FEA based Model for High-Frequency Design Optimization of a Three-Winding Coupled Inductor for HSU Converters

Abstract

Inductors for power electronic converters resonate at a self-resonance frequency due to the presence of parasitic capacitances. Beyond the resonance frequency, inductor impedance demonstrates capacitive nature and hence it will provide a low impedance path to high-frequency noise components. In this paper, self-resonance frequency of the inductor for a High Step-Up (HSU) converter has been evaluated by the application of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models. Simulations are performed under different design scenarios to optimize the inductor for high-frequency performance. Results showed that the self-resonance frequency is increased by the size of core and decreasing the number of turns. However, the power density of the converter puts a maximum limit on the size of the core. In addition, this study provides an approach to optimize the gain of the converter as results showed that the inductor design for higher voltage gain has a lower self-resonance frequency.