A High-Efficiency Interleaved Ultra-High Step-Down DC–DC Converter With Very Low Output Current Ripple

This paper presents comparison between phase-shift full-bridge converters with noncoupled and coupled current-doubler rectifier. In high current capability and high step-down voltage conversion, a phase-shift full-bridge converter with a conventional current-doubler rectifier has the common limitations of extremely low duty ratio and high component stresses. To overcome these limitations, a phase-shift full-bridge converter with a noncoupled current-doubler rectifier (NCDR) or a coupled current-doubler rectifier (CCDR) is, respectively, proposed and implemented. In this study, performance analysis and efficiency obtained from a 500 W phase-shift full-bridge converter with two improved current-doubler rectifiers are presented and compared. From their prototypes, experimental results have verified that the phase-shift full-bridge converter with NCDR has optimal duty ratio, lower component stresses, and output current ripple. In component count and efficiency comparison, CCDR has fewer components and higher efficiency at full load condition. For small size and high efficiency requirements, CCDR is relatively suitable for high step-down voltage and high efficiency applications.

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Literature Survey of Interleaved DC-DC Step-Down Converters for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer Applications

Transactions on Environment and Electrical Engineering ◽

10.22149/teee.v3i1.129 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 33 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Vittorio Guida ◽

Damien Guilbert ◽

Bruno Douine

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Production ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Proton Exchange Membrane ◽

Water Electrolysis ◽

Proton Exchange ◽

Voltage Gain ◽

Output Current ◽

Step Down ◽

Exchange Membrane ◽

Current Ripple

Recently, the use of electrolyzers for hydrogen production through water electrolysis is of great interest in the industrial field to replace current hydrogen production pathways based on fossil fuels (e.g. oil, coal). The electrolyzers must be supplied with a very low DC voltage in order to produce hydrogen from the deionized water. For this reason, DC-DC step-down converters are generally used. However, these topologies present several drawbacks from output current ripple and voltage gain point of view. In order to meet these expectations, interleaved DC-DC step-down converters are considered as promising and interesting candidates to supply proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. Indeed, these converters offer some advantages including output current ripple reduction and reliability in case of power switch failures. In addition, over the last decade, many improvements have been brought to these topologies with the aim to enhance their conversion gain. Hence, the main goal of this paper is to carry out a thorough state-of-the-art of different interleaved step-down DC-DC topologies featuring a high voltage gain, needed for PEM electrolyzer applications.

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