Distributed interleaving of paralleled power converters

Abstract

This paper introduces a distributed approach to interleaving paralleled power converter cells. Unlike conventional methods, the distributed approach requires no centralized control, automatically accommodates varying numbers of converter cells, and is highly tolerant of subsystem failures. A general methodology for achieving distributed interleaving is proposed, along with a specific implementation approach. The design and experimental verification of a 50 kHz prototype system is presented, and quantitative performance comparisons are made between synchronized clocking, independent clocking, and interleaved clocking of the converter cells. The experimental results corroborate the analytical predictions and demonstrate the tremendous benefits of the distributed interleaving approach.