Single-step high-voltage high-efficient compact power converters for energy savings in modern public transport

Abstract

Electrifications of public transport in the last century have significantly reduced emissions, however, still suffered from low-efficient energy conversions. A single-step high voltage conversion concept is proposed to tackle the efficiency issue for on board applications in Trolley Buses, Trams, Metro and Light Rail. A general structure for a class of converters is analyzed from the perspectives of devices, topology, switching scheme and applications. The converters are featured with self-balanced voltages on input dc-link capacitors, low voltage stresses on switches, zero-voltage-switching (ZVS), high output current capability and compact size with high frequency operations. A prototype converting 1500V to 48V is designed and evaluated to verify the theoretical predictions.