Work

A Dual-Active-Bridge Converter Employing a Variable Inductor Without an Auxiliary Circuit

Year: 2026

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: This paper proposes a dual active bridge (DAB) converter employing a variable inductor (VI) without an auxiliary circuit. Unlike conventional VI-based designs that require an external DC bias circuit, the proposed DAB utilizes the input DC current itself as the bias source, enabling automatic inductance variation with load conditions. The inductance naturally increases at low power and decreases at high power, effectively extending the zero voltage switching (ZVS) range and reducing circulating current, respectively. The VI was experimentally implemented and characterized to obtain its inductance-current profile, which was then integrated into a PLECS model of the DAB converter for circuit and thermal simulations. Simulation results confirm that the proposed auxiliary-free VI-DAB converter achieves a wider ZVS range and lower circulating current compared with a conventional fixed-inductor DAB converter. By realizing a variable inductor without any auxiliary bias circuitry, the proposed approach maintains soft switching and reduces reactive current losses across a wide load range, leading to improved efficiency and simplified implementation.

Source: IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo

DOI: 10.1109/iteceats66641.2026.11593061

Authors: Cheol-Hee Jo, Sangwhee Lee, Subhajyoti Mukherjee, Omer Onar, Mostak Mohammad

Institutions: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Transportation Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Advanced DC-DC Converters

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Battelle