This chapter outlined some of the most recent and important advances achieved in the development of fault diagnostic tools and fault-tolerant strategies aimed at DC- DC converters. It is a research topic that has attracted much attention in the last few years, and will certainly continue to attract attentions, due to the compelling need for highly reliable and efficient power conversion solutions for the emerging topic of DC grids. The algorithms available in the literature provide effective fault diagnostic and fault-tolerant solutions for the wide range of DC-DC converter topologies and their typical end-users, allowing to establish a solid framework for the development of reliable DC grids. Still, further developments are required to obtain cheaper and highly reliable DC-DC power conversion solutions.

Chapter Contents:

• Nomenclature
• 6.1 Fault diagnostic algorithms
• 6.1.1 Signal-processing-based algorithms
• 6.1.1.1 Time-domain signal-processing-based algorithms
• 6.1.1.2 Frequency-domain signal-processing-based algorithms
• 6.1.1.3 Main features of the signal-processing-based algorithms
• 6.1.2 Model-based algorithms
• 6.1.2.1 Sliding mode observer
• 6.1.2.2 Inductor current emulation
• 6.1.2.3 State estimation
• 6.1.2.4 Main features of model-based fault diagnostic algorithms
• 6.2 Fault-tolerant strategies
• 6.2.1 Bypass of faulty module(s)
• 6.2.2 Phase-shift adjustment
• 6.2.3 Inclusion of additional components
• 6.2.3.1 Fault-tolerant architectures based on additional discrete components
• 6.2.3.2 Fault-tolerant architectures based on redundant legs
• 6.2.4 Comparative analysis of the fault-tolerant strategies
• 6.3 Conclusions
• Acknowledgement
• References

Inspec keywords: power conversion; fault diagnosis; fault tolerance; DC-DC power convertors

Other keywords: fault diagnostic tools; DC grids; DC-DC converter topologies; DC-DC converters; efficient power conversion solutions; fault-tolerant strategies

Subjects: DC-DC power convertors; Power system protection