TIDUF18A October 2022 – February 2024
LLC converters are widely popular due to their ability to achieve ZVS at the primary side, and ZCS on the secondary side. A typical LLC Series Resonant Converter (SRC) is shown in Figure 2-2. The primary side of this converter is half bridge; thus, the transformer utilization from a Volt-sec perspective is half. In addition, the current rating for the switches is twice of what is needed, compared to when a full-bridge structure is used.
Although half-bridge LLC SRCs are attractive at lower power for cost reasons, for high-power and high-density applications, a full-bridge LLC SRC is desired for the following reasons:
A full-bridge LLC converter, as shown in Figure 2-3, falls under the broad category of Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converters. Under DAB converters, the converter can be classified on the basis of model or operation:
Resonant DAB converters are of interest because high efficiency, high power, and high density are achievable with such converters. CLLLC, with its symmetric tank, is capable of bidirectional operation. The problem with using an LLC structure for bidirectional use is that the switching frequency, when operating in the reverse power flow mode, is governed by the transformer winding capacitance and the leakage inductance. This offers little or no control on the gain of the power stage and the switching frequency. Therefore, the CLLLC type of structure is preferred as it offers much better control on the switching frequency and an additional degree of freedom on the gain.