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Applied Sciences
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Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters
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Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 26231

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Eladio Durán Aranda

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Guest Editor
Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Interests: DC-DC converters; DC microgrid; electronic embedded systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Salvador Pérez Litrán

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Thermal Engineering, Design and Project, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Interests: DC-DC converters; DC microgrid; power quality; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jorge Filipe Leal Costa Semião

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute Superior of Engineering (ISE), Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: power and performance efficiency in SoC (systems on-a-chip); dynamic voltage and frequency scaling; IoT electronics and applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Power DC–DC converters have become the main branch of power electronics, mainly due to the innumerable applications and power ranges where they are used. DC–DC converters are present in high-power systems such as DC Motor Drivers, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), Renewable Energy Sources (RES), Hybrid/Electric Vehicles (HEV/EV), Distributed Generation (DG), Energy Storage Systems (ESS), Smart Grids (SG), Micro-Grids (μG) and many more. They are also used in low power applications such as cellular phones, Internet of Things (IoT), some low-power smart systems and medical applications.
This Special Issue is intended to cover a wide range of topics that comprise the field of DC–DC power converters, which will be of interest to a broad number of professionals of the industry and academia who are involved in the research, development, and use of this type of converters. Therefore, it can include papers that present emerging trends and practices on DC–DC power converters, reports on product research and development, key insights presented, as well as tutorials and surveys covering the theory and applications of these converters. Particular emphasis will be on reports on recent technology developments, deployments, and trends.

The topics of interest related with research and development on DC–DC power converters include, but are not limited to: 

  • Traditional and Emergent Applications
  • High, Medium and Low Power/Current/Voltage
  • Smart Power Management, Monitoring, IoT, Industry 4.0 and Smart
    DC–DC Power Converters Applications
  • DC–DC Converters based on SiC and GaN Switches
  • One or Several Switches DC–DC Power Converters
  • Multiport DC–DC Power Converters: SISO, MISO and SIMO
  • Multiphase Interleaved DC–DC Power Converters
  • Soft and Hard-switching DC–DC Converters: MRCs, QRCs and PWM
  • Low Voltage, High Efficiency and High Power Density DC–DC Converters
  • Control Strategies, Modelling and Simulation
  • State of the Art and Reviews on DC–DC Power Converters and Applications  

Prof. Dr. Eladio Durán Aranda
Prof. Dr. Salvador Pérez Litrán
Prof. Dr. Jorge Filipe Leal Costa Semião
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3928 KiB  
Article
Design Considerations of Multi-Phase Buck DC-DC Converter
by Nikolay Hinov and Tsvetana Grigorova
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 11064; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131911064 - 08 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1885
Abstract
The main objective of this article is to propose a rational methodology for designing multi-phase step-down DC-DC converters, which can find applications both in engineering practice and in power electronics education. This study discusses the main types of losses in the multi-phase synchronous [...] Read more.
The main objective of this article is to propose a rational methodology for designing multi-phase step-down DC-DC converters, which can find applications both in engineering practice and in power electronics education. This study discusses the main types of losses in the multi-phase synchronous buck converter circuit (transistors’ conduction losses, high-side MOSFET’s switching losses, reverse recovery losses in the body diode, dead time losses, output capacitance losses in the MOSFETs, gate charge losses in MOSFETs, conduction losses in the inductor, and losses in the input and output capacitors) and provides analytical dependencies for their calculation. Based on the control examples for applications characterized by low voltage and high output current, the multi-phase buck converter’s output and input current ripples are analyzed and compared analytically and graphically (3D plots). Furthermore, graphical results of the converter efficiency at different numbers of phases (N = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12) are presented. An analysis of the impact of various parameters on power losses is conducted. Thus, a discussion on assessing the factors influencing the selection of the number of phases in the multi-phase synchronous buck converter is presented. The proposed systematized approach, which offers a fast and accurate method for calculating power losses and overall converter efficiency, reduces the need for extensive preliminary computational procedures and achieves optimized solutions. Simulation results for investigating power losses in 8-phase multi-phase synchronous buck converters are also presented. The relative error between analytical and simulation results does not exceed 4%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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21 pages, 6003 KiB  
Article
Single-Switch Non-Isolated Resonant DC-DC Converter for Single-Input Dual-Output Applications
by Cristian Díaz-Martín, Eladio Durán, Salvador P. Litrán, José Luis Álvarez and Jorge Semião
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8798; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158798 - 30 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1262
Abstract
This paper describes a new configuration of Cuk and SEPIC (Single-Ended Primary Converter) ZVS-QR (zero-voltage switching quasi-resonant) combination DC-DC converter for bipolar output with a single switch. The proposed topology employs a single ground-referenced power switch, which simplifies the gate drive design with [...] Read more.
This paper describes a new configuration of Cuk and SEPIC (Single-Ended Primary Converter) ZVS-QR (zero-voltage switching quasi-resonant) combination DC-DC converter for bipolar output with a single switch. The proposed topology employs a single ground-referenced power switch, which simplifies the gate drive design with a single L-C resonant network and provides a bipolar output voltage with good regulation, acceptable efficiency and a step-down/up conversion ratio. This configuration provides dual-output voltage by switching the power switch to zero voltage, which is an interesting alternative for many applications where small size, light weight and high power density are very important aspects. In order to verify its performance, a SEPIC–Cuk Combination ZVS-QR prototype with a cost-effective commercial resonant controller was designed and tested. The experimental results show that the proposed combined topology is suitable for Single-Input Dual-Output (SIDO) applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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17 pages, 5610 KiB  
Article
Sliding Mode Regulation of a Boost Circuit for DC-Biased Sinusoidal Power Conversion
by Jorge Rivera, Susana Ortega-Cisneros, Julio C. Rosas-Caro and Omar-Fernando Ruíz-Martínez
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 5963; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105963 - 12 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1017
Abstract
The boost converter is mostly used as a DC–DC converter, but two boost converter power stages can be configured to perform the DC–AC conversion. In this case, the control system of the power stage must be designed for trajectory tracking (instead of regulation), [...] Read more.
The boost converter is mostly used as a DC–DC converter, but two boost converter power stages can be configured to perform the DC–AC conversion. In this case, the control system of the power stage must be designed for trajectory tracking (instead of regulation), which brings interesting challenges. This work deals with the design of a higher-order sliding mode output regulator for a DC-biased sinusoidal power conversion problem on a single boost converter stage of a boost inverter for asymptotic trajectory tracking of the voltage capacitor. The steady-state reference signal for the inductor current is proposed as an approximated solution of the well-known Francis–Isidori–Byrnes equations. The used approach is the direct control of the output, where the nonminimum phase variable, i.e., an adequate sliding function, stabilizes the current through the inductor. Lastly, by means of real-time experimentation, the good performance of the proposed control strategy is verified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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17 pages, 2606 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Controlled and Uncontrolled Rectifiers for Low-Power Wind Turbines
by Ahmad Alzahrani
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4120; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074120 - 23 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1627
Abstract
The holistic objective of producing 100% renewable generated electricity motivates the development of low-power and efficient domestic wind turbines. The wind turbine’s efficiency can be maximized by operating it in a variable speed configuration, thus harvesting all the wind power. However, the harvesting [...] Read more.
The holistic objective of producing 100% renewable generated electricity motivates the development of low-power and efficient domestic wind turbines. The wind turbine’s efficiency can be maximized by operating it in a variable speed configuration, thus harvesting all the wind power. However, the harvesting process requires a two-stage conversion from AC to DC and from DC–DC or DC–AC. The paper aims to analyze the performance of the first stage of AC–DC rectification in terms of output voltage ripple and voltage regulation when the loading conditions vary abruptly. In addition, this work investigates the basic uncontrolled and controlled rectification methods for low-power wind turbines. The role of the output capacitance and its effect on output voltage ripples is illustrated. Finally, the paper highlights the design of a three-phase controlled rectifier using a simple yet effective firing angle control of a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) device. The delay caused due to the firing angle variations is reported in the simulations and experimental results to support the conclusion drawn from this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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17 pages, 6410 KiB  
Article
Decoupled Control for Double-T Dc-Dc MMC Topology for MT-HVdc/MVdc Grids
by Cristián Pesce, Javier Riedemann, Rubén Peña, Iván Andrade, Werner Jara and Rodrigo Villalobos
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3778; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063778 - 16 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1445
Abstract
This paper proposes a decoupled control of a dc-dc modular multilevel converter (MMC) based on a double-T topology intended for multi-terminal high voltage direct current (MT-HVdc) transmission systems or emerging distribution systems operating in medium voltage direct current (MVdc). The aim of the [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a decoupled control of a dc-dc modular multilevel converter (MMC) based on a double-T topology intended for multi-terminal high voltage direct current (MT-HVdc) transmission systems or emerging distribution systems operating in medium voltage direct current (MVdc). The aim of the proposed control strategy is to obtain an input current with reduced harmonic content and to eliminate the output ac common-mode voltage, which is not allowed in MT-HVdc systems. The control strategy consists of injecting two circulating ac currents and two dc currents that allow the energy balance between the arms of the converter and the general energy balance of the topology. The dc and ac currents are decoupled and allow control over load variations and reference changes in the dc-links. The proposed topology is mathematically modeled and the control method is then derived. Simulation results are presented to validate the proposed system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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15 pages, 5117 KiB  
Article
Improved Operation of the Step-Up Converter with Large Voltage Gain and Low Voltage on Capacitors
by Julio C. Hernandez-Ochoa, Avelina Alejo-Reyes, Julio C. Rosas-Caro and Jesus E. Valdez-Resendiz
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 2854; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13052854 - 23 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1283
Abstract
This work proposes an improvement for a recently proposed converter. The discussed converter is the so-called low-voltage in capacitors (LVC). It offers a larger voltage gain compared to the standard step-up or boost converter while operating with a relatively low voltage in their [...] Read more.
This work proposes an improvement for a recently proposed converter. The discussed converter is the so-called low-voltage in capacitors (LVC). It offers a larger voltage gain compared to the standard step-up or boost converter while operating with a relatively low voltage in their capacitors (lower than the voltage at the output port). The improvement consists of a modification in the pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme. The new modulation scheme allows for a reduction in the voltage ripple at the output port, which means an improvement in the power quality. The LVC converter contains two transistors, but it was proposed to operate with a single switching signal. The new PWM scheme is based on two switching signals with the same duty cycle (same waveform and same average time in high) but 180° of phase shift among them. The PWM scheme significantly affects the voltage ripple at the converter’s output port. The voltage ripple reduction at the converter’s output port is achieved without increasing the transistor switching frequency and without modifying the circuit parameters (capacitance in capacitors or inductance in inductors). The article starts by introducing the converter. Then, it presents its mathematical model, including the calculation of the voltage ripple at its output port. The experimental results performed on the LCV in both the former and the proposed operation prove the reduction in the voltage ripple, and the comparison also includes the traditional boost converter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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12 pages, 70685 KiB  
Communication
Fast Performance Evaluation for Switched-Capacitor Converter Based on Convolutional Neural Networks
by Weiyue Huo, Jihong Zhu, Jing Zhou, Yangqing Dan, Pan Dai and Ling Lin
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7833; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157833 - 04 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1164
Abstract
Switched-capacitor converters (SCCs) have been developed for decades and applied successfully in many applications thanks to their merits of high power density, high efficiency, and low cost. Existing SCC evaluation methods do not provide an efficient and effective way to estimate their performance. [...] Read more.
Switched-capacitor converters (SCCs) have been developed for decades and applied successfully in many applications thanks to their merits of high power density, high efficiency, and low cost. Existing SCC evaluation methods do not provide an efficient and effective way to estimate their performance. This paper proposes a new evaluation performance method for SCCs that transforms the topology optimization issue into a more typical non-linear regression problem. The SCC topologies are described by the adjacent matrix. A CNN model is then selected to solve the regression problem. Experimental results confirm that this CNN model greatly shortens the calculation time while performing better than other machine learning algorithms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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17 pages, 9444 KiB  
Article
Parameter Observer Useable for the Condition Monitoring of a Capacitor
by Corneliu Bărbulescu, Dadiana-Valeria Căiman and Toma-Leonida Dragomir
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 4891; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104891 - 12 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1200
Abstract
Monitoring the condition of electrolytic capacitors in practical applications is a topic that has been and remains the subject of much research. This article is part of research in this area. It develops a parameter observer (PO) and proposes its use for the [...] Read more.
Monitoring the condition of electrolytic capacitors in practical applications is a topic that has been and remains the subject of much research. This article is part of research in this area. It develops a parameter observer (PO) and proposes its use for the determination of the equivalent capacity and equivalent serial resistance of electrolytic capacitors. The observer is an integral-open-loop type second-order system, the input of which is the voltage at the capacitor terminals measured during a two-stage capacitor’s discharging process through a variable resistor. The PO estimates the so-called time constant of the discharging circuit for each of the two stages from which values the capacitor’s parameters are calculated. The use of PO is illustrated for determining the output capacitor parameters of a buck DC–DC converter. The experiments were performed with two electrolytic capacitors with the nominal values 100 μF and 470 μF. Compared with other monitoring methods that use observers, the proposed observer is faster in tracking error mitigation, e.g., 10−3 s in comparison with 5·10−3 s or more. The low computational volume of the discrete-time PO allows the prospect of implementation in real time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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18 pages, 3558 KiB  
Article
DC-DC Zeta Power Converter: Ramp Compensation Control Design and Stability Analysis
by David Angulo-García, Fabiola Angulo and Juan-Guillermo Muñoz
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 5946; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135946 - 26 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2268
Abstract
The design of robust and reliable power converters is fundamental in the incorporation of novel power systems. In this paper, we perform a detailed theoretical analysis of a synchronous ZETA converter controlled via peak-current with ramp compensation. The controller is designed to guarantee [...] Read more.
The design of robust and reliable power converters is fundamental in the incorporation of novel power systems. In this paper, we perform a detailed theoretical analysis of a synchronous ZETA converter controlled via peak-current with ramp compensation. The controller is designed to guarantee a stable Period 1 orbit with low steady state error at different values of input and reference voltages. The stability of the desired Period 1 orbit of the converter is studied in terms of the Floquet multipliers of the solution. We show that the control strategy is stable over a wide range of parameters, and it only loses stability: (i) when extreme values of the duty cycle are required; and (ii) when input and reference voltages are comparable but small. We also show by means of bifurcation diagrams and Lyapunov exponents that the Period 1 orbit loses stability through a period doubling mechanism and transits to chaos when the duty cycle saturates. We finally present numerical experiments to show that the ramp compensation control is robust to a large set of perturbations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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Review

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34 pages, 7547 KiB  
Review
An Overview of Non-Isolated Hybrid Switched-Capacitor Step-Up DC–DC Converters
by Julio C. Rosas-Caro, Jonathan C. Mayo-Maldonado, Jesus E. Valdez-Resendiz, Avelina Alejo-Reyes, Francisco Beltran-Carbajal and Oswaldo López-Santos
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8554; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178554 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2324
Abstract
The increasing interest in renewable energy sources has brought attention to large voltage-gain dc–dc converters; among the different available solutions to perform a large voltage-gain conversion, this article presents an overview of non-isolated dc–dc converter topologies that utilize switched-capacitor circuits, i.e., diode-capacitors voltage [...] Read more.
The increasing interest in renewable energy sources has brought attention to large voltage-gain dc–dc converters; among the different available solutions to perform a large voltage-gain conversion, this article presents an overview of non-isolated dc–dc converter topologies that utilize switched-capacitor circuits, i.e., diode-capacitors voltage multipliers. The review includes combinations of a traditional power stage with a diode-capacitor-based voltage multiplier, such as the multilevel boost converter. This article starts by reviewing switched-capacitor (SC) circuits, different topologies, and different types of charge exchange; it provides a straightforward analysis to understand the discharging losses. It then covers the multilevel boost converter and other topologies recently introduced to the state-of-the-art. Special attention is put on SC circuits with resonant charge interchange that have recently been probed to achieve very good efficiency. An additional contribution of the article is new proof of the discharging losses in resonant switched-capacitor circuits focused on the initial and final stored energy in capacitors, and this proof explains the relatively large efficiency obtained with SC resonant converters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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21 pages, 3016 KiB  
Review
Current Context and Research Trends in Linear DC–DC Converters
by Kosala Gunawardane, Nisitha Padmawansa, Nihal Kularatna, Kasun Subasinghage and Tek Tjing Lie
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(9), 4594; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12094594 - 01 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2139
Abstract
With the introduction of switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) in the mid-1970s, the efficiency of DC–DC conversion rose from 60 to 80% and SMPS became a popular power supply solution. However, linear regulators have not become obsolete. The modern power management system in portable [...] Read more.
With the introduction of switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) in the mid-1970s, the efficiency of DC–DC conversion rose from 60 to 80% and SMPS became a popular power supply solution. However, linear regulators have not become obsolete. The modern power management system in portable devices supports a complex mix of DC–DC converters, combining switch-mode power supplies (SMPS), switched capacitor converters (SCCs), and linear regulators in the form of low-dropout regulators (LDOs). LDOs are used to supply low-voltage DC power rails with very low noise and high current slew rate capability, which are usually fed by the output rail of SMPS. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of the application scope of linear-type DC–DC converters in the power supply context and the present research trends. First, we review the context of linear DC–DC converters in detail, particularly in portable device power supplies. Then, the details of LDO regulators and their recent industry development and research trends are discussed. Then, the discussion focuses on supercapacitor-assisted low-dropout (SCALDO) regulator design and its scope in the portable device power management together with SCALDO-based dual output and reduced switch designs, and finally, the conclusions follow. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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43 pages, 6706 KiB  
Review
A Review on State-of-the-Art Power Converters: Bidirectional, Resonant, Multilevel Converters and Their Derivatives
by Salah Alatai, Mohamed Salem, Dahaman Ishak, Himadry Shekhar Das, Mohammad Alhuyi Nazari, Ali Bughneda and Mohamad Kamarol
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10172; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110172 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6147
Abstract
With the rapid development of modern energy applications such as renewable energy, PV systems, electric vehicles, and smart grids, DC-DC converters have become the key component to meet strict industrial demands. More advanced converters are effective in minimizing switching losses and providing an [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of modern energy applications such as renewable energy, PV systems, electric vehicles, and smart grids, DC-DC converters have become the key component to meet strict industrial demands. More advanced converters are effective in minimizing switching losses and providing an efficient energy conversion; nonetheless, the main challenge is to provide a single converter that has all the required features to deliver efficient energy for different types of modern energy systems and energy storage system integrations. This paper reviews multilevel, bidirectional, and resonant converters with respect to their constructions, classifications, merits, demerits, combined topologies, applications, and challenges; practical recommendations were also made to deliver clear ideas of the recent challenges and limited capabilities of these three converters to guide society on improving and providing a new, efficient, and economic converter that meets the strict demands of modern energy system integrations. The needs of other industrial applications, as well as the number of used elements for size and weight reduction, were also considered to achieve a power circuit that can effectively address the identified limitations. In brief, integrated bidirectional resonant DC-DC converters and multilevel inverters are expected to be well suited and highly demanded in various applications in the near future. Due to their highlighted merits, more studies are necessary for achieving a perfect level of reducing losses and components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Development on DC-DC Power Converters)
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