Three‑phase three‑level flying capacitor converter with only one capacitor

Bihua Hu; Xiangyun Qin; Bumin Meng; Zhaohong Tang; Zhixiang Yang

Three‑phase three‑level flying capacitor converter with only one capacitor

Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 992-1003, Jun. 2025

10.1007/s43236-024-00951-w

Capacitor voltage

Flying capacitor converter

Multi-level Converter

Modulation strategy

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel three-phase, three-level flying capacitor converter (FCC) that uniquely utilizes only one capacitor, addressing the power density limitations of conventional FCC designs that require multiple capacitors. To further enhance performance, a novel modulation strategy with predictive capacitor-voltage control is proposed, ensuring precise output-voltage regulation and a stable capacitor voltage at half of the DC voltage. A detailed comparison of the component counts, power losses, and voltage stresses with conventional three-level converters is provided to highlight the advantages of the proposed system. Experimental validation is carried out on a 500-W prototype, demonstrating a significant reduction in the capacitor count, along with outstanding steady-state performance, high power-conversion efficiency, and a fast dynamic response. These attributes make the proposed FCC highly advantageous for applications with stringent size, cost, and reliability requirements, such as electric vehicles.

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Cite this article

[IEEE Style]

B. Hu, X. Qin, B. Meng, Z. Tang, Z. Yang, "Three‑phase three‑level flying capacitor converter with only one capacitor," Journal of Power Electronics, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 992-1003, 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s43236-024-00951-w.

[ACM Style]

Bihua Hu, Xiangyun Qin, Bumin Meng, Zhaohong Tang, and Zhixiang Yang. 2025. Three‑phase three‑level flying capacitor converter with only one capacitor. Journal of Power Electronics, 25, 6, (2025), 992-1003. DOI: 10.1007/s43236-024-00951-w.