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Guide: DC DC converters association

What is the purpose of DC DC converters association?

Definition

The association of DC DC converters consists of integrating several DC DC power conversion modules from a same reference into an electric architecture in order to: 

  • Increase the global output power distributed by power conversion functions,
  • Convey power to different consecutive voltage ranges.

Context

The global electrification of terrestrial, aerial or maritime means of transportation imply the use of increasingly complex and numerous electrical architectures into electrical systems. Hence, the need of DC DC converers association into a single electrical architecture is growing, under two models:

  • Parallel DC DC converters association: to increase the total output power,
  • Serial DC DC converters association: to transfer power towards different voltage ranges.

Tame-Power contribution

Aware of the increasing power need, Tame-Power suggests to associate up to ten DC DC power conversion modules per system, allowing to reach maximum output power levels in the order to megawatts. 

Also awake that each electrical architecture is different and has its own specific needs, Tame-Power proposed the association of its DC DC converters references according to two models:

  • Parallel DC DC converters association,
  • Serial DC DC converters association.

Parallel DC DC converters association 

What is the purpose of parallel DC DC converters association? 

The association of severla DC DC converters in parallel into a same electrical architecture allow to reach a higher total output power. 

To increase the total output power, it is possible to associate up to ten DC DC power conversion modules from a same reference. However, Tame-Power DC DC converters which are associated in parallel can convey different power levels. 

 

Parallel-DCDC-Association

Potential precharge systems are not pictured.  

In the pictured use case, DC DC converters operate in buck mode. The DC DC converter which is voltage controlled maintains a voltage level of 400V whereas the two other DC DC converters, power controlled, supply the output power major part. 

In the current case, the three power conversion modules are pictured as conveying 50kW each to reach a total output power of 150kW. However, each DC DC converter output power can differ from other parallelised DC DC converters' ones. 

Moreover, it is better if power mainly comes from power controlled DC DC converters, considering oversizing them. In the pictured use case, the power to be delivered to the load is 315A. Both of the two power controlled DC DC converters hence supply 125A each (50kW/400V) whereas the voltage controlled DC DC converter supplies the remaining 65A. 

Serial DC DC converters association

What is the purpose of serial DC DC converters association?  

Serial DC DC converters association allow to convey power to consecutive and different voltage ranges existing into a same electrical architecture. 

Serial-associated DC DC converters also ensure the power conversion function under buck or boost modes inside a same electrical architecture.

 

Serial-DCDC-Association

Potential precharge systems are not pictured.  

In the current montage, the objective is to ensure the transition from a 200V voltage level to a 300V voltage level via a 600V intermediary voltage level. The first DC DC converter operates in boost mode (200V to 600V) whereas the second DC DC converter operates in buck mode (600V to 300V). 

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