Scalable multi‐port active‐bridge converters: modelling and optimised control

This study presents the tools required to create a modular and scalable multi‐port converter structure, suitable for bidirectional power flow. A class of converters is defined based on the active bridge as basic building block. Any number of active bridges can be combined to form a multi‐port converter with any number of ports. For modelling of the converter, a Fourier‐based method is introduced to find an analytical converter model. Moreover, a scalable control method is proposed for these multi‐port converters: power‐balance control. The method uses Newton‐optimisation in order to reduce the circulating currents. Experimental verification on a prototype shows the methods operate as expected.