10th International Conference on Power Electronics-ECCE Asia

May 27 - 30, 2019 / BEXCO, Busan, Korea

Full-Bridge LLC Resonant Converter with

Parallel-Series Transformer Connection and
Voltage Doubler Rectifier
Jiaxuan Zhou, Hao Ma
ZheJiang University, China

Abstract-- This paper proposes an LLC resonant converter automatic voltage equalization [12-13]. However, the
with parallel-series transformer connection and voltage transformer volume is not yet much reduced, since only
doubler rectifier (PSVD LLC)，i.e. LLC circuit structure in half of the turns-ratio is reduced.
which the transformers are parallel-series connected and the The proposed circuit combines the advantages of these
secondary side is voltage doubler rectifier. The parallel-series two methods proposed above. The transformer turns ratio
connection can reduce the turns ratio of the transformer. And is a quarter of the one in the traditional LLC circuit,
the use of the characteristics of the voltage doubler rectifier effectively reducing the size of the transformer. The
circuit improves the efficiency of the system, especially in the copper loss of the primary side of the transformer is
application of high frequency, low input voltage and high reduced and the loss of the voltage equalization resistance
output voltage. This paper introduces the structure and
is eliminated. The efficiency improvement effect is
working modes of the proposed circuit and analyzes the
principle of how this circuit improves efficiency. A 1000W especially noticeable in the case of high operating
prototype of the proposed circuit is established to verify the frequency and high output voltage operating conditions.
effectiveness of the scheme.
II. THE CIRCUIT CONFIGURATION AND BASIC OPERATION
Index Terms-- improve efficiency; PSVD LLC; voltage PRINCIPLE OF THE PROPOSED CONVERTER
doubler rectifier;

I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, power electronic converters are
increasingly moving toward high frequency and high-
power density. Because of the unique advantages of the
LLC circuit, i.e. the ZVS of the primary side switches and
the ZCS of the secondary side rectifier diodes, LLC
converters are gradually becoming one of the most widely
used DC/DC converter topology [1-4]. Therefore, more Fig.1 Circuit configuration of the proposed converter
and more investigations focus on the LLC circuits and
there are many optimization designs to improve its
performance. The improvements include control methods
and circuit topology [5-8].
Considering that LLC circuit can achieve ZVS and have
high efficiency, it is better to choose LLC circuit for boost
conversion. In applications with low input voltage and
high output voltage, the transformer’s secondary side turns
ratio is much larger than the primary side, which makes it Fig.2 LLC converter with parallel-series connected transformers and
difficult to reduce the volume of the transformers. In order full bridge rectifier circuit (PSFB LLC)
to reduce the turns ratio of the transformer, an LLC Fig.1 shows the configuration of the PSVD LLC. The
resonant converter with two transformers parallel-series circuit includes switching network, resonator and sub-side
connected is proposed [9-11]. This method not only rectifier circuit. The switching network of the PSVD
reduces the voltage stress on the secondary side of the consists of switches S1-S4. Dds1-Dds4 are parasitic diodes of
transformer, but also reduces the copper loss of the the S1-S4, and COSS1-COSS4 are the output capacitance of the
transformers’ primary side. However, although this switches. The resonant tank consists of a resonant inductor
method reduces the transformers’ turns ratio, utilizing two Lr, a resonant capacitor Cr and two magnetizing inductors
transformers instead of one transformer does not Lm1 and Lm2. Parallel-series connecting transformers T1 and
significantly reduce the transformer’s volume. In addition, T2 have the same turns ratio n=n1=n2. The output rectifier
the voltage doubler rectifier circuit is also used to replace composed of two diodes D1 and D2, two electrolytic
the full bridge rectifier circuit in the traditional LLC capacitors C1 and C2, and load RO. Cj1 and Cj2 are the
circuit. This circuit can reduce the volume of the parasitic capacitances of D1 and D2. C1 and C2 are used to
transformer, in addition, the equalizing resistor is not
store the energy from the primary side to the secondary
needed, because the output capacitor can achieve

ⓒ2019 KIPE 14
side. The capacitance of C1 and C2 are equal and two the same, i.e. the switches conduction losses Pson and
capacitors C1 and C2 split the output voltage equally. The switching losses Poff of S1-S4 are the same. The secondary
T1 and T2 are parallel connected on the primary side，so side of the PSVD adopts a voltage doubler rectification
the voltage on the secondary side of the transformer can be structure, which reduces the number of turns of the
balanced automatically. T1 and T2 are series connected on secondary side of the transformer by half, i.e. n1=
the secondary side and they will have the same secondary n2=0.5n3=0.5n4=n. In addition, considering that the
side current. And this can ensure that the primary currents number of secondary diodes in the PSVD is half that of the
PSFB LLC circuit. In order to reduce the variation, two
of the transformers are the same. Thus, the
diodes connected in parallel are used in the PSVD to
automatic current sharing can be achieved on the primary
ensure the number of the secondary diodes are the same as
side. The voltage doubler rectifier circuit increases the the PSFB LLC circuit. Therefore, each diode on the
secondary output voltage of the transformer by twice secondary side of the PSVD passes the same current as the
through C1 and C2. This will help to reduce the transformer PSFB LLC circuit, and the diode conduction losses Pdon of
turns ratio and the secondary side voltage stress. the two circuits are the same.
The four working modes of the PSVD are shown in
Fig.3. And the Fig.4 shows the key waveform of the
proposed circuit.
Mode 1 (t0 - t1): At time t0, power switches S1 and S3 are
turned on in the case of zero voltage (ZVS). The rectifier
diode D1 is conducted. C1 is charged in this mode.
Mode 2 (t1 – t2): At time t1, D1 is turned off in the case
of zero current (ZCS). The energy is no longer transferred
from the input side to the output side. On the primary side,
the resonance occurs between Lr, Cr, Lm1 and Lm2.
Mode 3 (t2 – t3): S1 and S3 are turned off at t2 time. COSS1
and COSS3 is charged, while COSS2 and COSS4 is discharged
until Vds1 and Vds3 rises to Vin, and theVds2 and Vds4
drops to zero. D2 is conducted and the C2 is charged.
Mode 4 (t3 – t4): The parasitic diodes Dds2 and Dds4 is
naturally turned on at t3 time. Thus, S2, S4 can be turned on
in the case of zero voltage (ZVS) at t4 time.
The operation modes of the PSVD during the t5-t8 time
are similar to the Mode 1-Mode 4, so the detailed working
modes are not repeated.

III. ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE

PROPOSED CIRCUIT
TABLE I PARAMETERS OF THE CIRCUIT
Parameter Designator Value
Drive Rg 24ohm
Resistance
Drain-Source Rds 6ohm
Resistance
Gate-Source Cgs 380pF
Capacitance
Gate-Drain Cgd 1.8pF
Capacitance
Drain-Source Vds 100V
Voltage
Gate-Source Vgs 5V
Voltage
Switching fs 200kHz
Frequency
Turns 1: n1, 1: n2 1:1.5
Ratio
Magnetic LM 45.48µH*2
Fig.3 Operation modes of the proposed converter. (a) Mode 1. (b) Mode Inductor
2. (c) Mode 3. (d) Mode 4. Output Po 1000W
Power
Compared to the LLC converter with parallel-series Output 600V
Vo
connected transformers and full bridge rectifier circuit Voltage
(PSFB LLC) shown in Fig.2 [11], the PSVD has the same
primary side structure. Therefore, under the same working As the operating frequency increases, the magnetic loss
conditions, the primary side losses of the two circuits are Pcoreloss of the transformer increases. Hence, it is necessary

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to reduce the magnetic loss by reducing the volume of the losses of the two circuits include Pcoreloss, Peqloss, Poff, Pson
transformer. However, when the output voltage gain is and Pdon. The Poff, Pson and Pdon of the two circuits are same.
high, the number of turns on the secondary side of the Therefore, the Poff, Pson and Pdon are only needed to
transformer will be large. This will lead to a large Pcoreloss. calculate in the PSVD circuit, and these losses in the PSFB
Compared with the traditional LLC circuit and the PSFB circuit are the same.
LLC circuit, the PSVD has the smaller turns ratio, and will
A. Magnetic component loss calculation for two circuits
have a smaller volume of the transformer.
In addition to reducing the Pcoreloss, another The flux density change ∆B is set to 0.2T, in order to
characteristic of the PSVD is that the equalizing resistors minimize the number of turns of the transformer and
are not needed. In order to meet the withstand voltage control variables. According to the loss diagram, at a
requirements and reduce the volume of the Co as much as switching frequency of 200kHz, the core loss of 0.2T flux
possible at the same time. When outputting a high voltage, density corresponds to a core loss of 0.0009W/mm3. So,
the PSFB LLC circuit requires two capacitors in series as the transformer magnetic losses of the proposed circuit and
the output capacitor. Therefore, the voltage equalization the PSFB circuit are
resistors are needed for the PSFB LLC. However, in the −4
Pcoreloss . PSVD = 2 ⋅ 9 ⋅ 10 ⋅ 6549W = 11.79W (1)
PSVD, the two output capacitors can achieve self-voltage −4
equalization [13], so, the equalizing resistors are not Pcoreloss . PSFB = 2 ⋅ 9 ⋅ 10 ⋅ 12010W = 21.618W (2)
needed. Thus, there is no loss of the equalizing resistors It can be seen from the above two equations that the
(Peqloss) in the proposed circuit. proposed circuit reduces the magnetic loss by nearly half,
which can improve the circuit efficiency.
The copper loss of the magnetic component can be
ignored, for the DC resistance of the resonant inductor and
the transformer are very small.
3
The volume of the resonant inductor is 2815 mm . So,
the magnetic loss of resonant inductor can be expressed as
follows

Ploss. Lr = 1.3 ⋅ 10−3 W / mm3 ⋅ 2815mm3 = 3.66W (3)

B. The calculation of the loss of the equalizing resistor

For a 600V full-bridge rectifier circuit with a 600V
output, set the output voltage ripple to 0.1V. The required
output capacitance value is
−6
2 Pin maxTs 2 × 1000W × 2.5e s
Co = 2 2
= 2 2
= 41.7 µF (4)
Vmax − Vmin 600 − 599.9
1 1
where Ts = 2 × = 2.5µs
4 fr
So, choose two 450V, 100uF capacitors in series. And
the value of the equalizing resistor is determined as follows
I lk = 0.005CU = 337.5uA (5)
Fig.4 Key waveform of the proposed circuit
According to the analysis in section II, the Poff, Pson and 600
Rea = −6
= 35.6kΩ (6)
Pdon in PSFB LLC circuit and the PSVD are the same. But 2 ⋅ 337.5 ⋅ 10 ⋅ 25
the PSVD reduces the Pcoreloss of the transformers and
Vo 2 6002
eliminates the Peqloss. And the efficiency will be improved Ploss . Rea = = = 5.06W (7)
significantly. 2 Rea 2 ⋅ 35.6 ⋅ 1000
An application with a working frequency of 200kHZ, where Ilk is the leakage current of the output capacitor.
100V input, 600V output, and a power level of 1000W is
used as an example to theoretically illustrate the effect of C. The calculation of the switching loss [14]
the PSVD on efficiency improvement. N95 material, PQ V  1
shape core is selected to make the transformers. The turns- I off =  o  (8)
ratio of the PSFB LLC circuit is 1:3, and the turns-ratio of  4n1  2 f s LM
the PSVD LLC circuit is 1:1.5. According to the turns- Tg = Rg Cg (9)
ratio, the transformer sizes of the two circuits are
determined to be PQ32/30 (12010mm3) and VdsCgd Rgs
PQ26/25(6549mm3). There are some key parameters T2 = (10)
required for the losses calculating in Table I. And the main Vgs + I off Rds

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 Comparing to the above losses, it can be found that the
 V + I off Rds 
T3 = Tg ⋅ ln  gs Pcoreloss of the transformer is dominant in all losses. And
 (11)
 Vgs  there is also a relatively large loss in the equalizing resistor.
Since the Pcoreloss can be regarded as a constant, the total
Poff .total = 4 Poff = 4 ⋅ 0.5Vds I off (T2 + T3 ) f s = 0.05W (12)
main loss expression of the two circuit can be expressed as
where Ioff is the turn off instantaneous current, Tg is the turn follows.
off time constant, T2 is the voltage transmission time, T3 is Theoretical main loss expression of the proposed circuit:
the current transmission time. Pmain.total . PSVD = Pcoreloss . PSVD + Pon + Pdiode.on (21)
So, the total switching loss Poff.total is only 0.2W. And it
2
can be ignored. P  P
Pmain .total . PSVD = 15.45 + 0.079π 2  o  + 0.5π o (22)
D. The conduction loss of the switches V
 o Vo

Po Theoretical main loss expression of the PSFB LLC circuit:

Io = (13) Pmain .total . PSFB = Pcoreloss . PSVD + Pon + Pdiode.on + Ploss . R (23)
Vo ea

I r. peak = 2n1I sec. peak = 2n1π I o

2

(14)  Po  Po Vo
2

(24)
Pmain . total . PSFB = 25.3 + 0.079π 2   + 0.5π +
2n1π Io  Vo  Vo 71200
I r.rms = (15) The approximate efficiency graph is shown in Fig.4.
2
2 100
2  nπP 
Pon = 2 I r . rms Rds = 4 Rds  1 o  = 1.5W (16) 95
 Vo 
EFFICIENCY(%)

where Io is the output current, Ir.peak is the resonant peak 90

current, Isec.peak is the secondary side peak current of the
transformer, Ir.rms is the resonant current effective value. 85
Vo = 600V
80 PSVD LLC
E. The conduction loss of the rectifier diodes PSFB LLC

I sec. peak 75
I sec. rms = (17) 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
2 POWER(W)
Fig.5 Comparison of the efficiency of the two circuits.
I sec. rms I sec. peak
I diode. rms = = (18)
2 2 2 In different temperatures have different magnetic loss
curves, and the efficiency curve of this graph is estimated
Vdiode.on = 0.1I diode. rms + 0.7 (19)
based on the magnetic loss at 60ºC, so it will deviate from
 Po 
2
 Po  the experimental. It can be seen from Fig.5 that the PSVD
Pdiode.on = 0.025π  V  + 0.5π  V  = 3.28W
2
(20) has an improvement in efficiency. And as the power level
 o  o decreases, the efficiency increases more obviously. As
where Isec.rms is the secondary side current effective value, shown in Fig.6, with the output voltage increase and the
Idiode.rms is the current effective value of the diode, Vdiode.on power level decreases, the efficiency of the PSVD is
is the conduction voltage of the diode significantly higher than that of the PSFB LLC circuit.

TABLE II CIRCUIT COMPONENT PARAMETERS

Component PSVD LLC PSFB LLC
MOSFET EPC2010C*4 EPC2010C*4
Resonant 2.86µH 2.86µH
Inductor
Resonant 0.22µF 0.22µF
Capacitor
Magnetic 45.48µH*2 45.48µH*2
Inductor
Rectifier IDW20G120C5B*4 IDW20G120C5B*4
Diode
Turns 1:1.5 1:3
Ratio Fig.6 Comparison of the efficiency when power and output voltage are
Core PQ26/25 PQ32/30 variables.
Shape
IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
For the S1-S4 can be turned on at ZVS, and D1-D2 can
The prototypes of two circuits are provided to compare
be turned off at ZCS, therefore, the turn-on loss of the
the efficiencies and verify the theoretical analysis. The
switches and the switching loss of the diodes can be
rated input voltage of the prototype is 100V, the rated
ignored.

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output is 600V, the rated power is 1000W and the full
resonant frequency is 200kHz. In addition, some key
parameters of the two prototype circuits are provided in the
table II. In addition, the total volume of the transformers in
the proposed circuit is 13098 mm3, and the volume of the
transformer in the circuit with only one transformer is
17300 mm3. It is clearly that the size of the transformers is
reduced.

Fig.9 Drain-source voltage and forward current of rectifier diode D1 at

full load

Fig.7 Gate voltage and drain-source voltage of S1 at full load

The experimental waveforms of the PSVD are shown
in Fig.7, Fig.8 and Fig.9. As can be seen from Fig.7, the
switches of the primary side can be turned on at the ZVS.
And from the Fig.9., it can be seen that the rectifier diodes
can be turned off at the ZCS. Therefore, the proposed
circuit completely retains the advantages of the traditional Fig.10 Comparison of efficiency between proposed circuit prototype
and PSFB LLC circuit prototype
LLC circuit.
Fig.10 is the efficiency comparison of the proposed V. CONCLUSIONS
circuit and the PSFB LLC circuit. Compare the actual The PSVD LLC circuit combines the advantages of
efficiency curve with the theoretical efficiency curve of transformer parallel-series connection and voltage doubler
section IV, the theoretical analysis is basically consistent rectifier circuits. Furthermore, the PSVD retains the
with the actual results. It can prove that the PSVD does advantages of the traditional LLC converter, namely, the
have an improvement in efficiency. At full load, the ZVS of the primary side switches and the ZCS of the
efficiency of the proposed circuit is 97.03%, and the PSFB rectifier diodes in the secondary side. Parallel-series
LLC circuit is 95.14%. At 10% load, the efficiency is connected transformers enable automatic voltage
86.33% and 76.26%. The efficiency increased by 1.89% equalization and automatic current sharing while reducing
and 10.07% respectively. secondary side turns ratio. The voltage doubler rectifier
circuit is used to further reduce the secondary side turns
ratio of the transformers, thereby reducing the volume of
the transformer and the magnetic loss. In addition, for the
automatically voltage-balanced of the two output
capacitors can be achieved, the loss of the equalizing
resistors is eliminated. The PSVD has comparative
advantages in application with high operating frequency,
low input voltage and high output voltage.

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