UNIT-4

Power Electronics in HEVs

Contents:
Boost and Buck-Boost converters

Multi Quadrant DC-DC converters

DC-AC Inverter for EV and HEV applications

Three Phase DC-AC inverters

Voltage control of DC-AC inverters using PWM

EV and PHEV battery chargers

Power Electronics in HEVs
Role of Power Electronics in HEVs

In electric vehicle (EV) drive systems, power electronics serve as a critical component
in efficiently delivering and controlling electrical energy from the battery to the propulsion unit.
 power electronics devices control and convert power, making it available in the appropriate
form and quantity when and where it is needed.

EV drive systems typically comprise a battery pack, power electronics converters (including
the inverter and DC-DC converter), an electric motor, and control units. The high-voltage DC power
from the battery pack needs to be converted into three-phase AC power suitable for the electric motor.

During regenerative braking, the motor functions as a generator. The generated AC power
must be converted back to DC power for battery charging. This process of conversion is again
facilitated by a power electronics device known as a rectifier.

In addition to the primary power conversion function, power electronics in the EV drive
system also enhance efficiency, power factor correction, and reduce harmonics in the electrical system.
 Power electronics play a critical role in onboard and off-board EVs' charging systems. In an
onboard charger, power electronic converters, including AC-DC converters, are used to convert the AC
voltage from the mains to a DC voltage suitable for charging the vehicle's battery.

power electronics contribute to the energy management system (EMS) in an EV, which
decides the optimal energy distribution from the battery to the different loads in the vehicle. This
distribution needs to be dynamic and responsive to changing driving conditions and driver inputs.

Power electronic converters, such as DC-DC converters, are used in this context to provide
the correct voltage levels and manage power flows to different vehicle subsystems. These converters
are controlled by sophisticated algorithms that aim to optimize energy use, extend driving range, and
maintain vehicle performance.
DC-DC Converters for EV and HEV

The most commonly DC-DC converters used in an HEV or an EV are

Unidirectional Converters:

They cater to various onboard loads such as sensors, controls, entertainment, utility and
safety equipments.

Bidirectional Converters:

They are used in places where battery charging and regenerative braking is required.
The power flow in a bi-directional converter is usually from a low voltage end such as battery or a
super capacitor to a high voltage side and is referred to as boost operation. During regenerative
braking, the power flows back to the low voltage bus to recharge the batteries know as buck mode
operation.
Classification of Converters

Buck Converter:

The buck converter is step down converter and produces a lower average output
voltage than the dc input voltage.
Boost converter:

The output voltage is always greater than the input voltage.

Buck-Boost converter:

The output voltage can be either higher or lower than the input voltage.
Buck Converter Operation :

The principle of step down operation of DC-DC converter is explained using the
circuit shown in Figure. When the switch S1 is closed for time duration T1 , the input voltage in
V appears across the load. For the time duration T2 is switch S1 remains open and the voltage
across the load is zero. The waveforms of the output voltage across the load are
shown in Figure .
Operation of Boost Converter

When the switch S1 is closed for time duration t1 , the inductor current rises and the
energy is stored in the inductor. If the switch S1 is opened for time duration t2, the energy stored in
the inductor is transferred to the load via the diode D1 and the inductor current falls.
Operation of Buck-Boost Converter

A buck-boost converter can be obtained by cascade connection of the two basic

converters:
 step down converter
 step up converter
The circuit operation can be divided into two modes:

During mode 1 the switch S1 is turned on and the diode D is reversed biased. In
mode 1 the input current, which rises, flows through inductor L and switch S 1.

In mode 2, the switch S1 is off and the current, which was flowing through the
inductor, would flow through L, C, D and load. In this mode the energy stored in the inductor
( L ) is transferred to the load and the inductor current ( L i ) falls until the switch S1 is turned
on again in the next cycle.
Multi Quadrant DC-DC converters

DC-DC converters in an EV may be classified into unidirectional and bidirectional

converters. Unidirectional converters are used to supply power to various onboard loads such
as sensors, controls, entertainment and safety equipments.

Bidirectional DC-DC converters are used where regenerative braking is required.

During regenerative braking the power flows back to the voltage bus to recharge the batteries.

The buck, boost and the buck-boost converters discussed so far allow power to flow
from the supply to load and hence are unidirectional converters. Depending on the directions of
current and voltage flows, dc converters can be classified into five types .

First quadrant converter

Second quadrant converter
First and second quadrant converter
Third and fourth quadrant converter
Four quadrant converter
 Among the above five converters, the first and second quadrant converters are
unidirectional where as the first and second, third and fourth and four quadrant converters are
bidirectional converters .
First quadrant converter

Class A Chopper is a first quadrant chopper

• When chopper is ON, supply voltage V is connected across the load.
• When chopper is OFF, vO = 0 and the load current continues to flow in the same direction
through the FWD.
• The average values of output voltage and current are always positive. Class A Chopper is a
first quadrant chopper
Second quadrant converter
Class B Chopper is a step-up chopper
• When chopper is ON, E drives a current through L and R in a direction opposite to that shown
in figure.
• During the ON period of the chopper, the inductance L stores energy.
• When Chopper is OFF, diode D conducts, and part of the energy stored in inductor L is
returned to the supply.
• Average output voltage is positive. Average output current is negative.
• Therefore Class B Chopper operates in second quadrant.
• In this chopper, power flows from load to source.
• Class B Chopper is used for regenerative braking of dc motor.
First and second quadrant converter

Class C Chopper can be used as a step-up or step-down chopper

• Class C Chopper is a combination of Class A and Class B Choppers.

• For first quadrant operation, CH1 is ON or D2 conducts.
• For second quadrant operation, CH2 is ON or D1 conducts.
• When CH1 is ON, the load current is positive.
• The output voltage is equal to ‘V’ & the load receives power from the source.
• When CH1 is turned OFF, energy stored in inductance L forces current to flow through the diode
D2 and the output voltage is zero.
• Current continues to flow in positive direction.
•When CH2 is triggered, the voltage E forces current to flow in opposite direction through L
and CH2 .
• The output voltage is zero.
• On turning OFF CH2 , the energy stored in the inductance drives current through diode D1
and the supply
• Output voltage is V, the input current becomes negative and power flows from load to
source.
• Average output voltage is positive
• Average output current can take both positive and negative values.
• Choppers CH1 & CH2 should not be turned ON simultaneously as it would result in short
circuiting the supply.
• Class C Chopper can be used both for dc motor control and regenerative braking of dc motor.
Four quadrant converter
• Class E is a four quadrant chopper
• When CH1 and CH4 are triggered, output current i O flows in positive direction through CH1
and CH4, and with output voltage vO = V.
• This gives the first quadrant operation.
• When both CH1 and CH4 are OFF, the energy stored in the inductor L drives i O through D2 and
D3 in the same direction, but output voltage vO = -V.
• Therefore the chopper operates in the fourth quadrant.
• When CH2 and CH3 are triggered, the load current i O flows in opposite direction & output
voltage vO = -V.
• Since both iO and vO are negative, the chopper operates in third quadrant.
• When both CH2 and CH3 are OFF, the load current i O continues to flow in the same direction
D1 and D4 and the output voltage vO = V.
• Therefore the chopper operates in second quadrant as vO is positive but iO is negative.
DC-AC Inverter for EV and HEV applications

The main source of electrical power is the battery which is a DC source. The DC
output of the battery is bucked or boosted according to the requirement and then converted
into AC using a DC-AC inverter. The function of an inverter is to change a dc input voltage to
a symmetric ac output voltage of desired magnitude and frequency. The output voltage
waveforms of ideal inverters should be sinusoidal. However, the waveforms of practical
inverters are non-sinusoidal and contain certain harmonics.
Principle of Operation of single phase Half Bridge DC-AC Inverter
Principle of Operation of Single Phase full Bridge DC-AC Inverter:
Three Phase DC-AC Inverters

Three phase inverters are normally used for high power applications. The
advantages of a three phase inverter are:
The frequency of the output voltage waveform depends on the switching rate of the switches
and hence can be varied over a wide range.
The direction of rotation of the motor can be reversed by changing the output phase
sequence of the inverter.
The ac output voltage can be controlled by varying the dc link voltage.

Two types of control signals can be applied to the switches:

180-Degree Conduction with Star Connected Resistive Load
The configuration of the three phase inverter with star connected resistive load is
shown in Figure .
Voltage Control of DC-AC Inverters Using PWM

Need for PWM in Voltage Source Inverters:

The electric motors used in EV applications are required to have large speed ranges as
shown in Figure. Large speed ranges can be achieved by feeding the motor with voltages of
different frequencies and also different voltage magnitudes. One of the most convenient voltage
control technique to generate variable frequency and magnitude voltages is Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM).
The voltage control techniques for single phase inverters are:
Single Pulse Width Modulation
Multiple Pulse Width Modulation
Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation
Modified Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation
Phase Displacement Control

Some of the important voltage control techniques for three phase inverters are:
Sinusoidal PWM
Space vector modulation
Single Pulse Width Modulation
Multiple Pulse Width Modulation
Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation