International Conference on Computer, Communication and Electrical Technology ICCCET2011, 18th & 19th March, 2011

Comparison of Power Quality Improvement Techniques in AC-DC Cuk Converter

J. Gnanavadivel Assistant Professor
Department of EEE Mepco Schlenk Engg. College Sivakasi, Tamilnadu.

Vidhya Chellappa PG Student

Department of EEE, Mepco Schlenk Engg. College Sivakasi, Tamilnadu

N. Senthil Kumar Professor

Department of EEE Mepco Schlenk Engg. College Sivakasi, Tamilnadu

Abstract The Improved Power Quality AC-DC Converters

(IPQCs) provides enhanced power quality in terms of improved power factor and reduced Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at the utility interface. This paper addresses comparison of power factor correction techniques for high frequency isolation based single phase Buck-Boost AC-DC Cuk Converter, which consists of only one switch resulting in reduced THD and improved power factor. With an awareness of modern design trends towards improved performance, the proposed converter is designed for low power rating and low output voltage, typically 20 W with 13.5 V. To validate the design of the converter at the primary stage, simulation is performed at lower as well as at higher loads. KeywordsAC-DC Converters; power quality; THD; power factor correction; control techniques.

I. INTRODUCTION Traditionally Solid-state AC-DC converters are designed using diodes and thyristors to provide controlled and uncontrolled DC power. They have the problems of injected current harmonics, resultant voltage distortion, poor power factor at input AC mains, slowly varying rippled DC output at load end, low efficiency and require large size of AC and DC filters [1]. In view of stringent requirements of power quality at the input AC mains and their increased applications, a new breed of converters have been developed using Solid-state self-commutating devices such as MOSFET ,IGBT, GTO, etc. Such converters are classified as Boost, Buck, Buck-Boost AC-DC converters and are referred to as improved power quality converters.IPQC technology has matured at a reasonable level for AC-DC conversion with reduced harmonic currents, high power factor, low Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) at input AC mains and well regulated good quality DC output to feed loads ranging from fraction of kW to MW power ratings. This paper deals with the Cuk Converter which acts as an automatic current wave shaper. The Cuk Converter presents an attractive solution for AC-DC conversion with high frequency isolation. It offers all the benefits of Buck-Boost topology with high level of power quality [2]. The Cuk Converter is analyzed using two techniques; Multiplier approach and Voltage Follower approach.

In Multiplier approach, there are two control loops: one controls the output voltage and the other controls the input current [6]. To provide output voltage regulation, a multiplier circuit is used to control the amplitude of the sinusoidal current reference signal in accordance with the output voltage error. The Voltage Follower approach provides a simple control scheme requiring only one voltage control loop [7]. In this approach, the on time of the converter is controlled by the output voltage error signal. The conventional single switch Cuk Buck-Boost Converter is generally available for more than 100 W rating and power factor close to 0.99. This paper deals in detail with the design of converter for less than 25 W output power and simulated results confirms that this converter can achieve power factor up to 0.996 and THD 8%.Simulation is also performed under various loading conditions. CIRCUIT CONFIGURATION AND OPERATING PRINCIPLE The circuit configuration of the proposed AC-DC converter is shown in Fig.1. The capacitor C1 and C2 ensure that no DC voltage is applied to transformer primary or secondary windings. The high frequency isolation transformer draws a small magnetizing current and negligible energy stored in magnetizing inductance. Also, it provides voltage adjustment for better control and safety on load equipment. The input filter is required to reduce the ripple in the input current and power factor correction. For the PWM control of the converter, Voltage Follower Approach and Average Current Control Techniques are applied. II.

Figure 1. Single-phase, single switch Cuk Buck-Boost AC-DC Converter

978-1-4244-9394-4/11/$26.00 2011 IEEE

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International Conference on Computer, Communication and Electrical Technology ICCCET2011, 18th & 19th March, 2011

I. CONVERTER DESIGN CRITERIA The design of the converter can be obtained by considering it as DC-DC converter in very special conditions where the input DC voltage varies continuously during line cycles with the output voltage being constant. Design procedure is represented as follows, Step 1: Conversion Ratio Defining the DC voltage conversion ratio (M) as M=

From (5), we can determine L 1 if I ripple is known. Also I ripple can be given as, I ripple = r i (

2 Pin

Vin ( peak )

(6)

The inductance value L 2 is given by, L2 =

L1 Leq L1 Leq

(7)

V0 Vin ( peak )

(1)

Step 6: Energy transfer capacitor

where,

V0 , Output Voltage
Vin ( peak ) , Peak Input Voltage

C1=

1 ( L1 + L2 ) r
2

(8)

Step 7: Output Capacitor It is chosen according to specified ripple allowed in the output voltage. It can be achieved by following formula, (2)

Step 2: Conduction Parameter

1 2( M + n ) 2 N where, n = 2 , Turns Ratio N1

Ke= Step 3: Equivalent Inductance which combination of L1 and L2 L eq = is a

C0=

1 R L rv

(9)

where, rv, the pu ripple in the output voltage parallel The input specifications for the proposed converter are shown in Table I. Also based on the design equations from (1) to (9), the design values of the converter parameters are computed and given in Table II.
TABLE I. DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED CONVERTER Quantity Input Voltage Switching Frequency Output Voltage Output Power Nominal Value 220 V RMS 50 kHz 13.5 V 20 W

K e RTs (3) 2 2 V where, R = 0 , load resistance P0 1 Ts = , One cycle time of the converter fs
Step 4: Duty Ratio The Duty Ratio for the given power is obtained by, d= Step 5: L1 and L2 design The value of L1and L2 is calculated on the basis of % Ripple(r) of input current; and the maximum ripple value of input current is defined as, I ripple =

2 M Ke

(4)
TABLE II. DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE PROPOSED CONVERTER Components Transformer Turns Ratio Input Inductor L 1 Output Inductor L 2 Capacitor C 1 Rating 20:1 3.7mH 19.2H 20nF 5.7F 17.5mF

Vs dTs L1

(5)

Capacitor C 2 Output Capacitor C 0

III.

POWER FACTOR CORRECTION TECHNIQUES

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International Conference on Computer, Communication and Electrical Technology ICCCET2011, 18th & 19th March, 2011

A. Voltage Follower Approach In this approach, as shown in Fig.2, the internal current loop is completely eliminated, so that the switch is operated at constant on-time and frequency. This control technique allows unity power factor when used with converter topologies like fly back, Cuk and Sepic. Instead, with the boost PFC this technique causes some harmonic distortion in the line current. The advantages of this technique include constant switching frequency, no need of current sensing, simple PWM control. B. Average Current Control Technique This method allows a better input current waveform. Here the inductor current is sensed and filtered by a current error amplifier whose output drives a PWM modulator. In this way the inner current loop tends to minimize the error between the average input current and its reference. This reference is usually obtained by multiplying a scaled replica of the rectified line voltage Vg times the output of the voltage error amplifier, which sets the current reference amplitude as shown in Fig.3. In this way, the reference signal is naturally synchronized and always proportional to the line voltage which is the condition to obtain unity power factor . The advantages of this technique includes Constant switching frequency, No need of compensation ramp, Control is less sensitive to commutation noises, Better input current waveforms than for the peak current control. IV. CONVERTER SIMULATION AND RESULTS The importance of simulation is apparent for the preliminary design of the system. System behavior and performance can be predicted with the help of simulation. To verify and investigate the design and performance of the preliminary stage, a simulation study of the proposed converter is proposed for input AC voltage 220 V at 50 Hz and output DC voltage of 13.5 V and 20 W output power rating using 7.0.5 platform. In order to observe the circuit performance at lower as well as at higher loads, simulation studies are made in four categories, a) b) c) d) Steady state operation with 100% load Steady state operation with 75% load Steady state operation with 50% load Steady state operation with 25% load

Figure 2. Block Diagram of Voltage Follower Approach

Figure 3. Block Diagram of Average Current Control Technique

A. Voltage Follower Approach Fig.4 shows the PSIM model of Cuk Converter using Voltage Follower Approach. Fig.5 shows the simulated source voltage and current waveform of the Cuk Converter at 100% load. The simulated output voltage and current waveforms are shown in Fig.6. THD obtained using this technique is 10.65% and power factor is 0.994 and it is shown in Fig.7.

Figure 4. Single-Phase AC-DC Cuk Converter using

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International Conference on Computer, Communication and Electrical Technology ICCCET2011, 18th & 19th March, 2011 Voltage Follower approach Figure 7. THD and Power Factor Waveforms of Cuk Converter at 100% load

B. Average Current Control Technique Fig.8 shows the PSIM model of Cuk Converter using Average Current Control Technique. Fig.9 shows the simulated source voltage and current waveform of the Buck- Boost Cuk Converter at 100% load using Average Current Control Technique. The simulated output voltage waveform and current waveform are shown in Fig.10. A THD of 8.53% and the power factor of 0.996 are obtained using this technique is shown in Fig.11.

Figure 5. Source Voltage and Current Waveforms of the Proposed Converter

Figure 8. Single-Phase AC-DC Cuk Converter using Average Current Control Technique

Figure 6. Steady State Output Voltage and Current Waveforms of Cuk Converter at 100%

Figure 9. Source Voltage and Current Waveforms of the Proposed Converter

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International Conference on Computer, Communication and Electrical Technology ICCCET2011, 18th & 19th March, 2011 Factor Figure 10. Steady State Output Voltage and Current Waveforms of Cuk Converter at 100% TABLE V. POWER QUALITY OBSERVATION OF SINGLE SWITCH CUK CONVERTER USING AVERAGE CURRENT CONTROL TECHNIQUE 25% Load 5W Input Current THD 50% Load 10 W 75% Load 15 W 100% Load 20 W

Quantity

14.69%

12.33%

10.56%

8.53%

V.

CONCLUSION

Figure 11. THD and Power Factor Waveforms of Cuk Converter at 100% load

The simulated results can be summarized as shown in the Table III. The Power Quality observations for the Single Switch Cuk Converter under various loading conditions using Voltage Follower Approach are shown in the Table IV and Average Current Control Technique is shown in Table
TABLE III. SUMMARISED RESULTS OF THE PROPOSED CONVERTER Techniques Quantity
Voltage follower approach Average current control technique

The design and simulation of AC-DC Cuk converter with high frequency transformer isolation to feed the load has been carried out using Voltage Follower Approach and Average Current Control Technique. With this design converter, simulation has been done in standard PSIM software. Simulated results shows the improved performance of the proposed high frequency isolated ACDC Cuk Converter in terms of low THD of supply current and improved power factor of AC mains. It has been observed that the Cuk Converter using Average Current Control Technique provides an improved power quality when compared with the voltage follower approach and also the Cuk Converter acts as Power Factor Pre-regulators (PFP) with higher reliability. REFERENCES
[1] Bhim Singh,B.P.Singh and Sanjeet Dwivedi-AC-DC Cuk converter for power quality improvement of vector controlled PMSM DriveIETE Journal of Research,Vol.53,No.1, pp 51-68,Jan-Feb 2007. Power quality AC-DC converters-IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol.50, No.5, Oct-2003. Huai Wei and Issa Batarseh,I.-Comparison of basic converter topologies for power factor correction Southeastcon 98,proceedings,IEEE. Bo-Tao Lin and Yim-Shu Lee-Power-Factor Correction Using Cuk Converters in Discontinuous-Capacitor-Voltage Mode Operationconverters-IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol.44, No.5, Oct-1997. G. Spiazzi,P.Mattavelli- Design Criteria for Power Factor Preregulators based on SEPIC and CUK converters in Continuous Conduction mode-Industrial Society annual meeting,1994,conference record of 1994 IEEE. D.S.L.Simonetti,J.Sebastiin,F.S.dos Reis and J.Uceda-Design Criteria for Sepic and Cuk Converters as Power Factor Preregulators in Discontinuous Conduction Mode- IECON Conference Proceedings,pp-283-288, 1992. Robert W.Erickson, Dragon Maksimovic,Fundamentals of Power Electronics, Springer International Edition. Muhammad H Rashid, Power Electronics circuits, Devices and Apllications, Third Edition. [9] Ned Mohan, Tore M. Undeland, William P.Robbims,Power Electronics Converters, Applications and Design, Wiley Student Edition.

Output Voltage (V) Output Current (A) Power Factor THD (%)

13.5 1.5 0.994 10.65

13.47 1.49 0.996 8.53 [2] [3]

[4]

TABLE IV.

POWER QUALITY OBSERVATION OF SINGLE SWITCH CUK CONVERTER USING VOLTAGE FOLLOWER APPROACH 100% Load 20 W

[5]

25% Load Quantity 5W Input Current THD Power

50% Load 10 W

75% Load 15 W

[6]

[7] 15.3% 13.84% 11.72% 10.65% [8]

0.979

0.984

0.989

0.994

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