On small-signal analysis and control of the single- and the dual-active bridge topologies

Abstract: High-frequency dc-dc converters are nowadays widely used in a diversity of power electronic applications. High operating frequencies entail a reduction in size of the passive components, such as inductors, capacitors and power transformers. By operating the converter at higher frequencies with conventional hard-switching topologies, the transistor switching losses increase at both turn-on and turn-off. High-voltage converters in the power range of 1-10MW will therefore have excessive switching losses if the switching frequency is higher than 4 kHz. In order to achieve a high-frequency operation with moderate switching losses a number of soft-switched topologies have been studied in [Dem1]. The favourable DC-DC converter was found to be the Dual-Active Bridge when a bi-directional power flow is demanded. Additionally, the Single-Active Bridge (SAB) topology was introduced for the first time.In this thesis the two topologies are thoroughly studied. The dynamic small-signal models are presented and the dynamic behaviour of the converters is discussed in deep. Different control strategies are presented concerning the two converters and the advantages and the disadvantages of the different control strategies are stated.Critical issues as efficiency and stability are presented separately for the two converters.