Comparison and validation of five modulation strategies for a dual active bridge converter

This paper addresses the comparison and validation of different modulations for an isolated dc-dc dual active bridge converter (DAB), namely, Duty-Cycle Modulation, Single Phase Shift (SPS), Dual Phase Shift (DPS), Extended Phase Shift (EPS) and Triple Phase Shift (TPS). Given the DAB’s applicability in a wide variety of power electronics branches, several control strategies are being studied to improve its efficiency, by mitigating circulating currents and reactive power. Regardless of the chosen architecture, appropriate modulations must be adopted, assessing which one presents the better cost-benefit ratio. This simulation-based analysis aims to investigate the DAB performance when controlled by the above-mentioned modulations and operating with a nominal power of 3.6 kW. Thus, simulation results show that only SPS, DPS, and TPS are considered suitable, while Duty-Cycle Modulation has time limitations during power transfer and EPS is more appropriate for dynamic power applications. This work has been supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) within the Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020. This work has been supported by the FCT Project PV4SUSTAINABILITY Ref. 333203230 and by the project newERA4GRIDs Ref. PTDC/EEIEEE/30283/2017. Tiago J. C. Sousa is supported by the doctoral scholarship SFRH/BD/134353/2017 granted by FCT.