International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems (IJPEDS)

Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2024, pp. 1045~1051

ISSN: 2088-8694, DOI: 10.11591/ijpeds.v15.i2.pp1045-1051  1045

Experimental investigation of bidirectional series resonant

DC-DC converter in different operating modes

Angel Lichev, Yasen Madankov, Vasil Mihov

Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Faculty of Technical, University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Article Info ABSTRACT

Article history: This paper presents a study of bidirectional series resonant DC/DC converter.
The main operating modes of the converter with phase-shift control technique
Received Jun 16, 2023 are observed. An experimental survey with a laboratory model of such type of
Revised Oct 24, 2023 converter working over the resonant frequency is made. The functionality of
Accepted Nov 7, 2023 the studied device operating in a wide area of loading is demonstrated with
waveforms of the main parameters. The conducted measurements are used to
build the experimental output characteristics of the converter. A similarity of
Keywords: the experimental results with the theoretical are denoted, and the ability to
achieve current source characteristics for the whole range of loading is proven.
Bidirectional energy flow The possibility of the studied converter for operation both in forward and
Phase-shift control reverse modes of energy flow is proved, which positions the device as an
Resonant DC-DC converter appropriate variant for implementation in the storage system control area.
Soft commutation
ZVS This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.

Corresponding Author:
Angel Lichev
Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Faculty of Technical
University of Food Technologies
26 Maritza Blvd., Plovdiv 4002, Bulgaria
Email: [email protected]

1. INTRODUCTION
The 2030 agenda for sustainable development, in particular goal 7, requires all member states of the
United Nations to implement programs that stimulate the expansion of renewable energy sources. That is one
of the reasons why the investment in green power has grown in the past few years [1]–[4]. Nevertheless, in
rural areas where direct access to the power grid is not common, renewable energy could be one of the suitable
solutions. A considerable shortcoming, in this case, is production intermittency, which is particularly marked
in photovoltaic (PV) and wind power plants [5], [6].
Therefore, hybrid power generation systems become more common [7]–[11]. To increase the system
efficiency, battery storage technologies are implemented [12]. In such a way, during an energy production
peak, the surplus of energy could be stored, and when the generation becomes lower than the consumption this
energy could be reverse feeding into the main supply. Wherever necessary, the shortfall in energy could be
compensated by the batteries. Obviously, in this case, a bidirectional transfer of the power is required.
The current of the batteries has to be controlled during the charging (discharging) process [13].
Exceeding it reduces the battery life and could cause accidents. Therefore, power converters must ensure
smooth control of the output current value. A good solution, in this case, is the bidirectional resonant converters
[14]–[18]. It is well known that resonant circuit ensures soft commutation capability, thus improving its
efficiency and the efficiency of the whole system [19]–[22].
Lichev [23] presented a study of inductor-capacitor or LC bidirectional series resonant DC-DC
converter. Unlike inductor-inductor-capacitor or LLC converters [24], [25] the resonant tank circuit consists
of only two reactive elements. This creates an opportunity for converter size optimization, which leads to

Journal homepage: http://ijpeds.iaescore.com

1046  ISSN: 2088-8694

weight and cost reduction. Furthermore, the studied topology provides bidirectional energy transfer and enables
a soft commutation operation. This makes bidirectional series resonant DC-DC converters a proper solution
for battery charging applications.
The results from the theoretical study in [23] show that the analysed converter operates with no
limitations in zero voltage switching (ZVS) irrespective of the control parameter value. The characteristics of
the converter are like those of a perfect current source. The value of the output voltage is greater than that of
the input voltage. This paper expands the research of the converter supplementing experimental examinations
and achieving results that approve the functionality of the design.

2. CONVERTER ANALYSIS
The circuit diagram of the studied converter as seen in Figure 1. is composed of two fully controlled
inverter-rectifier semiconductor H-bridges. Each of them is composed of four transistors with reverse diodes,
as well as snubber capacitors for reduction of the commutation losses. The energy transmission is through the
serial resonant tank, inductor Lr and capacitor Cr.
The advantages of high-frequency operation are well known. Possible converter operating modes
when working over the resonant frequency are explored in detail in [23]. The energy flow could be in a forward
direction (from Ud to U0), as well as in a reverse direction (from U0 to Ud), depending on the value of the
selected control parameter. These circuit characteristics give the opportunities for the realization of reversible
supply device which can achieve smoothly energy flow direction change. Depending on flow direction each of
the H-bridge stages could operate either as an inverter or as a rectifier. Conditionally is assumed that the left
side of the circuit is an input stage with input parameters Ud and id, and the right one is output – U0 is defined
as an output voltage, i0 – output current.

id i0
S1 D1 C1 C2 D2 S2 S5 D5 C5 C6 D6 S6

U0
+ Ud +
Lr Cr
UCD -
- UAB

S4 D4 C4 C3 D3 S3 S8 D8 C8 C7 D7 S7

Figure 1. Circuit diagram of the converter

Waveforms of the main electrical parameters of the converter are shown in Figures 2 and 3. The
inductor current is denoted with iL, the resonant capacitor voltage – with uC, and the voltages on the input and
output side of the LC circuit – with uAB and uCD. During the forward operation mode, the input semiconductor
H-bridge is supplied with the DC voltage Ud and the average value of currents id and i0 are in the “forward”
direction. So, id flows from supply Ud, through the input bridge which works as an inverter, to the resonant
circuit. The output current i0 direction is through the output bridge (rectifier) to the load. Vice versa, in reverse
mode the output stage behaves like an inverter which supplies a resonant tank from voltage U0 and current i0,
and the input stage – as a rectifier, feeding back energy to supply. The two-way energy transmission in each of
the mentioned modes is achieved via reverse diodes D1-D8.
The current through the inductor iL lags from the input H-bridge’s voltage uAB at angle φ because the
operating frequency is greater than the resonant frequency. This is the time for conducting of the input transistors
S1-S4. Transistors of the output stage S5-S8 begin to conduct every time when iL reaches zero value. This way
they operate in soft commutation mode. Output transistors are active up to the moment of uCD polarity change.
Semiconductor elements of the output H-bridge switch after a time corresponding to the angle δ. In
this way, controlling the phase shift between uAB and uCD, the power control is realized. According to the studies
made in [23], this method is concluded as an optimal for control. A phase plane method for analyzing the
process in the converter is proposed in [23], where the following assumptions are made to accomplish
simplification of the mathematical equations: i) It is assumed that all elements of the converter circuit are ideal;
ii) The impact of the (C1 – C8) snubbers is neglected; and iii) Pulsations of Ud and U0 voltages are neglected,
so the voltages of the two inverter bridges – uAB and uCD, are ideal square waves.

Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2024: 1045-1051
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst ISSN: 2088-8694  1047
.
Ud uAB Ud uAB
uCD uCD
U0
.t U0
0

-U0 0 .t
-U0
-Ud o -Ud o
90 90
.

0 .t uC
uC 0 .t

iL
iL .
.

Figure 2. Waveforms of the converter at forward mode Figure 3. Waveforms of the converter at reverse mode

According to these assumptions, the resonant tank frequency, the characteristic impedance and the
ratio of the frequencies could be obtained as (1)-(3):
1
𝑓0 = (1)
2.𝜋.√𝐿.𝐶

𝐿
𝑍0 = √ (2)
𝐶

𝑓𝑆
𝜈= (3)
𝑓0

In order to achieve more generalized results from the analysis all parameters are normalized – voltages relative
to Ud, and the current to Ud/Z0. The control range of the converter (angle δ) is limited to the interval from 90°
to 270° because in these borders it has a possibility for operation in the whole loading area without violating
the soft commutation conditions. The output characteristics of such kind of converter with the relevant control
method are presented in Figure 4. They are achieved at normalized frequency ν = 1.15. The output
characteristics show that the converter operates as a perfect current source.

UO

0.8
O

O
=270
=240

=210

=180

=150

=120
O
=90

0.6
.

0.4

0.2

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 IO
.

Figure 4. Output characteristics of the converter (control parameter – δ)

3. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Using the methodology described in research [23], a series resonant DC-DC converter with the
relevant nominal parameters is designed: output power – P0N = 200 W; input voltage – UdN = 100 V; output
voltage – U0N = 100 V; switching frequency – fSN = 50 kHz; normalized frequency – νN = 1.15. Values Lr =
531.8 µH; Cr = 25.36 nF are calculated for resonant tank parameters. Figure 5 shows a fully functional model
of the designed converter. The commutation of the power switches is based on a microcontroller ZF083 A, which
provides 3.5 V square wave control pulses that are phase shifted on angle δ. Since the 3.5 V magnitude is not
high enough, the signal is amplified to 15 V, then applied to ZVS drivers and the two H-bridge stages. The
input and output voltages and currents are measured by digital multimeters. Regarding the data received, the
output characteristics of the converter are built.
Studies with different values of the supply voltage Ud from the battery block have been conducted. In
order to cover the work of the converter in the whole area of the output characteristics a battery block is also
attached on the load side. This gives the opportunity to study the operating modes, as well as the work of the
Experimental investigation of bidirectional series resonant DC-DC converter in different … (Angel Lichev)
1048  ISSN: 2088-8694

converter in buck and boost modes. Different operating frequencies in the range fS = 46÷59 kHz have been
tested. The main part of the accomplished results is at a frequency which is close to the designed fS = 50 kHz
(νN = 1.154).

Figure 5. A laboratory model of the DC/DC converter

3.1. Waveforms of the converter

Waveforms showing the work of the converter at a settled regime are demonstrated in Figure 6. Both
of the figures show the square wave voltage uAB at the input bridge output and the current through the resonant
inverter iL. Figure 6(a) demonstrates the forward mode at phase shift angle δ = 90°, and Figure 6(b) at maximal
power feed-back from “load” to supply (δ = 270°).

(a) (b)

Figure 6. Waveforms of voltage uAB and iL at (a) forward mode and (b) reverse mode

Figure 7 demonstrates the voltages on both sides of the resonant tank (uAB and uCD) in boost mode
Figure 7(a) and in buck mode of the converter Figure 7(b). In this figure, the current through one diagonal of
the input H-bridge’s transistors is also shown. From these waveforms, the conducting periods of the input stage
power switches are distinctly visible. The two figures are also in the two modes of operation – forward and
reverse with the same controlling angles δ.
Waveforms of the resonant current iL at different operating frequencies (fS = (46, 50, 59) kHz) are
shown in Figure 8(a). They are taken in forward mode at δ = 90°. It is known that for such kind of converter at
frequencies closer to the resonant one, higher energy transfer can be obtained. From the illustration can be
noted that the current rises significantly for lower frequencies and with that the delivered power. Figure 8(b)
demonstrates the soft commutation during the process of a transistor switch-on.

Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2024: 1045-1051
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst ISSN: 2088-8694  1049

(a) (b)

Figure 7. Oscillograms of converter voltages uAB and uCD and the current through input H-bridge
semiconductor switches iS1 (a) boost mode and (b) buck mode

(a) (b)

Figure 8. Waveforms of (a) current through the resonant tank iL and (b) drain-source voltage uDS and source
current iS1 of transistor

3.2. Output characteristics

Experimental measurements of the converter operating parameters at the selected working frequency
have been conducted. They are made at different values of the control parameter δ. Figure 9 presents the
converter experimental output characteristics based on the results obtained in Table 1. The study has been
conducted at input voltage Ud = 48 V, which is provided from a battery block. On the output of the converter
is also a battery block whose voltage is changed in the range U0 = 12÷50 V.

UO

0.8
O

O
O

O
O

=180
=210

=150
=270

=240

=120
O
=90

0.6

0.4

0.2

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 IO
.

Figure 9. Experimentally obtained normalized output characteristics of the converter

The frequency is fSN =50 kHz. The output characteristics are transformed in normalized values. Current
limiting with the increase of the voltage is observed which differs from the theoretical characteristics in Figure 4.
The main reason for this is the assumptions for element ideality in the mathematical equations in the analysis.

Experimental investigation of bidirectional series resonant DC-DC converter in different … (Angel Lichev)
1050  ISSN: 2088-8694

Table 1. Experimental measurements of the resonant DC/DC converter

δ Ud Id U0 I0 δ Ud Id U0 I0
90° 47.7 0.258 12.51 0.862 210° 47.8 -0.076 12.47 -0.474
47.6 0.496 25.19 0.849 48.0 -0.184 24.84 -0.49
47.7 0.716 37.28 0.836 48.2 -0.296 37.42 -0.506
47.6 0.947 50.11 0.816 48.5 -0.404 49.42 -0.523
120° 47.6 0.243 12.76 0.739 240° 47.9 -0.161 12.35 -0.781
47.6 0.447 25.30 0.72 48.2 -0.352 24.60 -0.794
47.5 0.661 38.30 0.702 48.4 -0.545 37.17 -0.809
47.6 0.850 50.28 0.684 48.8 -0.726 48.98 -0.825
150° 47.6 0.160 12.71 0.413 270° 48.0 -0.198 12.08 -0.886
47.7 0.284 25.24 0.393 48.3 -0.423 24.52 -0.899
47.6 0.409 38.15 0.373 48.5 -0.692 37.03 -0.911
47.9 0.518 50.15 0.354 48.9 -0.863 48.73 -0.927
180° 47.8 0.043 12.60 -0.033
47.8 0.045 25.06 -0.052
47.9 0.037 37.84 -0.071
48.2 0.035 49.90 -0.089

4. CONCLUSION
The presented study describes the operating modes of bidirectional series resonant DC-DC converter.
A laboratory model of the converter is designed and developed. Series of experimental investigations which
demonstrate its functionality for the whole range of the expected working area have been conducted. The results
have proven the ability of such resonant converter controlled with the described phase-shift method to work in
both operating modes – forward and reverse, as well as in buck and boost regimes. The experimental output
characteristics are obtained and similarity with the theoretical characteristics is demonstrated. The possibility
to reverse the direction of the energy from the supply to the load and vice versa makes the converter suitable
for implementation in the vast growing area of electrical storage systems. The specific characteristics, similar
to an ideal current source and the opportunity for smooth control of the power flow magnitude and direction
place the converter in a good position as a battery charging module.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We express our gratitude to the government-funded program "Young Scientists and Postdoctoral
Researchers – 2" for their grant of 300 EUR, which supported our publication efforts.

REFERENCES
[1] R. M. Reffat and R. Ezzat, “Impacts of design configurations and movements of PV attached to building facades on increasing
generated renewable energy,” Solar Energy, vol. 252, pp. 50–71, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2023.01.040.
[2] P. R. Kumar and R. Padma, “A Novel Control Method for Integration of Battery Energy Storage System in Microgrid for Energy
Management System,” International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 4974–4977,
2019, doi: 10.35940/ijitee.b9079.129219.
[3] N. M. Kumar, S. S. Chopra, A. A. Chand, R. M. Elavarasan, and G. M. Shafiullah, “Hybrid Renewable Energy Microgrid for a
Residential Community: A Techno-Economic and Environmental Perspective in the Context of the SDG7,” Sustainability, vol. 12,
no. 10, p. 3944, May 2020, doi: 10.3390/su12103944.
[4] J. Lee and J. Won, “Multifunctional Onboard Charger for Electric Vehicles Integrating a Low-Voltage DC-DC Converter and Solar
Roof,” IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 2023, doi: 10.1109/JESTPE.2023.3309974.
[5] K. Jm, S. Sheik Mohammed, T. P. I. Ahamed, and M. Shafeeque, “Design and Simulation of Stand-alone DC Microgrid with Energy
Storage System,” IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Techniques in Control, Optimization and Signal Processing, INCOS
2019, 2019, doi: 10.1109/INCOS45849.2019.8951384.
[6] A. Saha, S. Misra, and P. M. Progya, “Design and simulation based stand-alone solar micro grid system for island areas,” 2019 5th
International Conference on Advances in Electrical Engineering, ICAEE 2019, pp. 229–234, 2019, doi:
10.1109/ICAEE48663.2019.8975488.
[7] Z. Ma, F. Dong, J. Wang, Y. Zhou, and Y. Feng, “Optimal design of a novel hybrid renewable energy CCHP system considering
long and short-term benefits,” Renewable Energy, vol. 206, pp. 72–85, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.02.014.
[8] B. Zhao, Q. Yu, and W. Sun, “Extended-phase-shift control of isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter for power distribution in
microgrid,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 27, no. 11, pp. 4667–4680, 2012, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2011.2180928.
[9] M. A. Obaidah, F. Soroni, and M. M. Khan, “Development of a Hybrid Power Generation System,” in 2021 IEEE 12th Annual
Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics & Mobile Communication Conference (UEMCON), Dec. 2021, pp. 0717–0722, doi:
10.1109/UEMCON53757.2021.9666682.
[10] H. Zhang, Y. Wang, H. Yu, and Z. Chen, “A Novel Flexible Multiport Interlinking Converter for DC Microgrid Clusters,” IEEE
Transactions on Industry Applications, 2023, doi: 10.1109/TIA.2023.3322981.
[11] P. Roy, J. He, T. Zhao, and Y. V. Singh, “Recent Advances of Wind-Solar Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Power
Generation: A Review,” IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society, vol. 3, pp. 81–104, 2022, doi:
10.1109/OJIES.2022.3144093.
[12] S. Supanyapong, W. Pattarapongsathit, A. Bilsalam, D. Guilbert, and P. Thounthong, “Averaged large-signal model of a DC-DC
isolated forward resonant reset converter for a solar cell battery charger using internet of things: implementation,” International

Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2024: 1045-1051
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst ISSN: 2088-8694  1051

Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 1732–1747, 2022, doi: 10.11591/ijpeds.v13.i3.pp1732-1748.
[13] W. Xiong, Z. Yan, D. Tang, W. Zhou, and R. Mai, “A Hybrid Topology IPT System with Partial Power Processing for CC-CV
Charging,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2023, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2023.3310713.
[14] Y. Yuan, T. Tao, Y. Huang, N. Peng, W. Liu, and G. Xing, “A High-Gain Five-Bridge-Arms Bidirectional DC-DC Converter for
Wide Range Applications,” IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 2023, doi:
10.1109/JESTPE.2023.3324212.
[15] R. M. Reddy and M. Das, “Reconfigurable Resonant DC-DC Bidirectional Converter for Wide Output Voltage Applications,” IEEE
Transactions on Industry Applications, pp. 1–10, 2023, doi: 10.1109/tia.2023.3314010.
[16] F. Yuan, R. Hao, X. You, and P. Xiang, “A High Voltage Gain Soft-Switching Bidirectional DC-DC Converter With Wide Range
Using Resonant Network,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2023, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2023.3309012.
[17] N. Hinov and T. Grigorova, “Design Considerations of Multi-Phase Buck DC-DC Converter,” Applied Sciences (Switzerland), vol.
13, no. 19, 2023, doi: 10.3390/app131911064.
[18] D. Mou et al., “Overview of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Modulation Techniques for Dual Active Bridge Converter,” IEEE Journal
of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, 2023, doi: 10.1109/JESTPE.2023.3323288.
[19] M. Pastor, J. Dudrik, and A. Marcinek, “Optimization of Soft-Switching DC-DC Converter,” 2023 International Conference on
Electrical Drives and Power Electronics, EDPE 2023 - Proceedings, 2023, doi: 10.1109/EDPE58625.2023.10274020.
[20] B. T. Kadhem, S. S. Harden, and K. M. Abdulhassan, “High-performance Cuk converter with turn-on switching at zero voltage and
zero current,” Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1359–1370, 2023, doi: 10.11591/eei.v12i3.4499.
[21] M. A. N. Kasiran, A. Ponniran, N. N. M. Siam, M. H. Yatim, N. A. C. Ibrahim, and A. Md Yunos, “DC-DC converter with 50 kHz-
500 kHz range of switching frequency for passive component volume reduction,” International Journal of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 1114–1122, 2021, doi: 10.11591/ijece.v11i2.pp1114-1122.
[22] Z. M’barki, K. S. Rhazi, and Y. Mejdoub, “A novel fuzzy logic control for a zero current switching-based buck converter to mitigate
conducted electromagnetic interference,” International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 1423–
1436, 2023, doi: 10.11591/ijece.v13i2.pp1423-1436.
[23] A. Lichev, “Modeling and Optimization of Bidirectional Dual Active Bridge DC-DC Converter Topologies.” Department Electrical
and Electronics, UFT Plovdiv, UFT Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 2018.
[24] M. Qawaqzeh, R. Zaitsev, O. Miroshnyk, M. Kirichenko, D. Danylchenko, and L. Zaitseva, “High-voltage DC converter for solar
power station,” International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 2135–2144, 2020, doi:
10.11591/ijpeds.v11.i4.pp2135-2144.
[25] A. H. M. Dobi and M. R. Sahid, “Non-isolated LLC resonant DC-DC converter with balanced rectifying current and stress,”
Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 698–706, 2020, doi:
10.11591/ijeecs.v18.i2.pp698-706.

BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS

Angel Lichev works as an assistant professor in the EEE Department at the UFT –
Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He received his B.Ec. degree in PU “Paisii Hilendarski” in 2006 and his
M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from The UFT – Plovdiv, in 2015 and 2018,
respectively. Throughout his qualifying, he also works in the sphere of energetics and electrical
installation. Apart from the university activities, he is engaged in several projects relating to the
practical training of young graduates in the area of electrical engineering and electronics. He
works in the field of power converters, control systems, and green energy systems. He can be
contacted at email: [email protected].

Yasen Madankov works as an assistant professor in EEE Department at the

University of Food Technologies – Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He received his B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees
in Automation Engineering from TU – Sofia (Branch Plovdiv), Bulgaria in 2007 and 2009,
respectively. While working in the hardware and software development area he finished his Ph.D.
study in Industrial Electronics in University of Food Technologies – Plovdiv in 2018. Aside from
the university activities he manages projects in renewable energy sources area and especially the
PV sector. He works in the field of photovoltaic systems, renewable energy, storage solutions,
industrial electronics and embedded systems. He can be contacted at email: y_madankov@uft-
plovdiv.bg.

Vasil Mihov is a lecturer in EEE Department at the University of Food Technologies

– Plovdiv, Bulgaria. His B.Eng. and the M.Eng. degrees in electronics are recieved, both from
TU - Sofia (Branch Plovdiv), in 2003 and 2005, and Ph.D. degree in Industrial electronics in
2011. He spent ten years working in several companies, including BTL Industries Ltd. and Elit
95 Ltd. where he participated in various projects related to manufacturing, maintenance and
customer support. He returned to the scientific work in 2021 and became an assistant professor
in 2022. He works in the field of power electronics, electric drives and alternative energy systems.
He can be contacted at email: [email protected].

Experimental investigation of bidirectional series resonant DC-DC converter in different … (Angel Lichev)