Magnetically Integrated Multiport Converter for Energy Management in DC-Powered Buildings

Multiport converters have gained attention in the last few years as a key component for dc-powered buildings, more electric aircraft, and maritime applications. For buildings, the prevalence of dc appliances and electronic loads increases the need for efficient integration with both ac grid and local generation. Ac-dc multiport converters play an important role in this integration because dc distribution has been considered for power integration in modern buildings. In addition, the growing complexity of loads and sources within buildings has driven interest in developing flexible solutions to provide highly efficient integration. Furthermore, ongoing developments in standardization for in-building dc grids underscore the importance of considering specific requirements for future designs. This paper proposes a multiport power converter (ac/dc/dc) to integrate dc-powered buildings into an ac grid. By providing a multiport solution, it is possible to reduce the power processing stages and the component count. To evaluate the effectiveness of this concept, a 5-kW prototype was built and tested, including efficiency evaluation. In addition, emerging standards are discussed to tailor the power converter design for building applications.