An Optimal Control Strategy for LCL Tuned Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) Systems

Conventional dual and triple variable control approaches do not offer optimal performance for Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems based on inductive power transfer (IPT) technology, particularly for applications where the system is subjected to variations in the magnetic coupling, component values, and power levels. This paper proposes a four-variable optimal control strategy for LCL compensated (tuned) bidirectional IPT (BD-IPT) systems. The proposed control strategy, which ensures power regulation at maximum possible efficiency despite any changes in coupling and power levels, is described in detail, and a mathematical model is presented to investigate its performance. Simulated results of a 1kW BD-IPT system are also presented, benchmarking against conventional control methods, to demonstrate that the proposed control strategy offers superior performance even under large variations in system parameters.