A High Power-Density Bidirectional Half-Bridge Solid-State Transformer Architecture

Abstract

This article proposes a Bidirectional half-bridge AC-AC converter topology for Solid State Transformer (SST). AC-AC converter is comprised of two active half bridges along with one high frequency (HF) transformer. Four-quadrant switches are employed in each bridge to ensure power flow in both directions. The proposed converter configuration has fewer active switches, a simpler circuit design, and avoids the use of bulky electrolytic capacitors. These characteristics enhance the power density and reliability of the overall SST. The steady state working modes are outlined, and soft switching constraints are examined. To validate the theoretical analysis, simulation results are presented.