Single-Ended Direct AC-AC Converter for Domestic Induction Heating based on a Bidirectional GaN-FET

Current trends in induction heating appliances aim for a holistic approach to achieve high-efficiency and high-performance cost-effective implementations. In this scenario, bidirectional power devices open a new paradigm, as they allow direct AC-AC implementations, eliminating the requirement of a rectifier stage, reducing the number of power devices, and therefore boosting the converter efficiency. Moreover, the device four-quadrant operation increases the modulation possibilities of the topology, improving the converter controllability. This paper proposes an implementation of a single-ended zero-current-switching ACAC converter based on a bidirectional GaN-FET and evaluates various operation modes depending on the four-quadrant switch activation. The proposed approach is designed and experimentally validated.