Apparatus and method for avoiding transformer saturation

A method comprising:

• measuring DC components of current at primary and secondary windings of a transformer of a power converter;
• assessing a rate of change of the measured DC components of current in the primary and secondary windings;
• adjusting pulse widths of primary bridge switches of the power converter, based on the measured DC components of current and the assessed rate of change;
• adjusting pulse widths of secondary bridge switches of the power converter, based on the measured DC components of current and the assessed rate of change;
• generating target time functions of voltage levels of the primary and secondary windings based on the assessed rate of change;
• wherein the pulse widths of the primary bridge switches and the pulse widths of the secondary bridge switches are adjusted to prevent saturation of a core of the transformer;
• wherein the adjustments are based on the target time functions;
• and
• wherein the adjustments are set for the pulse widths to approximate the target time functions of the voltage levels, to hold the DC components of current in the primary and secondary windings at near a value of zero.

A method comprising:

• applying first electrical pulses to a first plurality of switches of a power converter, the power converter comprising:
• a transformer having a core;
• a primary winding;
• a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding via the core;
• a second plurality of switches for electrically connecting the secondary winding to a secondary link;
• and the first plurality of switches for electrically connecting the primary winding to a primary link;
• applying second electrical pulses to the second plurality of switches, wherein the first electrical pulses and the second electrical pulses are configured for converting power between the primary link and the secondary link;
• measuring DC components of current through the primary and secondary windings;
• assessing a rate of change of the measured DC components of current in the primary and secondary windings;
• generating target time functions of voltage levels of the primary and secondary windings based on the assessed rate of change;
• and
• preventing saturation of the core by adjusting respective pulse widths of the first electrical pulses and the second electrical pulses based on the measured DC components of current and the assessed rate of change of the measured DC components of current in the primary and secondary windings;
• wherein the respective adjustments are based on the target time functions;
• and
• wherein the adjustments are set for the pulse widths to approximate the target time functions of the voltage levels, to hold the DC components of current in the primary and secondary windings at near a value of zero.