In this paper, the guidelines to design a high-voltage power converter based on the hybrid series parallel resonant topology, PRC-LCC, with a capacitor as output filter are established. As a consequence of the selection of this topology, transformer ratio, and therefore secondary volume, is reduced. The mathematical analysis provides an original equivalent circuit for the steady-state and dynamical behavior of the topology. A new way to construct high-voltage transformers is also proposed, pointing out the advantages and establishing an original method to evaluate the stray components of the transformer before construction. The way to make compatible the characteristics of both, topology and transformer is illustrated in the frame of a practical application. To demonstrate the feasibility of this solution, a high-voltage, high-power prototype is assembled and tested with good performance and similar behavior to the one predicted by the models. Experimental results are shown on this particular.

In high-voltage DC power supplies (hundreds of kilovolts), avoiding the inductance in the output filter is an important asset. Thus, a capacitor as a unique component of that filter is preferable. On the other hand, a high-voltage step-up transformer shows a high capacitance in its secondary, which can be included in a resonant stage. Both capacitances, i.e., one from the filter and the other from the transformer, are separated by the output rectifier. When this rectifier is on, they are in parallel; when it is off, they are disconnected. A resonant stage where a very large capacitor appears and disappears several times in one period is not linear and has not been dynamically modeled before. This paper shows two simple models for the parallel-series (LCC-type parallel resonant converter) resonant topology with a capacitor as output filter. Its dynamics and steady state are studied and constitute an important help for any designer.

With photovoltaic (PV) systems proliferating in the last few years due to the high prices of fossil fuels and pollution issues, among others, it is extremely important to monitor the efficiency of these plants and optimize the energy production process. This will also result in improvements related to the maintenance and security of the installation. In order to do so, the main parameters in the plant must be continuously monitored so that the appropriate actions can be carried out. This monitoring should not only be carried out at a global level, but also at panel-level, so that a better understanding of what is actually happening in the PV plant can be obtained. This paper presents a system based on a wireless sensor network (WSN) that includes all the components required for such monitoring as well as a power supply obtaining the energy required by the sensors from the photovoltaic panels. The system proposed succeeds in identifying all the nodes in the network and provides real-time monitoring while tracking efficiency, features, failures and weaknesses from a single cell up to the whole infrastructure. Thus, the decision-making process is simplified, which contributes to reducing failures, wastes and, consequently, costs.

One of the newest methods for desalinating water is capacitive deionization (CDI). This technology is based on carbon electrodes capable of adsorbing ionic components from water. The aim of this paper is to present the power electronic stage required in a water desalination system that permits recovery of part of the energy involved in the process and its reuse in a high efficient manner. First, the CDI process and the energy recovery are described. Second, a buck-boost converter is designed that allows energy to be recovered while taking into account the large voltage variations at its input and output. The converter is modeled using a mathematical algorithm to study its behavior with large input and output capacitor values. Simulation results are provided as well as experimental data agreeing with them.

A new input current shaper is proposed in this paper. The operating principle is based on the connection of a voltage source and a loss-free resistor (LFR) between the input rectifier and the bulk capacitor in a conventional switching mode power supply with no power-factor correction. Both the voltage source and the LFR are obtained as an additional output from the converter's transformer. This additional output is a forward-type one with one extra inductor. With the final topology, a good tradeoff between capacitor voltage, recycling energy, and harmonic content can be established in order to comply with IEC 1000-3-2 specifications.

One of the major drawbacks of high-ratio step-up transformers is the high value of their secondary-side capacitor. This value is reflected at the primary side, giving rise to a nondesirable one. There are some converters which include this capacitor in the topology and can cope with it, and even more, they need it. In particular, in high-voltage applications, we will find transformers with a large capacitance value since they use high-ratio step-up transformers. In this kind of applications, it is always interesting not to have inductors at the output filter, with single-capacitor filters being preferred instead. Thus, one of the simplest topologies is the parallel resonant converter (PRC) with a single-capacitor output filter. It can be controlled by the switching frequency and/or duty cycle, which makes zero voltage switching feasible in the power switches. In this paper, the PRC modeling and design and the experimental results are shown in a prototype delivering 3.5 kV and 260 W.