Variable-Switching-Frequency State-Feedback Control of a Phase-Shifted Full-Bridge DC/DC Converter

This paper presents a methodology to control a phase-shifted full-bridge (PSFB) dc/dc converter with variable switching frequency, as a function of the output load power. The main objective of such control is to maximize the conversion efficiency at a wide range of load power levels. By tuning the switching frequency, the net phase of the input impedance of the converter can be manipulated, and thus, at the lower load power operation, the net input impedance can be made highly inductive to achieve zero-voltage switching (ZVS) at the primary-side switches. This paper proposes an efficiency maximization method, which derives an optimum switching frequency based on the load power from a loss-minimization model. In addition, a state-feedback-based control method is proposed for maintaining a tight dynamic regulation over the converter output under a load transient. A 6-kW laboratory prototype of the PSFB converter is developed and designed to validate the proposed control algorithm. The experimental results show a conversion efficiency of 98% at full load and output voltage ripple of ±1%, while ensuring ZVS at all operating points between 100 W and 6 kW.