema. São analisados, também, o comportamento do sistema de carga das baterias e painel fotovoltaico sob condições extremas como queda abrupta de irradiação solar, desconexão inesperada dos painéis e mudanças no ponto ótimo de funcionamento dos mesmos. / The present work aims to develop a system of charging and discharging lead-acid batteries for distributed generation connected to a set of photovoltaic panels, and used in grid connected applications. The set of panels operates to maximize the energy produced by means of an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm and the power grid absorbs the extra power produced by the panels. For charging and discharging the battery pack and to prevent overload and deep discharge, a methodology for estimating the state of charge is implemented in order to obtain an efficient control technique (maximizing battery life), and more efficient use of the stored energy. To manage the charging and discharging of the battery bank a bidirectional topology (Boost-Buck) with fuzzy P+I controller for stabilization of current or voltage is used. To regards the PV control technique, a classical PI controller is employed to regulate the PV terminal voltage, and the maximum power point is determined by a perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm. To validate the controllers and the theoretical models developed is built a prototype system, and analyzed the behavior of the batteries charger and photovoltaic panel under extreme environmental conditions such as abrupt decrease of solar irradiation, unexpected panels disconnection and changes of the maximum power point of the panels.