Z-Source Topology for the Entire Circuit Spectrum of Power Conversion

今天的功率转换电路是基于两种传统的拓扑结构：电压源和电流源，支持所有现有的功率转换电路的“两桥臂”结构。传统的电压源(V源)和电流源(I源)转换器有其理论上的局限性，无法经济有效地解决许多应用中的问题。例如，V源逆变器是一种降压转换器，它不能产生大于电源电压的输出电压。在电池、光伏、燃料电池等许多应用场合，往往需要额外的DC-DC升压转换器，这使得功率转换效率低、体积大、成本高。本课题研究一种新型的功率转换电路--阻抗源(Z源)功率转换器，旨在克服传统V源和I源转换器存在的问题。本研究项目旨在将Z源拓扑扩展和应用到电力电子的整个电路频谱(类别)，包括DC-AC、AC-DC、AC-AC和DC-DC功率转换，并发展它们的控制理论。随着Z-SOURCE概念的成功推广和应用到所有电力转换类别，将建立“第三条腿”。这第三条腿将改变电力电子电路的整个频谱，并提供第三种选择来优化性能、最大限度地提高效率、最大限度地降低成本和体积。

Today's power conversion circuits are based on the two conventional topologies: voltage-source and current-source, a "two-leg" structure supporting all existing power conversion circuits. The conventional voltage-source (V-source) and current-source (I-source) converters have their theoretical limitations that prevent economical and efficient solutions to many applications. For example, the V-source inverter is a buck converter that cannot produce an output voltage greater than the source voltage. This limitation often requires an additional dc-dc boost converter for many applications such as batteries, photovoltaic, and fuel cells, which makes the power conversion have much lower efficiency, larger size, and higher cost. In this project, we investigate a new type of power conversion circuits, an impedance-source (Z-source) power converter that was proposed two years ago with the intent to overcome the problems associated with the conventional V- and I-source converters.This research project is to extend and apply the Z-source topology to the entire circuit spectrum (categories) of power electronics, including dc-to-ac, ac-to-dc, ac-to-ac, and dc-to-dc power conversion and to develop their control theory. With the successful extension and application of the Z-source concept to all power conversion categories, a "third leg" will be established. This "third leg" will change the entire spectrum of power electronics circuits and provide a third option to optimize performance, maximize efficiency, and minimize cost and size.