Performance Enhancement of CUK Converter for Electric Vehicle Applications

Abstract

Utilizing the intrinsic benefits of high voltage gain, bidirectional power flow, and galvanic isolation, the CUK converter is a widely utilized and adaptable DC-DC converter architecture that has found widespread use, particularly in electric vehicle (EV) applications. However, the traditional CUK converters have significant switching losses, high voltage stress, and difficult control.  This research examines several approaches to enhance the performance of CUK converters for use in electric vehicle applications. In order to lower switching loss and increase efficiency, soft-switching techniques like Zero-Voltage Switching (ZVS) and ZCS are introduced. To reduce voltage stress and increase power density, multilevel converter topologies such as the Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) and Flying Capacitor Multilevel Converter (FC-MLC) are presented.  In order to improve the converter's performance while preserving stability, this study explores sophisticated control techniques including predictive control and Model Predictive Control (MPC). It explores magnetic design optimization strategies, such as core material selection and the use of magnetic design tools, to lower core losses and improve efficiency. Thermal management techniques like heatsink design and thermal modeling are necessary to prevent overheating-related problems. The CUK converters are the most advantageous for EV applications because they employ enhancing techniques that lead to high efficiency, power density, reliability, and overall system performance. The most recent techniques are reviewed in this research along with their implications for upcoming electric automobiles.