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Multiport Converter in Electrical Vehicles-A Review

Sarab Jwaid Mousa AL-Chlaihawi
Ph.D. Student, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania

AbstractIn hybrid power sources or in electric vehicles, the

promising concepts for these are multiport converters. They are
much beneficial as conversion can be done in single stage while
even interfaced with multiple input power sources. This paper
presented the introduction and comparison of multiport
converters with conventional converter. Here I present the
application of multiport converters with reference to use of multi
sources along with the advantages and disadvantages of both, the
types of converters. Due to the flexibility of a multiport
converter, it gives several advantages. It can be used for many
applications as electric vehicle, renewable energy sources for
Uninterruptible Power Supply without storage, or it can be used
for storage of energy using hybrid sources.

Index Termsmultiport converter, electric vehicle, DC-DC

converter.
INTRODUCTION
With the expanded consideration towards energy proficiency and
natural contamination, choices with a little carbon impression
have discovered reestablished enthusiasm for late times.
The customary approach to enhance energy effectiveness is that
we have to utilize our renewable sources in transportation instead
of using the fuel which causes environmental problems.
Electric Vehicles are the representatives in charged
transportation, and this innovation is presently developing
quickly. While the carbon impression of an Electric Vehicle (EV)
is effectively wrangled about it is seen as a promising distinct
option for control fuel costs. EVs have an exceptional power
profile that has both force usage and recovery at various
moments of its operation.
DC-DC converters are equipment's, which are used to interface
the power supply to the load. Based on the load requirements, the
parameters of source are adjusted. The DC-DC converter
experience as a receiver when a power source is available and
also experiences as a power source sender for load.
As in last few years the power converters gain the attention
toward itself. There are two ways for the integration of power
side with load and storage side.
1) Common DC-DC bus
2) Multiport DC-DC bus

method, there is a single controller for the multiple inputs and

output ports.
CONVENTIONAL CONVERTER VS MULTIPORT CONVERTER
A. Overview
As research is continued to overcome the needs in every field,
power electronics is also progressing in the research field. To
overcome the issues faced in conventional converters researchers
have developed multi-port converters.
In conventional DC-DC power converter, there were some
drawbacks as:
1) More conversion steps are included
2) more components were used
3) cost was high
4) Control was local for every controller.
In the multi-port DC-DC power converter, there will be fewer
power components, which implies the expense of the power
converter will be lower than that of the conventional converter.
Additionally, the transformation steps are minimized, bringing
about higher productivity. Due to the vicinity of the transformer
in some circuits, electric confinement is accessible, which is
essential for safety. With the turn proportion of the transformer
in certain topologies, it will be more effective to coordinate
diverse renewable vitality wellsprings of distinctive voltage
levels. At long last, there is a controller.
B. Literature for multiport converter in electric vehicles
The bidirectional dc-dc converters alongside storage energy have
turned into a promising choice for some power-related systems,
including crossover vehicle, power module vehicle, a renewableenergy framework.
It diminishes the expense and enhances effectiveness, as well as
enhances the execution of the system. In the electric vehicle
applications, an assistant vitality storage battery retains the
recovered vitality bolstered back by the electric machine.
Moreover, bidirectional dc-dc converter appeared in Figure 1 is,
likewise, required to draw power from the helper battery to
support the high-voltage transport amid vehicle beginning slope
climbing and quicken.

The common DC bus method is the conventional method. In

conventional method, every source of energy is connected with
its own DC-DC converter while in multiport DC-DC bus

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The converter that exhibits the power flow in both direction, and
it is bidirectional is presented. The presence of an inductor
named as the boost inductor reduces the current ripple, but by
reducing current ripple, we are increasing some parameters as
cost, area and response from the system also changes the
response of the circuit. In [3] converter topology is proposed,
which is complex and difficult to implement is resonant
converter topology. Multiport converter is proposed in [4] and
[5] that are the derivation of the topology dual active bridge. A
method has been proposed on the basis of time sharing in [6].
In second type, we can reduce the winding but only if common
ground for ports allowed by the system [7], [8].
Figure 1: Bidirectional converter

Since a dc-dc converter can associate any two ports, it is

characteristic of consider connecting ports up either by individual
dc-dc transformation stages with a typical dc bus where energy
from all ports is traded, or much less complex, by just change
stages with the utilization of one port as the basic dc transport.
These transformation stages are controlled freely, and a
correspondence bus might be required for the end goal of
overseeing power flow. Multi-port converter uses a solitary
power transformation stage to interconnect all ports, rather than
the individual dc-dc change stages, can be acquainted all together
with make the entire system easier. In this manner, cost, size, and
volume can be diminished because of fewer measures of devices
and related circuits. The lessened change step results in efficient
power.
Figure 3: Proposed Converter in [9]

In multiport DC-DC converter, the controller is centralized so

there is no issue of complicated communication, only one
converter controls the overall communication.
There are two different categories of integrated isolated multiport
converters.
In first type of converter transformer is involved as shown in
Figure 2.

Figure 2: DC-DC converter with transformer

In [1] a converter is described that have low rating power rating

of this converter is limited. Because to transfer energy only one
port is allowed at a time via common magnetic components. The
converter is based on working principle named as flux additivity
in multi winding transformer, but this converter has an extra
capability that is its reverse blocking diodes.by these diodes only
power flow unidirectional and it will prevent the application
from application where storage of energy system is deployed.
With advancement a converter is designed in [2] named as boost
dual half bridge topology.

The transformer having high-frequency not just coordinates &

trades of the power between all ports, additionally among all
ports isolation is provided between all ports. Due to high current
and switching losses, a bottleneck was, to generate high voltage
the multiport converter doesnt properly. These issues are
resolved in a converter which is proposed in research paper [7].
The strategy introduced in it was of changing the duty cycle
constantly. The duty cycle is to be changed on the basis of
voltage level of port. When power source or the storage
component is added, it loses delicate exchanging promptly.
In [8] multiport converter is proposed, it is a three-port
bidirectional converter along with high frequency isolated
transformer. Multiport converter is made of using half bridge
instead of a full bridge. Power source or capacity is
interconnected following the same duty cycle is utilized as a part
of all the half-connect cells and is the main variable that can
make up for the variety of the voltage level.
In [9] an enhancement technique is presented for the topology in
Figure 3 with the point of minimizing the general system
misfortunes, where inside of the converter zero following
influence is guaranteed, and the variety of an obligation cycle at
every port decreases the exchanging misfortunes for port voltage
varieties. This element permits capable power change, low
weight and low volume development. Furthermore, the little flag
model within the framework and the related control outline of the
converter are created. Because of the job of the decoupling
system, the multivariable control system can be deteriorated into
a progression of autonomous single-circle subsystems, where the
circle association can be dispensed with. Along these lines, high
data transmissions for every control circle and quick element
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reaction are achievable. A model of the multi-port converter has

been manufactured and effectively tried. The exploratory results
affirm the hypothetical investigation and demonstrate the
decoupling and great element reaction. The proposed converter is
a decent contender for the different voltage electrical framework
in HEVs and FCVs, and has unmistakable points of interest of
full disconnection, bidirectional force stream, high effectiveness
and low weight.
Electric vehicle development is extraordinarily affected by
electronics of power, innovation with the presentation of various
designs [10], [11]. The Electric Vehicle, over the span of
development, has included numerous locally available sources
and capacity units [12]. To extinguish and catch the
discontinuous prerequisites, high-energy ultra-capacitors are
utilized as a part of expansion to an essential source [13].
In [14] storage system is accounted with battery and capacitor.
This requires a multi-port power converter that oversees power
from the greater part from the sources. To convey a managed
voltage to the load multiport converter is used. The multi-port
converters accessible in the writing can be comprehensively
ordered into two important categorizations:
1) Isolated Converter
2) Non-Isolated Converters.
When voltage difference is high between load and source, the
isolated converter is used. Separated converters demonstrate a
typical pattern of imparted auxiliary twisting to individual
essential windings for various sources [15]. In output voltage
control isolated, converters are supported; multiport converters
are complex in hardware implementation as compared to single
port converter [16]. In [17], [18] multi-port converter was
proposed, which are a few single data converters qualified for an
expansion.
In non-isolated converters, there are some benefits as it has small
structure and central control. Due to its versatility, it is being
used for many applications. In [19],[20] converters were with
time-multiplexed operation, and these converters are nonIsolated Multiple Input Converters (MIC). A non-separated buckboost converter is presented in [20] that have a system which
inspects a battery-ultra capacitor. Two groups of Multiple Input
Converters (MIC) are introduced in [21] which are presented
with the idea of PSC (Pulsating Source Cells). Further work is
done in [21], to fundamental the non-detached converters with
the idea of Pulsating Source Cells is presented. Other than
topology induction, a few studies have been done on the control
of MICs [22]-[23] and interleaved converters [24]-[25]. In [26]
the work is done on DC-DC converters in its early era. Later in
[27] this work is extended and new principles are proposed for
recognize of essential topologies as topologies. As literature
there is a vast variety of converters which are non-separated a
non-separated. Various power sources are available and work is
done with different sources. The situation in a renewable
framework is that different irregular power sources are prepared
to supply power at any given time moment. On the off chance
that the thought of time-multiplexing of info sources is
embraced, the promptly accessible vitality from renewable
sources is squandered. Among the conceivable sources, the most
promptly accessible one, helped by an auxiliary source in the
event of crisis, is required. Some proposes a four port DC/DC
converter suitable for Hybrid Hybrid-Electric (HEV) with a

renewable vitality source port, two storage ports and a load port.
inventiveness of the work lies in the usage of an inductor as a
support to exchange vitality from two sources to a heap. The
blend of the proposed converter from the essential PSC, the
switch acknowledgment, the little flag model and its outline are
introduced in into work. In [28] paper proposes a four port
DC/DC converter with an information port, two stockpiling ports
and a heap port. The blend of the proposed converter, the switch
acknowledgment, and the enduring state investigation of the
majority of the critical working modes are displayed. Focused
mode determination rationale with a PI controller for voltage
regulation is proposed. The framework uses distinctive blends of
sources and capacity units relying on the mode started. The
outcomes demonstrate that the inductor can be utilized as a
cushion to hybridize power sources. Rather than totally
overlooking the source/stockpiling units and moving to an option
source, the cross breed utilization of sources gives an alluring
method for using low power sources in mix a mix high highpower The plausibility of the converter is tried with various
modes and it is suitable for car applications.

Figure 4: Multi-port converters Block diagram

The Block diagram of the multi-port converter displayed in

above Figure 4 consists of three ports high-frequency full bridge
converter, three winding transformers and microcontrollers.
High-frequency full bridge converters are operated at inversion
and rectification mode. The three winding transformers are used
in isolation purpose [29]. In research paper [30] an electric
system for the propulsion is discussed. This system is composed
of combined storage unit and generator. For the interfacing of
different sources a Multiple-Input Power Electronic Converter
(MIPEC) is designed and sized. The joined storage unit is made
by an ultra-capacitors bank (UC), and a battery's bank called
battery unit (BU). MIPEC is in charge of power flow control of
on-board of the vehicle for every method of action. Details
intended for Multiple-Input Power Electronic Converter planning
to turn out from numerous observations concerning footing drive
and driving cycle for referencing and on-board power supply
source and capacity of unit characteristics A converter is
proposed in [31] which are three ports DC-DC converter, it has
the capability to be bi-directional. Due to its structure as it is
based on the cells (full bridge) so it allows the bidirectional flow
in each port. By utilization of this configuration, it allows us to
match the different voltage level of the whole system via the help
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of a multi-winding transformer. The topology is designed while

keeping in mind the incorporation of leakage inductance, to
affect the phase shift control as required by the topology. Besides
this, a dual PI strategy is proposed, which are three ports DC-DC
converter. The strategy dual PI loop control is proposed to
achieve management of power flow and voltage output should
remain constant. For the improvement of the fuel cell stack slow
transient response this topology is used. It is also verified
through a hybrid fuel cell and super-capacitor system.

both half and full bridge topologies. They can meet a

disconnection prerequisite. Furthermore, have bidirectional
abilities. Be that as it may, the real issue is that they utilize too
numerous dynamic changes, notwithstanding the cumbersome
transformer, which can't legitimize the one-of-a-kind elements
of low part check and smaller structure for the coordinated
multiport converter.
CONCLUSION
In this research paper, an overview was presented regarding
multiport converters.
In section 1 there is introduction. Introduction composed of
little introduction about electric vehicles and along with the
common and multiport DC-DC bus introduction.
Section 2 explains the overview regarding conventional
converter and multiport converters. Differences and problem
faced in conventional converters are mentioned. Different
research papers regarding multiport converters with different
techniques while interfacing with renewable-energy sources are
analyzed and expressed in section 2.
Due to the flexibility of a multiport converter, it gives several
advantages. It can be used in renewable-energy sources for
Uninterruptible Power Supply without storage, or it can be used
for storage of energy-using hybrid sources in electric vehicles.

Figure 5: Bidirectional dc/dc converter triple half-bridge

REFERANCE
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AUTHER

Sarab Jwaid Mousa AL-Chlaihawi, Ph.D. Student,

Electrical Engineering Faculty, University Polytechnic of
Bucharest, Romania-Bucharest. Sarab.haedar@yahoo.com

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