Event-Focused Digital Control to Keep High Efficiency in a Wide Power Range in a SiC-Based Synchronous DC/DC Boost Converter

Abstract

This paper is focused on the design of a control approach, based on the detection of events and changing between two different conduction modes, to reach high efficiency over the entire power range, especially at medium and low power levels. Although the proposed control strategy can be generalized for different topologies and specifications, in this paper, the strategy is validated in a SiC-based synchronous boost DC/DC converter rated for 400 V to 800 V and 10 kW. Evaluation of the power losses and current waveforms of the converter for different conduction modes and loads predicts suitable performance of quasi-square wave mode with zero voltage switching (QSW-ZVS) conduction mode for low and medium power and of continuous conduction Mode with hard switching (CCM-HS) for high power. Consequently, this paper proposes a control strategy, taking advantage of digital control, that allows automatic adjustment of the conduction mode to optimize the performance for different power ranges.