Article | REF: D3015 V2

Piezoelectric transformers in power electronics

Authors: François COSTA, Dejan VASIC

Publication date: December 10, 2024

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ABSTRACT

This article deals with the use of the piezoelectric transformer (PT) in low-power electronic converters, 0.1-10 W. Thanks to its monolithic, planar structure and simple topology - disks or rods -, it can be used to create low-cost compact converters, well-suited to on-board applications. Electrical energy conversion involves a dual electrical-mechanical and mechanical-electrical conversion process, based on the creation of a standing or travelling wave within the piezoelectric material making up the PT. The article discusses its operating principle, its modeling and then its implementation in power converters for various types of DC-DC or DC-AC conversion. Electrical operating modes are analyzed, as are the main performances and limitations of the proposed structures.

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AUTHORS

  • François COSTA: Professor Emeritus, Université Paris-Est Créteil - Former director and researcher at the SATIE laboratory – ENS Paris-Saclay, France

  • Dejan VASIC: University Professor at CY Cergy Paris Université - Researcher at the SATIE laboratory – ENS Paris-Saclay, France

 INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the field of use of piezoelectric materials, historically reserved for electroacoustic devices, mechanical sensors and then precision actuators, has continued to expand, notably with new applications identified in power electronics thanks to the use of piezoelectric transformers. The aim of this article is to present the opportunities offered by this type of component in terms of the realization of specific power supplies requiring, for example, very high compactness, and/or high voltage levels, and/or high primary-secondary galvanic isolation. After a few reminders of the physical principles involved, the authors present: the usual structures of piezoelectric transformers (§ 1 ); their mode of operation is then studied in detail (§ 2 and 3 ); a new control mode based not on a standing wave but on a travelling wave is then presented (§ 4); finally, some static conversion structures and associated control regimes are posed and analyzed (§ 5).

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KEYWORDS

Piezoelectric transformer   |   DC-DC/DC-AC converters   |   piezoelectric materials

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Piezoelectric transformers for power electronics