A surface response methodology approach to study the influence of specifications in the multiobjective optimal design of power converters

Nowadays, the use of mathematical optimization techniques to design power converters becomes more and more attractive. This paper tries to go a step further in studying the influence of some specifications in the multiobjective optimal design of isolated dc-dc converters. To do so, a response surface methodology (RSM) approach is used in combination with a multiobjective optimal design tool dedicated to such power converters and using genetic algorithms. So, the response surfaces are computed based on optimized power converters. At each time, two factors are studied whereas two response variables are of interest, viz. the power loss and the weight of the converter. The pairs of factors are, as for them, the input voltage and the output power, and, the current and voltage ripples (across the inductor and capacitor of the output filter). Finally, it should be pointed out that the full-bridge topology is considered in this paper but the proposed methodology is easily applicable to other topologies. Moreover, it can also be extended to study other factors and other response variables.