A major challenge for practical wireless power transfer (WPT) applications is to attain stable power transfer with high and constant transfer efficiency under a dynamic change of coupling condition. In order to address the issue, this paper proposes a novel nonlinear parity-time-symmetric (PT) model, wherein the nonlinear saturable gain is provided by a self-oscillating controlled inverter. In this paper, the transfer performance and stability criterion of the nonlinear PT-based WPT system are analyzed based on the coupled-mode theory (CMT). The theoretical analysis shows that the proposed system automatically achieves constant output power with constant transfer efficiency against the variation of coupling coefficient. Moreover, based on the gain saturation mechanism, the control strategy for the inverter only need detect the current in the transmitter, which eliminates auxiliary circuits of wireless communication for feedback control from the receiver. As a case study of dynamic charging, a drone-in-flight wireless charging platform is improved by applying the nonlinear PT-symmetric model. Experimental results show that, when the flying drone hovers in a confined 3-D volume of space above the WPT platform, a stable output power is maintained with approximately constant transfer efficiency of 93.6%.

For a multiload wireless power transfer (WPT) system, it has always been a challenge to maintain constant output power with constant efficiency for each load when the coupling conditions change. Besides, the unbalanced power distribution and cross-coupling among loads are also the key issues. In order to solve these problems, a novel multiload WPT system combining the parity-time (PT) symmetry principle and time-sharing control strategy is proposed. First, the multiload PT-symmetric WPT (PT-WPT) system with single natural resonant frequency is modeled and analyzed based on the circuit model. Then, a multiload PT-WPT system with time-sharing control strategy is constructed by adding a controllable resonant capacitor array at the transmitter. The time-sharing control strategy is realized by periodically turning on/off a controllable resonant capacitor selectively, which enables a single transmitter to supply power to multiple loads with different natural resonant frequencies, and each load realizes PT transmission characteristics. Further, using the time-sharing control strategy, the power distribution among multiple loads is realized by only controlling the duty cycle of each load. Finally, two dual-load PT-WPT experiments are designed and carried out. Experimental results show that each load can maintain constant output power with constant transfer efficiency about 90% in a wide coupling range, and realize power distribution at desired values simultaneously.

In existing capacitive wireless power transfer (CPT) systems, the coupling capacitance of the traditional couplers is usually small, which will lead to a significant decrease in the power transfer capability when the transfer distance increases. Thus, it is a big challenge to achieve stable output power and constant transfer efficiency under different coupling capacitance. In this work, the circuit model of the CPT system with double-side LC compensation network is established firstly. Then, based on the parity-time (PT) symmetric theory, a primary-side control strategy is presented to achieve stable output power and constant high transfer efficiency when the coupling capacitance changes. Finally, the experimental results show that when the insertion depth of the stack array coupler changes from 60 to 180 mm, the output power of the proposed CPT prototype is almost stable at 25W, and the transfer efficiency is kept at around 88%, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed design.

In order to obtain more realistic characteristics of the converter, a fractional-order inductor and capacitor are used in the modeling of power electronic converters. However, few researches focus on power electronic converters with a fractional-order mutual inductance. This paper introduces a fractional-order flyback converter with a fractional-order mutual inductance and a fractional-order capacitor. The equivalent circuit model of the fractional-order mutual inductance is derived. Then, the state-space average model of the fractional-order flyback converter in continuous conduction mode (CCM) are established. Moreover, direct current (DC) analysis and alternating current (AC) analysis are performed under the Caputo fractional definition. Theoretical analysis shows that the orders have an important influence on the ripple, the CCM operating condition and transfer functions. Finally, the results of circuit simulation and numerical calculation are compared to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the validity of the model. The simulation results show that the fractional-order flyback converter exhibits smaller overshoot, shorter setting time and higher design freedom compared with the integer-order flyback converter.

This paper presents and analyzes an AC-DC power converter structure, which is comprised of a Power Factor Correction (PFC) module and a LLC resonant DC-DC converter module. This converter only uses two switches, and requires three less diodes and one less switch compared to popular LLC resonant converter solutions. Compared to its conventional counterpart, the rectifier of interest has high energy efficiency while a smaller size, owing to the soft-switching in the LLC resonant converter. Detailed theoretical analyses are conducted in this study, followed by software simulation and hardware experimentation, which demonstrate that the single stage double-switched (DS)-LLC rectifier is able to realize unity power factor and a wide output range, indicating its effectiveness and applicability.