An Enhanced Multiple Harmonics Analysis Method for Wireless Power Transfer Systems

First harmonic analysis (FHA) is arguably the most widely used analytical technique for wireless power transfer (WPT) circuits due to its simplicity. Although FHA can provide closed-form solutions, the existence of rectifier diode forward voltage drop and higher order harmonics, especially the second and third harmonics at variable duty cycle operation, can significantly deteriorate its accuracy. This paper presents an accurate and efficient method called enhanced multiple harmonic analysis (eMHA) for the optimal design and optimal control of WPT systems. The eMHA method considers the nature of nonlinear rectification networks under nonsinusoidal current and reexamines the concept of the equivalent load. As a result, the rectified WPT system is transformed into a series of linear systems with complex load impedances. The steady-state electric quantities can be then explicitly calculated. This enables eMHA to seamlessly work with numerical optimization algorithms to facilitate the automated design and optimization of WPT systems. An example of optimal design and optimal control of a 10 W WPT system is demonstrated. The results obtained by eMHA and FHA are also compared. A prototype of the designed circuit was constructed. The accuracy and effectiveness of eMHA are verified by experimental measurements. This paper is accompanied by a MATLAB-based analytical tool with a graphical user interface demonstrating the effects of circuit variables on electrical quantities and waveforms.