Bi-directional DC/DC converter and control method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for bi-directionally controlling power flow between at least two separate direct current power sources in a multi-stage power converter system, the method comprising:
- providing at least first and second power converter stages coupled in parallel circuit to one another;
providing a first switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the first power converter stage;
providing a second switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the second power converter stage, with one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a master controller, and the other one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a slave controller;
determining an average voltage measurement at a respective node of each the power converter stages;
generating a compensating signal based on the difference of the average voltage measurements at the respective nodes of each of the power converter stages; and
applying the compensating signal to the slave switching controller so that the pair of power switching devices coupled to that slave switching controller is selectively actuated to have a respective on and off duty cycle, the duty cycle imparted by the slave controller being adjustable in response to the compensating signal relative to the duty cycle imparted by the master controller to the pair of power switching devices coupled thereto to avoid current imbalance between the power converter stages.
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Abstract
Method and system for bi-directionally controlling power flow between two separate direct current power sources in a multi-stage power converter system are provided. The method allows providing at least first and second power converter stages coupled in parallel circuit to one another. The method further allows providing a first switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the first power converter stage, and a second switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the second power converter stage. One of the first and second switching controllers is selected as a master controller, and the other one of the first and second switching controllers is selected as a slave controller. An average voltage measurement is determined at a respective node of each the power converter stages. A compensating signal is generated based on the difference of the average voltage measurements at the respective nodes of each of the power converter stages. The compensating signal is applied to the slave switching controller so that the pair of power switching devices coupled to that slave switching controller is selectively actuated to have a respective on and off duty cycle. The duty cycle imparted by the slave controller is adjustable in response to the compensating signal relative to the duty cycle imparted by the master controller to the pair of power switching devices coupled thereto in order to avoid current imbalance between the power converter stages.
28 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for bi-directionally controlling power flow between at least two separate direct current power sources in a multi-stage power converter system, the method comprising:
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providing at least first and second power converter stages coupled in parallel circuit to one another;
providing a first switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the first power converter stage;
providing a second switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the second power converter stage, with one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a master controller, and the other one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a slave controller;
determining an average voltage measurement at a respective node of each the power converter stages;
generating a compensating signal based on the difference of the average voltage measurements at the respective nodes of each of the power converter stages; and
applying the compensating signal to the slave switching controller so that the pair of power switching devices coupled to that slave switching controller is selectively actuated to have a respective on and off duty cycle, the duty cycle imparted by the slave controller being adjustable in response to the compensating signal relative to the duty cycle imparted by the master controller to the pair of power switching devices coupled thereto to avoid current imbalance between the power converter stages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-stage power converter system for bi-directionally controlling power flow between at least two separate direct current power sources, the power converter system comprising:
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at least first and second power converter stages coupled in parallel circuit to one another;
a first switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the first power converter stage;
a second switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the second power converter stage, with one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a master controller, and the other one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a slave controller;
a feedback controller configured to avoid current imbalance between the power converter stages by;
determining an average voltage measurement at a respective node of each the power converter stages;
generating a compensating signal based on the difference of the average voltage measurements at the respective nodes of each of the power converter stages; and
applying the compensating signal to the slave switching controller so that the pair of power switching devices coupled to that slave switching controller is selectively actuated to have a respective on and off duty cycle, the duty cycle imparted by the slave controller being adjustable in response to the compensating signal relative to the duty cycle imparted by the master controller to the pair of power switching devices coupled thereto, thus avoiding current imbalance between the power converter stages. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A multi-stage power converter system for bi-directionally controlling power flow between at least two separate direct current power sources, the power converter system comprising:
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at least first and second power converter stages coupled in parallel circuit to one another;
a first switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the first power converter stage;
a second switching controller coupled to selectively actuate a pair of switching devices in the second power converter stage, with one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a master controller, and the other one of the first and second switching controllers selected as a slave controller;
a feedback controller configured to avoid current imbalance between the power converter stages, the feedback controller comprising;
a circuit configured to determine an average voltage measurement at a respective node of each the power converter stages;
a compensator configured to generate a compensating signal based on the difference of the average voltage measurements at the respective nodes of each of the power converter stages, the compensator being coupled to the slave switching controller to supply the compensating signal thereto so that the pair of power switching devices coupled to that slave switching controller is selectively actuated to have a respective on and off duty cycle, the duty cycle imparted by the slave controller being adjustable in response to the compensating signal relative to the duty cycle imparted by the master controller to the pair of power switching devices coupled thereto, thus avoiding current imbalance between the power converter stages.
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Specification