General Purpose Power Electronic Converter

The goal of the project is to make the converter can increase the efficiency and be more cheap.

Background
Converters are a commonly used device within many electronic systems that allow the voltage of the device to operate in an area with a different voltage. A well-known example of this is within portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and laptop computers.

Project Goals
In the initial stage, our goal was to design and create a control algorithm for an integrated converter which consists of 4 individual forward-converters. Moreover, our group needed to make an actual forward converter. However, our goal had to change on Nov.20th due to the failure of making an actual forward converter. Therefore, we have a new project goals which contain two parts. The first goal is to develop a modularized converter system where the output is comprised of multiple smaller converter modules while retaining high efficiency. The second goal is to output a single desired voltage from a variety of input conditions.
 * Proposed Goal
 * Final Goal

Project Specifications

 * Input Voltage: 12VDC to 36VDC
 * Output Voltage: 24VDC (fixed Value)
 * Efficiency ≥ 90%
 * An integrated converter module produces 100W power. (an integrated converter contains four individual single converters)

Proposed Steps

 * 1. Investigate different types of DC-DC converters to know their characteristics.
 * 2. Build a simulation of a schematic of a single converter module
 * 3. Build a simulation of a schematic of an integrated converter module.
 * 4. Find the relationship between efficiency and load currents for control algorithm.
 * 5. Develop the software to automate the optimization function of the combined converter modules
 * 6. Meanwhile, design a PCB for our schematic. Also, make a budget to buy components.
 * 7. Build the PCBs and test them step by step.
 * 8. If the hardware works successfully, hardware builder will give these PCBs to Control Algorithm designer to improve his Algorithm.

Final Steps
Because of the failure of making an actual forward converter, we have a new project goals. Therefore, we modified our plan. The final steps contain four parts:
 * 1.Develop a voltage regulator with high efficiency
 * 2.Modify the regulator for current regulation
 * 3.Determine optimized output of the system
 * 4.Simulate modularized system

Circuit Design
===Choices of DC converter Modules=== In the initial stage, our team had different choices of DC-DC converter. After at least two meetings, we decided to research two kinds of DC-DC converter. The first choice is forward converter. The other choice is full-bridge converter. Forward Converter The forward converter is a DC-DC converter that uses a transformer to increase or decrease the output voltage (depending on the transformer ratio) and provide galvanic isolation for the load. With multiple output windings, it is possible to provide both higher and lower voltage outputs simultaneously. Figure. Tradition Forward Converter

===Full-Bridge Converter=== A Bridge Converter is a DC to DC converter topology (configuration) employing four active switching components in a bridge configuration across a power transformer. Figure Full-Bridge Converter ===Final Decision=== Last semester, the simulation of the forward converter was finished successfully and earlier than the simulation of the full-bridge converter. In order to save time, we decided to use forward converter for our project in August.

Budget

 * Budget

Contract

 * Contract

Meeting Minutes

 * meeting minutes

Design Review Presentation

 * Presentation 1
 * Presentation 2

Final expo

 * expo