Design of a Low-Capacitance Planar Transformer for a 4 kW/500 kHz DAB Converter

Increasing electrification in transport sectors, from automotive to aerospace, highlights the need for low size and high power density components. The recent advent of planar technology theoretically allows to reduce considerably the size of the magnetic components. This article focuses on the design of a high frequency planar transformer intended to be used in a 4 kW 500 kHz DAB converter. In particular, the inter-winding capacitances are assessed, as they have a strong influence on the behaviour of the DAB, and in some extreme cases may impede operation entirely. Analytical and finite element models are used to evaluate the stray elements of the transformer (resistance of the conductors, inter-winding capacitance and leakage inductance), and the resulting circuit model is compared with experimental measurements. This work focuses on influences of design parameters on the transformer stray elements.