Inductive power transfer (IPT) presents a promising solution for opportunity charging of electric buses. However, achieving an optimal balance between pad area, power transfer efficiency, and misalignment tolerance remains a significant challenge. This article explores the tradeoffs between power transfer efficiency and area-related power density and investigates the electric field distribution in the charging pads of wireless charging systems. The design requirements are first established. Based on these, a multiobjective optimization (MOO) framework is developed to address insulation constraints and current density limitations within the windings. The resulting Pareto front reveals that lower area-related power densities correspond to reduced efficiency, highlighting a fundamental design tradeoff. Furthermore, the study identifies critical regions within the charging pads that are the most susceptible to insulation failure. A 50-kW prototype was implemented and tested, with experimental results showing a dc-dc power efficiency ranging from 97.165% to 96.824% under 100-mm X and Y misalignment, and a stray field of 13.86μ T.

Due to the increasing requirement of charging power for electric vehicles, especially heavy-duty electric vehicles (HDEVs), this paper proposes novel matrix converter-based three-phase medium voltage AC (MVAC) grid-connected modular high-power wireless charging systems. The stiff DC-link absent power transfer from low-frequency AC to high-frequency AC is achieved by the full-bridge direct matrix converter (FBDMC). The cascaded FBDMC structure is proposed to achieve the MVAC grid connection. The three-phase coupler is used here to generate the rotating magnetic fields to achieve higher transfer capability and power density. The second and third grid harmonics can be cancelled due to the nature of the FBDMC and three-phase system, which results in significantly less DC-link current ripple compared to single-phase wireless charging systems. Several novel connections between FBDMCs and coils are proposed to provide more flexibility and multiplexity for WPT charging. The topology is verified by the simulation in PLECS and by a down-scale experiment setup.

The compensation and high-efficiency operation of the multimodular inductive power transfer (IPT) systems has been a challenge because of the inter- and cross-coupling between modular charging pads. This article analyzes the series–series (S–S) compensation and the associated bifurcation problem in multimodular IPT systems based on closed-form analytical modeling of the coupled circuits. From the analytical results, an improved compensation tuning method for multimodular systems is demonstrated. This improved compensation addresses the intercoupling between coils on the same side, in addition to the self-inductance of the charging pad. As a result, the system’s efficiency improves while also saving an extra capacitor compared with other circuit-based decoupling methods. In addition, a design guideline based on the sum of the coupling coefficients including cross-coupling is derived to avoid bifurcation. The phase angle of the input impedance is studied under various scenarios, demonstrating the validity of the proposed design guideline. Experimental results on a downscaled prototype show that the improved compensation method enhances efficiency by more than 2% compared with scenarios where intercoupling is not compensated, and verification of the proposed bifurcation mitigation guideline.

Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that requires students to possess knowledge and skills from multiple domains. Theoretical learning can provide students with basic knowledge. However, it is not sufficient for applied engineering knowledge. It is essential for students to learn with a suitable platform, including hardware and software. Moreover, the platform should also be equally accessible to all students. This paper describes the DC motor drive module developed in the context of the GEMS (Graceful Equalising of Mechatronics Students) Erasmus+ project. The designed module is open access and a part of a mechatronics platform, which allows students who are interested in mechatronics to learn from scratch.

In electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, a common approach to charge multiple EVs is to utilize a shared DC bus for all the converters. However, as the scale of the station grows, this method leads to increased complexity and higher expenses due to the growing number of components. This paper proposes a novel AC multiplexed wireless power transfer (WPT) topology, in which charging modules are connected in parallel on the AC side of a single converter via a highly coupled multi-winding transformer. This topology reduces costs and enables multidirectional power flow for V2X (vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-grid) applications. In this paper, a comprehensive introduction to the AC multiplexed WPT system is presented, followed by an analysis of its multidirectional power flow characteristics. Finally, a three-port prototype was developed to validate theoretical analysis.

This article presents a dual-side capacitor tuning and cooperative control strategy for wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging. To improve the efficiency of wireless EV charging across broad output voltages and wide-range load variations, this article introduces a reconfigurable WPT system by incorporating two switch-controlled-capacitors (SCCs) into the double-sided LCC (DLCC) compensation network. Based on the analytical model of the system, optimal capacitor tuning factors are derived to reduce the rms values of the inductor currents and to minimize the turn-off currents across the semiconductors. Furthermore, a dual-side cooperative control strategy is proposed. Through the collaborative control of the inverter, rectifier, and SCCs, the proposed method achieves dual-side optimal zero-voltage-switching (ZVS), wide power regulation, and maximum efficiency tracking simultaneously. Compared with the existing triple-phase-shift (TPS) method, the proposed approach improves the system efficiency across a wide range of dc output voltages and power levels. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a maximum efficiency improvement of up to 1.8% in the boost mode and 1.9% in the buck mode.

This article presents an extended hybrid modulation (EHM) technique to achieve multistage constant-current (MSCC) charging of electric vehicles using wireless power transfer (WPT) technology. Although most research focuses on constant-current constant-voltage charging, MSCC charging offers key advantages, such as lower temperature rise, decreased charging time, and prolonged battery lifespan. However, the existing phase-shift-modulation (PSM) method encounters substantial circulating reactive power and significant efficiency drops in MSCC charging. To overcome this, an EHM strategy is proposed to expand the modulation range of PSM. By applying EHM to both the inverter and active rectifier, the proposed method provides up to 16 operating modes to facilitate multiple CC outputs. Furthermore, an optimal mode trajectory, specifically designed for the MSCC charging, is developed. By implementing this trajectory across different charging stages, zero-voltage-switching is achieved for all power switches, and the overall power loss of the system is minimized. Finally, a WPT prototype was developed to validate the proposed approach. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach effectively enables the MSCC charging while notably enhancing transmission efficiency, achieving dc-to-dc efficiencies between 92.45% and 95.67% across a power range of 231 to 3.015 kW.

This article investigates the peak-to-peak output voltage ripple for the four-switch buck+boost (FSBB) converter under four-segment inductor current mode zero-voltage switching (ZVS) modulation strategies in a comprehensive way. Based on the operating mode of the FSBB converter and the relative magnitudes of the output current and inductor current at the switching instants, four distinct cases were analyzed, with corresponding voltage ripple expressions derived for each. The analysis presented in this article provides theoretical guidance for the selection of output capacitor size of the FSBB converter under ZVS modulation strategies. In addition, the introduced analytical method was also used to evaluate and compare the output voltage ripple under three state-of-the-art ZVS modulation schemes. To validate the theoretical analysis, two sets of simulations were conducted. Finally, a laboratory FSBB converter prototype was also built and tested for the validation purpose with an input voltage of 150 V, output voltage of 200 V, and operating power of 1.2 kW.

In this article, a nonlinear semianalytical model (SAM) is presented to predict the magnetic field distribution (MFD) and electromagnetic performances (EPs) in the cubic spoke-type permanent magnet (PM) machine. To model the rectangular PMs, the rectangular PM is simplified as a combination of fan-shaped regions with different arc angles. Then, the MFD and EPs of the cubic spoke-type machines can be obtained by the harmonic modeling technique. Particularly, the saturation of the magnetic bridges is considered by the nonlinear iterative algorithm. The proposed nonlinear SAM is studied on a 12-slot/8-pole cubic PM prototype, and the nonlinear finite element model and experiment verify its correctness. The main contribution of this article is to present a general analytical modeling method for cubic spoke-type PM machines and consider the magnetic saturation of magnetic bridges.

This paper studies the power density limits of propulsion motor for electric aircraft considering thermal aspects and breakdown voltage reduction of insulation. The study em-ploys multi-objective optimization (MOO) to explore various mo-tor cooling options and filter configurations. The results show that motors with direct winding heat exchanger (DWHE) can reach higher specific power, while those equipped with water jacket cooling (WJC) offer a moderate design with simpler structure. Furthermore, the impact of sine wave and dv/dt filters on electric motors design is studied. The findings demonstrate that dv/dt filters enable designs with higher overall specific power compared to sine wave filters. Through simulations, this study identify the challenge faced by aviation motor design in significantly increased insulation thickness, necessitating advanced insulation materials with a minimum thermal conductivity of 5 W/(m.K) to facilitate a high specific power design. Based on this assumption, a preliminary design of 9.6 kW/kg with an efficiency of 98% is presented.

Optimized power system architectures and lighter weight are enabling considerations for the successful development of all-electric aircraft (AEA). In this article, a cross-redundant connection architecture and weight reduction solutions are investigated for a 90-seater full battery-electric aircraft from the perspective of high-power aviation cable. Design criteria of the power system architecture are introduced. Material selection, sizing, and weight estimation methods of cable for AEA are discussed by combining ground cable standards with aviation requirements. The influence of the conductor materials, voltage level, current, battery pack quantity, and operating temperature on cable evaluation is thoroughly discussed and analyzed. Weight comparison under two controversial voltage level options (800V and 3kV) is conducted. Comparison results show that the utilization of an aluminum conductor, PTFE insulator, and a voltage level of 3kV proves to be a preferable selection for current AEA medium and high voltage cables. Increasing the rating operation temperature to 120°C is a conservative and secure option. The layout of battery packs consistent with the quantity of distributed electric motors is preferable to achieve the lightest cabling system. This study provides a guideline for the cable sizing methods of high-power aviation cables and an optimized design solution for the power system architecture of AEA from the perspective of cable layout and weight assessment.

Triangular current mode (TCM) zero-voltage switching (ZVS) modulation method is widely adopted in power electronic converters to achieve acceptable efficiency in high switching frequency operations. For bidirectional dc-dc converters, in order to realize ZVS turn-on, a reverse inductor current can be utilized for this purpose through variable frequency control. In this article, this reverse switched current is revisited considering the parasitic resistances presented in the mosfet switches and the inductor for three common types of dc-dc converters, i.e., buck, boost, and buck-boost converters, which study was normally neglected in the previous research. Universal closed-form equations of the modified duty cycle and switched current are derived, which can be utilized to calculate the reverse current under different operating conditions. It is found that the parasitic resistances can have a negative impact on the switched current value, and this may lead to an unexpected loss of ZVS turn-on. A laboratory prototype of a four-switch buck+boost converter featuring TCM-ZVS buck, boost, and buck-boost operation capability was built to investigate and verify the proposed concepts. The operating voltage and power range are from 100 V to 400 V, and 300 W to 1 kW, respectively.

In this chapter, various electric vehicle (EV) charging technologies are reviewed, including onboard charging, offboard charging, and contactless charging. The focus is on charging power control as well as its converter topology. Because EV charging significantly influences the grid, the power quality of EV charging is thoroughly reviewed in terms of modeling, analysis, and mitigation measures. EV charging, especially overnight, gives a lot of flexibility to instant charging power, which can be used to improve the load flow in the electric grid. Smart charging describes those approaches, which are also reviewed.

This article presents an optimal multivariable control (OMC) strategy for the LCC-LCC compensated wireless power transfer systems. To mitigate reactive power and achieve higher efficiency, the proposed OMC method incorporates dual-side hybrid modulation and primary-side switch-controlled-capacitor (SCC) tuning into the triple-phase-shift (TPS) control. First, the impact of hybrid modulation and SCC tuning on the system characteristics is investigated. The inverter and rectifier zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) conditions are then analyzed to achieve dual-side ZVS with minimal reactive power. Furthermore, a multivariable optimization problem is established based on the power loss analysis. The solution to this problem provides optimal control variables that minimize the overall system loss. Through collaborative modulation and control of the inverter, rectifier, and SCC, the proposed method reduces the rms values of the currents and lowers the turn-off currents for the converters. As a result, this approach improves efficiency in both light- and heavy-load conditions, enabling wide output regulation and full-range efficiency optimization simultaneously. Finally, the proposed method is benchmarked with the existing TPS method. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves higher dc-to-dc efficiency in the power range of 0.2-2.2 kW, with a maximum efficiency improvement of up to 6.3%.

This paper presents a hybrid modulation (HM) scheme to facilitate secondary-side control in wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. To achieve broad power regulation in WPT systems, the conventional pulse width modulation (PWM) exhibits a significant efficiency drop under light loads, while the existing pulse density modulations (PDMs) lead to considerable current and voltage ripples. To address this issue, an optimal discrete PDM (D-PDM) is proposed for active rectifier modulation. By symmetrically and uniformly distributing pulses, the proposed optimal D-PDM eliminates even-subharmonics in rectifier input voltage, thereby reducing the current distortions and output voltage ripple while removing the capacitor DC blocking voltages. Moreover, the pulse width regulation is incorporated into the optimal D-PDM, enabling continuous output tuning and further minimizing subharmonics in the voltage. Based on a WPT prototype, the proposed HM is benchmarked with the existing PWM and PDMs. Experimental results show that the proposed HM significantly mitigates current and voltage ripples while facilitating continuous tuning when compared with the existing PDMs. Additionally, when compared to the PWM, the proposed HM demonstrates notable efficiency improvements within the 10%-60% power range, achieving a maximum efficiency enhancement of up to 5.5%.

This paper presents a hybrid rectifier mode control for broad-range output power regulation in wireless power transfer (WPT) systems. The proposed control method employs a secondary-side active rectifier for output tuning, thereby eliminating the necessity for communication links. Furthermore, leveraging the pulse-skipping technique, two hybrid modes are introduced in the proposed approach. These hybrid modes reduce circulating reactive power within the resonant circuits, thereby optimizing the transmission efficiency of the WPT systems. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments were conducted using a WPT prototype. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves higher efficiency than the conventional phase-shift control strategy, with a maximum efficiency improvement of up to 3.7%.