A comprehensive evaluation of bidirectional boost converter topologies for electrified vehicle applications

This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for topology evaluation of bidirectional boost converters in electrified vehicle applications for higher power density. Based on the given specifications, major components in the converters are designed and sized, including the boost inductor, power module, and DC-link capacitor. 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations are conducted to evaluate the inductor loss. Power module loss is estimated based on the manufacturer datasheet parameters. With the proposed evaluation methodology, four bidirectional boost converter topologies are compared in terms of efficiency and power density: Single Phase Single Inductor (SPSI), Dual Phase Single Inductor (DPSI), Dual Phase Dual Inductor (DPDI), and Dual Phase Coupled Inductor (DPCI). The comparison results show that the power efficiency of DPCI is highest among these topologies, and DPCI can reduce the size of the inductor and DC-link capacitor. Therefore, DPCI is a strong candidate for bidirectional boost converter in electrified vehicle applications.