Volume IV, Issue X, October 2015 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 - 2540

A Literature Survey on Bidirectional DC to DC

Converter
Sasikumar S1, Krishnamoorthy K2
1
Research Scholar, Department of Electrical Engineering, Sona College of Technology
2
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Sona College of Technology

Abstract: This paper presents the study of bidirectional DC sunny time, while to deliver energy to the load when the
to DC converter and comparing with the various existing dc bus voltage is low
method techniques. The proposed converter is designed in Most of the existing bidirectional dc-dc converters fall
the manner of closed loop control. By using a controller, we into the generic circuit structure illustrated in Figure 1. 1,
can obtain a high output voltage and high gain by controlling
which is characterized by a current fed or voltage fed on
the duty cycle of switches. The DC/DC converter is
constructed by a buck-boost circuit, which is operated as a one side. Based on the placement of the auxiliary energy
buck circuit when charging and a boost circuit when storage, the bidirectional dc-dc converter can be
discharging. So we can use many power related systems, categorized into buck and boost type. The buck type is to
which improves efficiency, lower losses and higher have energy storage placed on the high voltage side, and
performance the boost type is to have it placed on the low voltage side.
To realize the double sided power flow in bidirectional
Keywords: Bi-directional dc-dc converter, DC motor, Battery, dc-dc converters, the switch cell should carry the current
Photovoltaic system, Controller. on both directions. It is usually implemented with a
unidirectional semiconductor power switch such as power
I. INTRODUCTION MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor-Field-Effect-
Transistor) or IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) in
B asic dc-dc converters such as buck and boost
converters (and their derivatives) do not have
bidirectional power flow capability. This limitation is due
parallel with a diode; because the double sided current
flow power switch is not available. For the buck and boost
dc-dc type converters, the bidirectional power flow is
to the presence of diodes in their structure which prevents realized by replacing the switch and diode with the double
reverse current flow. In general, a unidirectional dc-dc sided current switch cell shown in Figure 1.2
converter can be turned into a bidirectional converter by
replacing the diodes with a controllable switch in its
structure.
The bidirectional dc-dc converter along with energy
storage has become a promising option for many power
related systems, including hybrid vehicle, fuel cell
vehicle, renewable energy system and so forth. It not only
reduces the cost and improves efficiency, but also
improves the performance of the system.
In the electric vehicle applications, an auxiliary energy
storage battery absorbs the regenerated energy fed back
by the electric machine. In addition, bidirectional dc-dc
converter is also required to draw power from the
auxiliary battery to boost the high-voltage bus during
vehicle starting, accelerate and hill climbing. With its
Figure 1 Illustration of bidirectional power flow
ability to reverse the direction of the current flow, and
thereby power, the bidirectional dc-dc converters are
being increasingly used to achieve power transfer between
two dc power sources in either direction.
In renewable energy applications, the multiple-input
bidirectional dc-dc converter can be used to combine
different types of energy sources. This bidirectional dc-dc
converter features galvanic isolation between the load and
the fuel cell, bidirectional power flow, capability to match
different voltage levels, fast response to the transient load
demand, etc.
Recently, clean energy resources such as photovoltaic
arrays and wind turbines have been exploited for
developing renewable electric power generation systems.
The bidirectional dc-dc converter is often used to transfer \
Figure.2 Switch cell in bidirectional dc-dc converter
the solar energy to the capacitive energy source during the

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Volume IV, Issue X, October 2015 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 - 2540

Basically they are divided into two types, non-isolated

and isolated converters, meeting different application
requirements

A. Non-isolated Bidirectional DC-DC Converters

In the transformer-less non-isolated power

conversion systems, the boost type and buck type dc-dc
converter are chosen usually. The high frequency
transformer based system is an attractive one to obtain
isolation between the source and load sides. But from the Figure5. Operating waveforms
viewpoint of improving the efficiency, size, weight and
B. Isolated Bidirectional DC-DC Converters
cost, the transformer-less type is much more attractive.
Thus, in the high power or spacecraft power system
Galvanic isolation between multi-source systems
applications, where weight or size is the main concern, the
is a requirement mandated by many standards. Personnel
transformer-less type is more attractive in high power
safety, noise reduction and correct operation of protection
applications.
systems are the main reasons behind galvanic isolation.
Non-isolated BDCs (NBDC) are simpler than
Voltage matching is also needed in many
isolated BDCs (IBDC) and can achieve better efficiency
applications as it helps in designing and optimizing the
the transformer-less type is more attractive in high power
voltage rating of different stages in the system. Both
applications. For the present high power density
galvanic isolation and voltage matching are usually
bidirectional dc-dc converter, to increase its power
performed by a magnetic transformer in power electronic
density, multiphase current interleaving technology with
systems, which call for an ac link for proper energy
minimized inductance has been found in high power
transfer.
applications.
In the bidirectional dc-dc converters, isolation is
The operation of the NBDC of Fig. 1.1.1. is as
normally provided by a transformer. The added
follows. The inductor is the main energy transfer element
transformer implies additional cost and losses. However,
in this converter. In each switching cycle it is charged
since transformer can isolate the two voltage sources and
through source side active switch for the duration of
provide the impedance matching between them, it is an
Ton=DT, where T=1/fsw is the switching period and D is
alternative in those kinds of applications. As a current
the duty cycle. This energy is then discharged to load
source, inductance is normally needed in between. For the
during Toff=(1-D)T. In the four-switch buck boost
isolated bidirectional dc-dc converters, sub-topology can
converter (Fig. 1.1.2.) the principle of operation is the
be a full-bridge, a half-bridge, a push-pull circuit, or their
same. In the left to right power transfer mode, Q1 and Q4
variations. One kind of isolated bidirectional dc-dc
act as active switches, while in the right to left power
converter is based on the half-bridge in the primary side
transfer the opposite switches (Q2 and Q3) are controlled.
and on the current fed push-pull in the secondary of a high
Synchronous rectification technique can be employed in
frequency isolation transformer The converter operation is
this configuration in order to add more features and
described for both modes; in the presence of dc bus the
improve efficiency.
battery is being charged, and in the absence of the dc bus
the battery supplies power. This converter is well suited
for battery charging and discharging circuits in dc
uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Advantages of this
proposed converter topology include galvanic isolation
between the two dc sources using a single transformer,
low parts count with the use of same power components
for power flow in either direction.
The dual active bridge dc-dc converter with a
voltage-fed bridge on each side of the isolation
transformer operates utilization of the leakage inductance
Figure 3 Bidirectional buck-boosts of the transformer as the main energy storing and
transferring element to deliver bidirectional flow power.

C. IBDC structure

Most, if not all, of medium-power IBDCs have a

structure similar to Fig. 1.2.1 this structure consists of two
high-frequency switching dc-ac converters and a high-
frequency transformer which is primarily used to maintain
galvanic isolation between two sources. This transformer
Figure 4 two back-to-back connected NBDC

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Volume IV, Issue X, October 2015 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 - 2540
is also essential for voltage matching in case of large renewable power generations, and benefit from lower fuel
voltage ratio between two sources. The transformer calls (electricity) cost.
for ac quantities at its terminals and thus a dc-ac converter
is employed on each side. As energy transfer in either II. LITERATURE SURVEY
direction is required for the system, each dc-ac converter
must also have bidirectional energy transfer capability. Hua Bai et al., conducted a study on bidirectional
With the same token, the dc buses in this structure must DC-DC converter in a HEV. This DC-DC converter is a
also be able to either generate or absorb energy. high-power converter that links the high voltage battery
The dc buses shown in this structure are assumed (HV) at a lower voltage with the high voltage DC bus.
to have stiff-voltage characteristics, i.e. their Thevenin The typical voltage of a battery pack is designed at 300 to
impedance is negligible. In practice, these buses are 400V. The best operating voltage for a motor and inverter
connected to a dc source or an active load like battery, is around 600V. Therefore, this converter can be used to
ultra-capacitor or dc-link capacitor which resemble an match the voltages of the battery system and the motor
ideal voltage source with stiff voltage characteristics. If system. Other functions of this DC-DC converter include
the converter is of current-fed type, it is assumed that the optimizing the operation of the power train system,
required elements to realize stiff current are incorporated reducing ripple current in the battery, and maintaining DC
inside the converters shown in Fig 1.2.1 link voltage, hence, high power operation of the power
train.
R.Goutham Govind Raju et al., formulated a
zero voltage switching (ZVS) bidirectional isolated DC-
DC converter. This is used in high power application
especially for power supply in fuel cell vehicles electric
vehicle driving system and power generation where a high
power density is required. This technique has the
advantages of low cost, light weight and high reliability
power converter where the power semiconductor devices
(MOSFET, IGBT, etc) and packaging of the individual
units and the system integration play a major role in
Figure 6 Basic structure of an IBDC
isolated DC/DC converter hybrid/fuel cell vehicles.
Young-Joo Lee et al.,, formulated a novel
Considering Fig. 1.2.1, an important
integrated bidirectional ac/dc charger and dc/dc converter
characteristic of an IBDC is the type of converter at each
(henceforth, the integrated converter) for PHEVs and
side. Basically, two types of switching converters can be
hybrid/plug-in-hybrid conversions is proposed. The
identified. A current-type (or current-fed) structure has an
integrated converter is able to function as an ac/dc battery
inductor with stiff current characteristic at its terminals
charger and to transfer electrical energy between the
which acts like a current source, like conventional boost
battery pack and the high-voltage bus of the electric
converter at its input terminals. A voltage type (or
traction system
voltage-fed) structure has a capacitor with stiff voltage
Lisheng Shi et al., presented the basic
characteristic at its terminals which acts like a voltage
requirements and specifications for PHEV bidirectional ac
source, like conventional buck converter at its input
dc converter designs. Generally, there are two types of
terminals
topologies used for PHEVs: an independent topology and
D. Applications a combination topology that utilizes the drive motor’s
inverter. Evaluations of the two converter topologies are
Nowadays about 62% of crude oil used in United analysed in detail. The combination topology analysis is
States is refined into gasoline for transportation. The emphasized because it has more advantages in PHEVs, in
associated energy security and green house gas emission respect to savings in cost, volume and weight.
problems are well known. Hybrid electric vehicles Tanmoy Bhattacharya et al., proposed a multi-
(HEV’s) is one of the solutions to address these issues, power-port topology which is capable of handling
because the fuel economy has been improved by multiple power sources and still maintains simplicity and
optimizing internal combustion engine (ICE) efficiency, features like obtaining high gain, wide load variations,
regenerating brake energy and shutting down ICE during lower output-current ripple, and capability of parallel-
the idle time. After more than one million HEV’s are battery energy due to the modular structure. The scheme
driven on the road today, there is a growing interest on incorporates a transformer winding technique which
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV’s), which is drastically reduces the leakage inductance of the coupled
defined by IEEE-USA’s Energy Policy Committee as (1) inductor.
a battery storage system of 4kWh or more, used to power João Silvestre et al., designed a bidirectional
the motion of the vehicle, (2) a means of recharging that DC-DC converter for a small electric vehicle. The DC-DC
battery system from an external source of electricity, and converter designed and tested is capable of raising the
(3) an ability to drive at least 10 miles in all-electric mode voltage from the battery pack (96V nominal) to 600V
consuming no gasoline .PHEV’s can be power by necessary to feed the Variable Frequency Drive that
electricity from various sources, including emerging controls the induction motor,. This converter is also
capable of working in the opposite direction (600V to

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Volume IV, Issue X, October 2015 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 - 2540
96V) in order to capture energy from regenerative braking III. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
and downhill driving.
Hyun-Wook Seong et al., describes non-isolated Converter operation: The bidirectional dc-dc converter
high step-up DC-DC converters using zero voltage shown in Figure1 is operated in continuous conduction
switching (ZVS) boost integration technique (BIT) and mode for forward motoring and regenerative braking of
their light-load frequency modulation (LLFM) control. the dc motor. The MOSFETs Q1 and Q2 are switched in
The proposed ZVS BIT integrates a bidirectional boost such a way that the converter operates in steady state with
converter with a series output module as a parallel-input four sub intervals namely interval 1(t0-t1), interval 2(t1-
and series-output (PISO) configuration. t2), interval 3(t2-t3) and interval 4(t3-t4). It should be
Zhe Zhang et al., designed a bidirectional noted that the low voltage battery side voltage is taken as
isolated DC-DC converter controlled by phase-shift and V1 and high voltage load side is taken as V2. The gate
duty cycle for the fuel cell hybrid energy system is drives of switches Q1 and Q2 are shown in Figure 3. The
analysed and designed. The proposed topology minimizes circuit operations in steady state for different intervals are
the number of switches and their associated gate driver elaborated below.
components by using two high frequency transformers
which combine a half-bridge circuit and a full-bridge Interval 1(t0-t1): At time t0, the lower switch Q2 is turned
circuit together on the primary side. ON and the upper switch Q1 is turned OFF with diode
Problem formulation D1, D2 reverse biased as shown in Figure 2(a). During
Most of the existing bidirectional dc-dc converters fall this time interval the converter operates in boost mode
into the generic circuit structure, which is characterized and the inductor is charged and current through the
by a current fed or voltage fed on one side. inductor increases.
The Bi-directional dc-dc converter fed DC motor drive. In
this topology, boost converter operation is achieved by Interval 2(t1-t2): During this interval both switches Q1
modulating Q2 with the anti-parallel diode D1 serving as and Q2 is turned OFF. The body diode D1 of upper switch
the boost-mode diode. With the direction of power flow Q1 starts conducting as shown in Figure 2(b). The
reversed, the topology functions as a buck converter converter output voltage is applied across the motor. As
through the modulation of Q1, with the anti-parallel diode this converter operates in boost mode is capable of
D2 serving as the buck-mode diode. It should be noted increasing the battery voltage to run the motor in forward
that the two modes have opposite inductor current direction.
directions. A new control model is developed using
modern controller to achieve both motoring and Interval 3(t2-t3): At time t3, the upper switch Q1 is
regenerative braking of the motor. A Lithium-ion battery turned ON and the lower switch Q2 is turned OFF with
model has been used in this model to verify the motor diode D1, D2 reverse biased as shown in Figure 2(c).
performance in both motoring and regenerative mode. During this time interval the converter operates in buck
This controller shows satisfactory result in different mode.
driving speed commands.
Interval 4(t3-t4): During this interval both switches Q1
and Q2 is turned OFF. The body diode D2 of lower switch
Q2 starts conducting as shown in Figure 2(d).

Converter design: The bi-directional converter is

designed based on the input supply voltage and output
voltage requirement to drive the electric vehicle at desired
speed. The converter power topology is based on a half
Figure 7 Bidirectional dc-dc converters with battery and dc motor bridge circuit to control the dc motor.

IV. OBJECTIVE

In Proposed systems, the bidirectional dc-dc converter

along with energy storage has become a promising option
for many power related systems, including hybrid vehicle,
fuel cell vehicle, renewable energy system, industries and
so forth. The proposed converter is designed in the
manner of closed loop control. Because closed loop
control have advantages than open loop control. By using
modern controller, we can obtain a high output voltage
and high gain by controlling the duty cycle of switches.
So it reduces switching current, frequency, high output
voltage. We can reduce the heat loss, which can increase
Figure 8 Converter operating modes. the switches life span. Not only reduces the cost and

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Volume IV, Issue X, October 2015 IJLTEMAS ISSN 2278 - 2540
improves efficiency, but also improves the performance [9]. S. Jalbrzykowski, and T. Citko “A bidirectional DC-DC converter
for renewable energy systems” in Bulletin of the Polish Academy
of the system.
of Sciences,Technical sciences Vol. 57, No. 4, 2009
 To improve the electric power storage from renewable [10]. H. Matsuo and F. Kurokawa, “New solar cell power supply system
energy systems. using a Boost type bidirectinal dc-dc converter,” IEEE Trans. Ind.
 To design an electric vehicle by using PV array, Electron., Volume IE-31, Issue 1, Feb. 1984, pp. 51 – 55.
[11]. H.-J. Chiu and L.-W. Lin, “A bidirectional dc-dc converter for fuel
Bidirectional converter, Battery bank, etc. cell electric vehicle driving system,” IEEE Trans. Power Electron.,
 To generate the electric power continuously in an Volume 21, Issue 4, July 2006, pp. 950 – 958.
electric vehicle with low cost of generation. [12]. G. Chen, D. Xu, and Y.-S. Lee, “A family of soft-switching phase-
shift bidirectional dc-dc converters: synthesis, analysis, and
 To determine the best control for controlling duty experiment,” in Proc. the Power Conversion Conference, Osaka,
cycle Japan, Volume 1, 2-5 April 2002, pp. 122 – 127.
 To drive a long distance without using any external [13]. G. Chen, D. Xu, Y. Wang, Y.-S. Lee, “A new family of soft-
sources in electric vehicle. switching phase-shift bidirectional dc-dc converters,” in Proc.
IEEE PESC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Volume 2,
To make a pollution free environment with minimum June 2001, pp. 859 – 865.
power loss by using this method. [14]. H. Fan, D. Xu, “A family of PWM plus phase-shift bidirectional
dc-dc converters,”in Proc. IEEE PESC, Aachen, Germany,
V. METHODOLOGY Volume 2, 20-25 June 2004, pp. 1668 –1674.
[15]. P. Jose and N. Mohan, “A novel bidirectional dc-dc converter with
To design a Bidirectional converter for renewable energy ZVS and interleaving for dual voltage systems in automobiles,” in
systems, the complete prototype is carried in the Proc. IEEE IAS, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Volume 2, Oct. 2002, pp.
following sequences, they are given in steps. Finalizing 1311 – 1314.
the total circuit diagram, listing out their components and
their sources of procurement. Procuring the components,
testing the components and securing the components.
Making the model as per the circuit diagram on the
breadboard and testing the results. Making layout,
preparing the inter connection diagram as per the circuit
diagram, preparing the drilling details, cutting the
laminate to the required size. Drilling the holes on the
board as per the component layout, painting the tracks on
the board as per the inter connection diagram.. Etching the
board to remove the unwanted copper older than track
portion. Then cleaning the board with water and solder
coating the copper tracks to protect the tracks from rusting
or oxidation due to moisture. Integrating the total unit,
inter wiring the unit and finally testing the unit. Keeping
the unit ready for demonstration.

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