Design and Analysis of the LCL Resonant Convertor

in Inductive Power Transfer System

Jikun Zhou, Fugang Wu, Rong Zhang Xin Dai
China Academy Engineering of Physics Chongqing University
Institute of Systems Engineering College of Automation
Mianyang, China Chongqing, China
zjikun@163.com toybear@vip.sina.com

Abstract—In inductive Power Transfer (IPT) application, In this paper, the LCL resonant tank is changed into two LC
minimum supply VA rating and convertor conduction loss are resonant networks, then the unity power factor parameter
two important design purposes. The LCL resonant convertor can compensation and current amplify parameter compensation
achieve both of these objects when designed appropriately. In are designed in two independent steps. By this way, the
this paper, the LCL resonant tank is changed into two LC
convertors can not only minimum supply VA rating but also
resonant networks, then the unity power factor compensation
parameter which can minimum supply VA rating and current match a desired current amplification capability. The
amplify compensation parameter which can minimum the necessary parameter criteria for ensuring the highest zero
conduction loss are designed in two independent steps. phase angle frequency to equal to the secondary inherent
Furthermore, the bifurcation phenomena (multiple primary zero frequency is obtained by bifurcation phenomena analysis.
phase angle frequency) of the system is analyzed, and the Finally, the system’s power transfer capability and efficiency
necessary parameter criteria for achieving quasi-sinusoidal computing method is presented. Simulation and experiment
convertor current is obtained. Finally, the system’s power results have verified the theoretical results.
transfer capability and efficiency calculation method are
presented. Simulation and experiment results have verified the II. UNITY POWER FACTOR PARAMETER COMPENSATION
theoretical prospection.
With different secondary topologies, the IPT systems with a
Keywords—LCL resonant convertor; Inductive power transfe; LCL resonant convertor are classified as LCLS type and
Compensation; bifurcation LCLP type respectively are shown in Fig.1, where the LCL
stands for LCL compensation of the primary winding and the
I. INTRODUCTION S or P stands for series or parallel compensation of the
Inductive power Transfer (IPT) has been used in many secondary winding. The resistance Rr and Rp are the serial
commercial and industrial applications due to its ability to resistance of Lr and Lp respectively, while RL is the equivalent
transfer electrical power without and physical contact [1,2].To load resistance the secondary. M is the mutual inductance
deliver the required power and ensure equipment size remains between the primary and secondary. ir is the converter current
manageable, resonant convertors are commonly used to create and also the current of series inductor Lr. ip and is are current
high frequency sinusoidal track current, while minimizing the of the primary inductor Lp and the secondary inductor Ls
VA rating of the power [3,4]. The LCL convertor has been respectively.
widely used in IPT systems because of many advantages such
as constant current source property, unity power factor, and
harmonic filtering capabilities [5-7].
The design procedure that achieves unity power factor for
LCL convertor has been studied, and the numerical analysis
show that the LCL resonant tank can amplify the convertor
output current to generator a large track current which can
minimize the convertor conduction loss [8]. However, the (a)LCLS type
method of designing LCL convertor to match a desired current
amplification capability and also achieve unity power factor is
not presented in detail. When working in the continuous mode,
the primary zero phase angle frequency is not unique. Only
when the convertor is operated at the highest zero phase angle
frequency of the primary the convertor current is quasi-
sinusoidal [9,10]. But the necessary parameter criteria for
ensuring the highest zero phase angle frequency to equal to the (b) LCLP type
secondary inherent frequency to achieve maximum power Fig.1 Basic topologies
transfer is not presented.

978-1-4799-6768-1/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE

 The standard mutual inductance coupling transformer inductor and resistance when take the reflected impedance into
models of Fig.1 are shown as Fig.2. Assuming sinusoidal consideration.
voltages and currents, the -jωMIs and jωMIp are the mutual
voltage between primary and secondary respectively, with M
the mutual inductance between the primary and secondary and
ω the operational frequency.

Fig.3 primary circuit with reflected impedance g

The value of Leq and Req depend on different secondary

topologies are shown in Table I. Then purpose of unit power
(a) LCLS type factor parameter compensation is selected Cp2 and Lr to make
the total impendence of Zi is real.

TABLE I. THE VALUE OF Lpeq AND Req

LCLS LCLP
Leq Lp Lp − M 2 / Ls
Re q ω 0 M / RL + R p
2 2
M 2 R / Ls 2 +R p

In Fig.3, the admittance Yt can be given as

1
(b) LCLP type Yt = jω0 C p 2 + (5)
jω0 L peq + Req
Fig.2 Mutual inductance coupling circuit
Cp2 can be calculated by solving (6), and the result is shown
The impedance of the secondary Zs whose value depends on as (7).
the secondary compensation is given by Im Yt = 0 (6)
⎧ 1 Leq
⎪ jω Ls + jω C + RL LCLS C p2 = (7)
⎪ s (ω0 Leq )2 + Req 2
Zs = ⎨ (1)
⎪ jω L + 1 Therefore the total impedance of the system Zi can be given
LCLP
⎪⎩ s
jω Cs + 1 / RL by
The reflected impedance Zp is dependent on the transformer 1
Z i = jω0 Lr +Rr + (8)
coupling and operating frequency, which is given by jω0 C p1 + (ReYt )
ω2M 2 Where ReYt stand for the real part of Yt, and is given by
Zp = (2)
Zs Req
Re Yt = (9)
To achieve maximum power transfer, let the operating (ω0 Leq )2 + Req 2
frequency equal to the inherent frequency of secondary.
Substituting (9) into (8), and solving (10), and the value of
1 Lr can be calculated, which is given by (11)
ω0 = (3)
Ls Cs Im Z i = 0 (10)
Substituting(2) and (3) into (1)，the reflected resistance can C p1
be derived as Lr = (11)
(ω0 C p1 ) + (Re Yp )2
2

⎧ ω0 2 M 2
⎪ LCLS
⎪ RL III. CURRENT AMPLIFYCATION PARAMETER COMPENSATION
Zp = ⎨ 2 (4)
⎪ M R -j ω0 M
2 With suitable design of the LCL resonant tank, the track
LCLP current Ip can be bigger than the convertor current Ir , then the
⎪ L2 Ls
⎩ s conduction loss of the convertor can be minimized. The ratio
of Ip/Ir is defined as current amplification coefficient λ in this
By separating the primary capacitance Cp into Cp1 and Cp2,
paper. In this Section, will discuss how to selected Cp1 for a
the three order LCL resonant tank is changed into two LC
given λ.
resonant networks. The primary circuit with reflected
Assuming the resonant frequency of those two LC resonant
impedance is shown in Fig.3. Where Leq and Req are equivalent
networks in Fig.3 are design to be equal. When operated at the
resonant frequency, the magnetic energy is equal to the TABLE II. PARAMETERS OF SYSTEM
electric energy, and which are given by Parameter Value Parameter Value
Lp 115uH M 30 uH
1 1
C p1Vcp 2 = Lr I r 2 (12) Ls 80uH Rp 0.2Ω
2 2 Cs 0.68uF Rr 0.2Ω
1 1
C p 2Vcp 2 = Leq I p 2 (13)
2 2
1.5
Where Vcp is the RMS voltage of the primary capacitor Cp,
the current amplification coefficient λ can be calculated by
λ=3
using (13) dividing (12), is given by 1.0
λ=5.95
I Lr C p 2

Phase Angle of Zi
λ=8
λ= p = (14) 0.5
Ir Leq C p1
Substituting (7) and (11) into (14), the value of 0.0
compensation capacitance Cp1 can be calculated as ω ⁄ ω0=0.895 ω ⁄ ω0=1 ω ⁄ ω0=1.175
(ω0 Leq ) + Req − λ Req
2 2 2 2
-0.5
C p1 = (15)
λω0 [(ω0 Leq ) 2 + Req 2 ]
-1.0
Substituting (15) into (11), the value of series inductor Lr 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
can be derived as μ (ω ⁄ ω0)
λ
Lr = (ω0 Leq ) 2 + Req 2 − λ 2 Req 2 (16)
ω0 (a)LCLS type
In order to ensure the value of Cp1 and Lr are real, the given
λ must satisfy (17), otherwise, it is impossible to select 1.5
suitable series inductor Lr and primary capacitor that make the
primary zero phase frequency equal the inherent frequency of λ=3
1.0
the secondary for the given λ. λ=6
Phase Angle of Zi

λ=8
0 < λ < (ω0 Leq / Req ) 2 + 1 (17) 0.5
Let Qp=ω0Lpeq/Req, and substituting it into (17), the max ω ⁄ ω0=1
value of λ can be present as 0.0

λm = Qp 2 + 1 (18) ω ⁄ ω0=0.9 ω ⁄ ω0=1.165

IV. BIFURCATION ANALYSIS
Reference [10] found that the zero phase angle frequency of
primary is not unique (bifurcation phenomena), and only when
operate at highest zero phase angle frequency that the system
is stable and the convertor current is quasi-sinusoidal,
otherwise, the convertor current waveform has large distortion.
Considering the current amplification coefficient λ is
significant target in this paper, and the value of primary series
inductor Lr and capacitor Cp are depend on it. Therefore, to
ensure the highest zero phase angle frequency is designed
equal to the inherent frequency of secondary, it is necessary to
analysis the relationship between current amplification
relationship and bifurcation phenomenon. To simplify the
analysis, normalize the operation frequency ω as
ω smaller than it.
μ= (19)
ω0
Take the parameters of the system are shown in Table II for
example, and the load resistance is fixed at 10Ω. For different
given λ, the value of Lr, Cp1 and Cp2 are calculated by (11),
(10) and (5) respectively. The relationship curve between the
normalized control frequency and the phase angle of the total
impedance Zi with different given λ is shown as Fig.4.
-0.5
-1.0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
μ (ω ⁄ ω0)
(b)LCLP type
Fig.4 Phase of angle of Zi with different λ
It can be seen that, when the given λ is bigger than a
certain value which can be defined as λb, the highest zero
phase angle frequency is bigger than the inherent frequency
of secondary, and the second highest zero phase angle
frequency is equal to the inherent frequency of secondary.
Therefore, it is important to calculate λb, and to ensure the
convertor current is quasi-sinusoidal, the given λ should be
From Fig.3, it can be seen that, when the imaginary part of
the Yt is zero. The zero phase angle frequency of the system
is only depending on the Cp1 and Lr. From (16), it can be seen
that, if the given λ is bigger than a center value which is
defined as λb, the value of Lr will reduce with the increase of
λ as shown in Fig.5. On the other hand, from (15), it can be
seen that, the value of Cp1 will always reduce with the
increase of λ. These two reasons that make the highest zero
 phase frequency bigger than the inherent frequency of The efficiency of the system can be calculated as
secondary. P
η = out (29)
Vdc I r
550
500
Assuming that the input DC voltage is 50V, base the
LCLS parameter of Table III, let the load resistance change from 5 to
450 LCLP
20Ω, and the range of given λ is 1~3. With the change of given
400 λ and load resistance RL, the calculation and simulation results
350 of power transfer and efficiency curve are shown in Fig.6 and
Lr / uH

300 Fig.7 respectively. It can be seen that, the theoretical

250
calculation results match well with the simulation results.
Moreover, for these two different topologies, the efficiency of
200
the system is increased with the increase of λ, and the power
150 transfer is reduced with the increase of λ. On the other hand,
λb
100 for the LCLS type system, the power transfer is increased with
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 the load resistance RL increased. But for LCLP type system,
the power transfer is reduced with the increase of load
λ
resistance RL. Therefore, for different load resistance, to
Fig.5 The value of Lr when λ variation ensure the system is able to deliver the required power, the
Let topology and the given λ must be selected carefully.
dLr
=0 (20) 1200
dλ
simulation
Substituting (16) into (20), the value of λb can be calculated, 1000 thoretical
which is given by
(ω0 Leq / Req ) 2 + 1
Power tranfer (W)

800
λb = (21)
2
600
Therefore, when design of the LCL-type IPT system, the
given current amplification coefficient λ must be smaller than λ=1
λb. 400

200
V. POWER TRANSFER CAPABILITY λ=2
λ=3
When operated at the zero phase frequency of the primary. 0
The convertor current Ir which is also the input current of the 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
DC source can be calculated through dividing the convertor RL / Ω
output voltage by the real part of the total impedance Zi, and is
given by (a)LCLS type
2 2Vdc
Ir = (22) 1200
π Re Z i
According to (2) 1000
λ=1
simulation
Re Yt + Rr [(ω0 C p1 ) 2 + Re Yt ] calculated
Re Z i == (23)
(ω0 C p1 ) 2 + Re Yt
Power tranfer (W)

800

Substituting (9) and (15) into (23)

600
Re Z i = 1+λ 2 Req (24)
Substituting (24) into (22), the convertor current Ir can be 400 λ=2
derived as
2 2Vdc 200 λ=3
Ir = (25)
π ( Rr +λ 2 Req )
0
Then, the track current Ip is given as 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
2 2λVdc RL / Ω
Ip = (27)
π (1+λ 2 Req )
(b) LCLP type
The power transfer of the system can be calculated as
Fig.6 Power transfer of systems
Pout = I p 2 ( Req − Rp ) (28)
 0.85

simulation
0.80 calculated

0.75
Efficieify

λ=3
0.70
λ=2

0.65

λ=1
0.60
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
RL / Ω (b)LCLP type
Fig.8 The convertor current and track current ((a)ch1:ir-2A/division,
ch2:ip-5A/division, (b) ch1:ir-2A/division, ch2:ip-5A/division).
(a) LCLS type

0.85
It can be seen that, the convertor current and the resonant
simulation
are quasi-sinusoidal which match well with the theoretical
calculated
0.80 analysis. The theoretical results and experiment results are
compared in Table III.
0.75
Efficieify

TABALE III. CONTRAST BETWEEN THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENT

0.70 λ=3 LCLS LCLP
λ=2 theoretical experiment theoretical experiment
0.65 Ir/A 1.89 1.84 2.11 2.03
Ip/A 6.61 6.42 7.38 7.07
0.60 λ 3.5 3.49 3.5 3.48
λ=1
Pout/W 75.90 73.40 83.43 78.92
0.55 η 79.97% 79.78% 78.54% 77.75%
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
RL / Ω
From Table. III, it can be seen that, the measured results is
slightly smaller than the calculated results. That’s because, the
(b) LCLP type
theoretical analysis did not take the switches’ conduction
Fig.7 Efficiency of systems
resistance considered, and there is a tolerance between the real
VI. EXPERIMENT VERIFICATION components and the calculated results.
In order to verily the theoretical analysis of this paper VI. CONCLUSION
furthermore, two IPT systems with different secondary This paper has developed an analytical procedure for the
topologies are built according to the parameter shown in Table design of the LCL convertor in IPT systems. The three order
I. the value of Lr, Cp1 and Cp2 are calculated by (11), (10) and LCL resonant tank is changed into two LC resonant
(5) respectively with λ=3.5 for example. When operate at the networks, Lr and Cp2 are selected to ensure unity power factor
inherent frequency of the secondary, the waveforms of and Cp1 is selected to make the ratio of Ip/Ir match a desired λ.
convertor current and track current depend on the secondary Moreover, to achieve quasi-sinusoidal convertor current and
compensation are shown in Fig.8. maximum power transfer, the necessary criteria of the
desired λ that can ensure the highest zero phase angle
frequency to equal to the inherent frequency is obtained by
bifurcation phenomena analysis. Finally, the system’s power
transfer capability and efficiency computing method is
presented. Simulation and experiment results have verified
the theoretical prospection.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank Pro. Xin Dai for helpful
discussion and Institute of Systems Engineering support to this
research work.
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