An Isolated DC/DC Converter Using High-Frequency Unregulated LLC Resonant Converter for Fuel Cell Applications

This paper suggests an isolated dc/dc converter using an unregulated LLC converter for fuel cell applications. The LLC converter operates as an isolated voltage amplifier with a constant voltage gain, and a nonisolated converter installed in the input stage regulates the output voltage under a wide variation of fuel cell stack voltage. By separating the functions, the unregulated LLC converter can be operated at an optimal switching condition, and the high-frequency operation of 300 kHz can be accomplished without introducing an excessive switching loss. The prototype converter with a 1-kW design ( V in = 24 ~ 48 V/ V o = 400 V) shows an efficiency of above 90.2% under a 24-V input and full load conditions.