A generic FPGA-based PWM generator with automatic device fault recovery for fuel cell, interleaved, multi-phase and multi-switch DC/DC boost converters

This paper describes the simulation and implementation of a generic FPGA-based PWM generator with automatic device fault recovery. This PWM generator is applied to multi-switch DC/DC boost converters for fuel cell applications; these converters have gained attention due to its reliability, equally-distributed power losses and reduced part count. In this paper, three different driving schemes for one phase and different legs are described and one driving scheme has been finally chosen. The operation of the proposed PWM generator with simulations and experimental results are shown. This PWM generator with automatic fault recovery, brings more reliability and fault robustness to fuel cell boost converters, making suitable to use in electric vehicle and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The method used in the PWM generator described on this paper, allows to change the number of devices working in DC/DC conversion, increasing the switching frequency and the duty cycle of the power switches, ensuring a DC/DC conversion without interruption.