Khaligh and Dusmez issued U.S. Patent 9,419,522

Professor Alireza Khaligh (ECE/ISR), and faculty research assistant, Serkan Dusmez, were issued U.S. Patent No. 9,419,522 on August 16, 2016.

The patent is for a ZVS DC/DC converter for converting voltage between a battery and a DC link in a hybrid energy storage system and method thereof. The device is a bi-directional DC/DC converter that has zero voltage soft switching (ZVS) capability resulting in a higher efficiency, and provides reduction of switching losses due to higher switching frequencies. The capability of operation in higher frequencies results in reducing the size of passive components including inductance and capacitors. The subject DC/DC converter is capable of operating with three voltage levels in both power flow directions, thus providing flexibility in the voltage control and attaining lower inductor current ripple and lower switch voltage ratings. The converter can interface two different energy storage components such as a battery pack and an ultracapacitor module in a variety of mobile and stationary applications including the powertrain of electric vehicles, next generation of electric ships, more electric aircrafts, as well as stationary grid-tied energy storage systems.

Published August 25, 2016