Bidirectional isolated non-resonant DAB DC-DC converter for ultra-wide input voltage range applications

This paper details efficiency optimized operation and design of a bi-directional and isolated five-level Dual Active Bridge (5LDAB) converter for an application that requires ultra-wide voltage and power ranges. The rated power of the considered converter is 7.5kW, the specified input voltage range is 150V ≤ V_dc1 ≤ 800V and the output voltage is constant, V_dc2 = 700V. In order to achieve high efficiency levels in a wide operating range, a modulation scheme is proposed to minimize the transformer rms current. Results of transformer rms currents and of efficiencies are presented for the 5LDAB and compared with the results obtained for an efficiency optimized conventional Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter. Compared with the DAB topology, the 5LDAB converter can achieve an overall reduction of transformer rms currents and of conduction losses in the higher voltage regime of the operating range.