Efficiency improvement of contactless energy transfer systems using series compensation device named MERS

Electromagnetic coupled contactless energy transfer system has a challenge that the output power and efficiency is closely affected by the relative position between primary and secondary coils. For the challenge, this paper proposes an active series compensation device named MERS applied for that type of contactless energy transfer system. This paper proposes that 2-switch configuration of MERS is attractive for this application from points of operating range required and loss characteristics of the configuration. Small scale experiments with 1-kW demonstration device were conducted and confirm that the active compensation can achieve the optimal operation point for varying relative position of coils.