EUROCON 2007 The International Conference on “Computer as a Tool”
Modeling and Simulation of a Series
Resonant Inverter
Marin Tomşe*, Nistor-Daniel Trip*, Adrian Şchiop* and Cornelia Gordan*
*
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informational Technology, Oradea, Romania,
e-mails: mtomse@uoradea.ro , dtrip@uoradea.ro, aschiop@uoradea.ro, cgordan@uoradea.ro
Abstract – This paper contain the contribution of the
authors concerning the modeling and simulation of a series
resonant inverter. This part of this work was used in the
design process of a series resonant inverter used for
induction heating purposes. The model of the converter is
determined by the help of the generalized averaging method
using more than one Fourier coefficients. Using this
technique the authors obtained a more accurate model of
the inverters that contain passive resonant circuits. The
simulation results demonstrate this aim and are in good
agreement with the theoretical results.
Keywords—resonant inverter, modeling, Fourier
coefficient
I. INTRODUCTION
The modeling is an important step after the analysis of
real systems. A mathematical model of a real system
helps us to understand the operation principle for a
specific task. It is difficult to find a model that suits with
all the condition that acts on the studied system. Along
the last years many valuable works presented interesting
methods used to obtain a model for the resonant power
converters. These models were used then to simulate the
behavior of these systems [1], [2], [3], [4], [5].
The most used methods to accomplish a model for
resonant power inverters are based on the next types of
analysis: time domain analysis, state space analysis and
frequency domain analysis. The authors of that works
used many simplifications in order to reduce the amount
of calculus. For the first two kind of analysis the general
trend is to take into the consideration only the main state
variables with a dominant influence on the operation
modes of the power converters. The third mentioned
method of analysis proposes a model based only on the
fundamental components of the state variables of the
resonant power inverters.
The authors of this paper adopt the general averaging
method to develop a model for a series resonant inverter.
This technique was used in [1] and now is used to obtain
a more accurate model for the resonant inverter that was
studied. The main idea of the general averaging is to
consider the Fourier coefficients of each state variable as
new state variables. The more Fourier coefficients are
used to represent a state variable the more accurate model
is obtained.
In the work are presented also comparisons between
the models achieved. The responses of the models are
given for the time representation of the state variables and
frequency domain representation.
1-4244-0813-X/07/$20.00 2007 IEEE. 1512
Warsaw, September 9-12
II. GENERAL AVERAGING METHOD
In the work [1] were presented in detail the
generalized averaging method for an electronic converter.
In this work, the authors will adopt this method to
analyses a resonant power inverter. The key points to this
type of analysis are briefly mentioned further.
General averaging method uses the Fourier series to
represent the time evolution of the state variables of a
system. Thus, a state variable x(τ) with T period, in (t-T)
time interval can be represented in the next form:
∞
x (τ) = ∑ x (t ) ⋅ e jkωτ , k = 0,±1,±2... (1)
k = −∞ k
where ω = 2π/T and x k are the complex coefficients of
the Fourier series of the x(τ) state variable. These
coefficients are time dependent and can be obtained
integrating the state variable on a period as in the next
relation:
1T
x k (t ) = ∫ x (τ )e − jkϖt dt (2)
T0
To derive with the time the Fourier coefficients one
can use the relation presented in [2].
d x k (t) dx
= (t ) − jkω x k ( t ) (3)
dt dt k
This relation is accurate for a constant angular
frequency. In the case in which the angular frequency is
changing, the relation (3) approximates the model of the
system. This approximation is fits well if the angular
frequency changes itself slow in the time.
A. Large signal model determination
An electronic power converter could be described as a
system by the help of the next equations:
dx ( t )
= A ⋅ x ( t) + B ⋅ v(t ) (4)
dt
y(t ) = f (x ( t ), v( t )) (5)
where v(t) is the vector of the input signals, x(t) is the
vector of the state variables and y(t) is the vector of the
output signals. The function f(·) may be linear or
nonlinear taking into account the type of the circuit that
must be modeled.
To obtain the averaged large signal model it is
important to obtain a Fourier series for both relations (4)
and (5) mentioned above. To fulfill this task one can use the two frequencies are almost closed, the load current
relation (3) providing the equations of the averaged large can be considered not affected by the switching process
signal model: of the transistors. For this reason the power stage of the
inverter can be changed by the circuit shown in Fig. 2.
d x (t )
k
= (− jkωI + A ) x k
(t) + B v k
( t) (6)
dt
(
y k ( t ) = f x k (t ), v k ( t ) ) (7)

B. Steady state solution

The steady state condition can be derived from the
relations (6) and (7) when their derivatives equals zero.

x0 k
= ( jkω0 I − A )−1 B v 0 k
(8)
Fig.2. Equivalent circuit of the series resonant inverter.

(
y0 k = f x 0 k , v 0 k ) (9) A. Modeling of the series resonant inverter using the
first Fourier Coefficient
C. Small signal model determination 1) Large signal model
To obtain the small signal model are introduced small Choosing the inductor current i0 and the capacitor
upsets of the variables of the large signal model and then voltage vC as state variables one can derive the next
it is made a linearization of the equations around the equations:
steady state solution. The perturbed variables are
following: di 0 ( t ) R 1 v (t) + 1
= − i0 ( t ) − v AB (t ) (13)
dt L L C L
ˆ; v
ω = ω0 + ω = v0 k + v̂0 k ;
k
dv C ( t ) 1
= i0 ( t ) (14)
x k = x 0 k + x̂ k ; y k = y0 k + ŷ k ; (10) dt C
Small signal model is described by the next equations: where the voltage vAB , in the case of the phase shift
4 δ
d x̂ k control mode, is v AB (t ) = Vd ⋅ cos( ) ⋅ sgn(sin ωt) . The
= (− jkω 0 I + A ) x̂ k + B û k − jkω
ˆ I x0 (11) π 2
dt k parameter δ represents the command angle.
The vector of the state variables in the next form
 ∂f x , v
ŷ (t ) =  k
( k
) x̂ k (t ) + [ ]T
x 1 = i 0 1 _ r , i 0 1 _ i , vC 1 _ r vC 1 _ i and using the
 ∂ x k 
0 relations (6) and (7) in (13) and (14) one can derive the
model of the inverter. The equations of the large signal

+ k
(
 ∂f x , v
k
)  ∂f x , v 
v̂ k (t) +  k k
( ˆ (t) (12)
) model are following:
 ω
 ∂ v k   ∂ω   R 1 
0  0  − L ωc − 0 
L
 R 1
III. MODELING OF THE SERIES RESONANT POWER d x 1(t ) − ωc − L 0 − 
INVERTER = L  ⋅ x (t) +
dt  1  1
The power circuit of the series resonant inverter that  C 0 0 − ωc 
will be modeled is depicted in the Fig. 1.  1 
 0 ωc 0 
 C 
T
 2 
+ 0 − 0 0 ⋅ v AB 1 (t ) (15)
 π⋅L 

y1 (t ) = 2 i 0 1 ( t ) = 2 (i 0 1 _ r (t ) ) +(i
2
0 1_ i (t) )2
(16)

y 2 ( t ) = 2 vC 1
=2 (v C 1_ r ( t)) + ( v
2
C 1_ i (t) )
2
(17)

Fig.1. Power circuit of the series resonant inverter. 2) Steady state solution
The values of the states variables in steady state
The command of this inverter is made using the phase
shift technique. The switching frequency is bigger than conditions [
I01 _ r I01 _ i VC1 _ r VC1 _ i can be ]
the resonance frequency to assure a zero voltage obtained from the equations (15)÷(17) using (8) and (9):
switching of the four power transistor. Due to the fact that

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 4 ∆ Ω ⋅ C ⋅ R ⋅ (1 − Ω C ⋅ L ⋅ C)
2 4 δ  1 
I 01 _ r = Vd cos( ) ⋅ C (18) v AB ( t ) = Vd ⋅ cos( ) ⋅  sgn(sinωt) + sgn(sin3ωt)  (25)
π
π 2
ΩC2 2
(
LC − 1 + Ω C 2 2 2
R C ) 2  3
Considering the vector of the state variable under the


Ω2C ⋅ C2 ⋅ R 2 next form

I01 _ i =
4
π
∆
Vd cos( )
2 ( 2
Ω2CLC − 1 + Ω2CR 2C2 )
(19) x 1, 3 = i0[ 1_ r
i0 1_ i
i0 3_ r
i0 3_i
vC 1_ r vC 1_ i

vC 3 _ r vC 3 _ i ]
T and using the relations (6) and (7) in
4 ∆ ΩC ⋅ C ⋅ R the equations (13) and (14) one can achieve the large
VC1 _ r = Vd cos( ) (20)
π (
2 Ω2 LC − 1 2 + Ω 2 R 2C2
C C ) signal model for more than one Fourier coefficients:

 R 1 
4 ∆ (1 − Ω 2c ⋅ L ⋅ C)  − L ωc 0 0 − 0 0 0 
VC1 _ i = Vd cos( ) (21) L
( )
 
π 2 Ω 2 LC − 1 2 + Ω 2 R 2C 2  − ωc −
R
0 0 0 −
1
0 0 
C C  L L 
 R 1 
 0 0 − 3ω c 0 0 − 0 
3) Small signal model 
L L
R 1
Using the relations (11) and (12) one can derive the d x 1, 3 (t )  0 0 − 3ωc − 0 0 0 − 
= 0 L L  ⋅ x (t ) +
equations that describe the small signal model: dt  1 0 0 0 0 ω 0 0  1, 3
 C c 
 1 
 R 1   0 0 0 − ωc 0 0 0 
− L Ωc −
L
0  
 0
C
1


 R 1   0
C
0 0 0 0 3ω c 
d x̂ 1 (t ) − Ω c − 0 −  
 0
1
0 − 3ωc 0 

= L L  ⋅ x̂ (t ) + 0 0 0
 C 
dt  1  1
(26)
−C 0 0 − Ωc 
 1  T
 0 − Ωc 0   2 2 
+ 0 − 0 − 0 0 0 0 ⋅ u AB (t )
 C   π ⋅ L 3 ⋅ π ⋅ L  1, 3

[
+ I01 _ i − I01 _ r VC1 _ i ]
− VC1 _ r T ⋅ ω
ˆ C (t) +
2 2 2 2
y1(t) = 2 i0 1 _ r (t) + i0 1_ i
(t) + i0 (t) + i0 3 _ i (t) (27)
T T 3_ r
 2   Vd ∆ 
+ 0 − 0 0 ⋅ û d 1( t ) + 0 sin  0 0 δˆ (t )
 π ⋅L   πL  2   2 2 2 2
y2(t) = 2 uC 1_ r (t) + uC 1_ i (t) + uC (t) + uC 3_ i (t) (28)
(22) 3_ r

ŷ1(t ) =
2
[I 01 _ r I01 _ i ]
0 0 ⋅ x̂ 1(t ) (23)
2) Steady state solution
The values of the state variables in steady state
I01 _ r 2 + I01 _ i 2 operation mode
[
I01 _ r I01 _ i I03 _ r I03 _ i VC1 _ r VC1 _ i VC3 _ r VC3 _ i ]
ŷ2 (t) =
2
[
⋅ 0 0 VC1 _ r ]
VC1 _ i ⋅ x̂ 1(t) (24) is achieved from the equations (26) ÷ (28) using the
VC1 _ r 2 + VC1 _ i 2 relations (8) and (9). The relations (18) ÷ (21) achieved
for the model based on a single Fourier coefficient is
T completed with the following relations:
 
where x̂ = î
1  0 1_ r
î0 v̂C 1 _ r v̂C 1 _ i  is 2
 1 _ i  4 ∆ 3 ⋅ Ω C ⋅ C ⋅ R ⋅ (1 − 9 ⋅ Ω C ⋅ L ⋅ C )
I03_ r = Vd cos( ) ⋅ (29)
the upset state vector which include the upset state
variables.
3π 2 ( 2
9 ⋅ Ω 2 LC − 1 + 9 ⋅ Ω 2 R 2 C 2
C ) C

B. Modeling of the series resonant inverter using more 4 ∆ 9 ⋅ ΩC2 ⋅ C 2 ⋅ R 2

I 03_ i = Vd cos( ) (30)
Fourier coefficients
In this section it is presented the influence of the
3π (
2 9 ⋅ Ω 2 LC − 1 2 + 9 ⋅ Ω 2 R 2 C 2
C C )
increase of the number of Fourier coefficients on the 4 ∆ 3 ⋅ ΩC ⋅ C ⋅ R
precision of the achieved models. The first three VC 3 _ r = Vd cos( ) (31)
coefficients are took into consideration corresponding to 3π 2
C (
2 9 ⋅ Ω LC − 1 2 + 9 ⋅ Ω 2 R 2C 2
C )
each variable (k=0, ±1, ±2, ±3). The function that
represents the input voltage v AB (t ) is an odd function 4 ∆ (1 − 9 ⋅ Ω c2 ⋅ L ⋅ C )
VC 3 _ i = Vd cos( ) (32)
and for this reason the even Fourier coefficients are zero.
1) Large signal model
3π (
2 9 ⋅ Ω 2 LC − 1 2 + 9 ⋅ Ω 2 R 2 C 2
C C )
When up to third order Fourier coefficients are used 3) Small signal model
then the applied voltage on the resonant circuit can be Using the relation (11) and (12) one can achieve the small
approximated by the help of the next relation: signal model of the series resonant inverter:

1514
  R 1 
 − L Ωc 0 0 −
L
0 0 0 
 R 1 
− Ωc − 0 0 0 − 0 0 
 L L 
 R 1 
 0 0 − 3Ω c 0 0 − 0 
L L
 R 1
d xˆ 1, 3(t)  0 0 − 3Ωc − 0 0 0 − 
= L L  ⋅ xˆ (t) +
dt  1  1, 3
 C 0 0 0 0 Ω c 0 0 
 1 
 0 0 0 − Ωc 0 0 0 
 C 
 1 
 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Ω c 
C
 1 
 0 0 0 0 0 − 3Ωc 0  a) Input voltage vd
 C 
T
 
+ I0 − I0 I0 − I0 VC − VC VC − VC  ω ˆ (t) +
 1i 1r 3i 3r 1i 1r 3i 3r  C

T
 2 2 
+ 0 − − 0 0 0 0 0 ⋅ v̂ d 1, 3
(t) +
 π ⋅L 3⋅ π ⋅ L 
T
 Vd  δ  V δ 
+ 0 sin  0 3 d sin  0 0 0 0 δˆ (t)
 πL  2  πL  2   1, 3

(33)
2
ŷ1 ( t ) = ⋅
I 01 _ r 2 + I 01 _ i 2 + I 03 _ r 2 + I 03 _ i 2
b) Load current i0

[
⋅ I 01 _ r I 01 _ i 0 0 I 03 _ r I 03 _ i ]
0 0 ⋅ x̂ 1, 3 (t ) (34)

2
ŷ 2 (t ) = ⋅
VC1 _ r + VC1 _ i + VC3 _ r 2 + VC3 _ i 2
2 2

[
⋅ 0 0 0 0 VC1_ r VC1 _ i VC3 _ r VC3 _ i ⋅ x̂ 1, 3(t) ] (35)

where the upset vector of the state variables is given

under the next form:

x̂ 1, 3
=  î0 î0 î0 î0 û C 1_ r
û C 1_ i
 1_ r 1_i 3_ r 3_i

. û C
3_ r
û C 3_i
].
T

c) Capacitor voltage vC
IV. ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION OF THE SERIES
RESONANT INVERTERS. ASSESSMENT OF THE MODELS
For the computer aided analysis and simulation was
used MathCAD program. The main parameters of the
series resonant inverter are: Vd = 30V, L =19.4 µH, C =
880 nF and R = 0,6Ω.
A. Analysis with the large signal models
For the beginning it was determined the response of
the large signal model based on only one Fourier
coefficient (model 1) for the input voltage variations and
different command angles. In the Fig. 3 is presented a
response of the large signal model based on only one
Fourier coefficient for a 20% negative variation of the
input voltage and a command angle δ = 9° . The wave
shape of the presented signals covers the peaks of the d) Real part of the load current i0
state variables of the series resonant inverter. Fig.3. (continues on the next page)

1515
 a) Detail concerning the load current i0 variation
e) Imaginary part of the load current i0

b) Detail concerning the capacitor voltage vC variation

Fig.4. Comparison between the two large signal models.
f) Real part of the capacitor voltage vC
In the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are presented the frequency
characteristics, which show the response of the load
current and capacitor voltage response against the input
voltage variations.

g) Imaginary part of the capacitor voltage vC

Fig.3. (continuation) Response of the large signal model with a single

Fourier coefficient for a 20% step decrease of the input voltage. a) Amplitude-frequency characteristic

For the same simulation conditions the response of the

large signal model based on three Fourier coefficients
(model 2) is very close with those of the above mentioned
model. The responses of the two models are presented
together in the Fig. 4. One can see a small difference
between them.
B. Analysis and simulation of the small signal model
Taking into consideration the response of the small
signal models one can obtain useful information
regarding the stability of the resonant inverter and its
behavior against the disturbances. This time also the
simulations were made for more power levels. Since
during the heating process appear variations of the load b) Phase-frequency characteristic
parameters, this effect was not neglected.
Fig.5. Load current i0 against input voltage characteristic.

1516

a) Amplitude-frequency characteristic
b) Phase-frequency characteristic
Fig.6. Capacitor voltage vC against input voltage characteristic.
a) Detail of the response of the load current i0 to the variation of the
input voltage
b) Detail of the response of the capacitor voltage vC to the variation of
the input voltage
Fig.7. Comparison between the two small signal models.
1517
For these simulation was used the model of the
inverter based on the first Fourier component, three
different values for the load resistance and the command
angle is δ = 9° .
From the Fig. 5 and 6 one can see that the inverter
characteristic offers a phase reserve high enough if one
would develop a feedback loop for this system. A change
of the load parameters is reflected as a change in the
small signal model characteristics of the series resonant
inverter. The increase of the load resistance causes the
decrease of the inverter’s stability. For this reason it
could be a good practice to develop the regulation
feedback loop taking into consideration the load
parameters at the maximum operation temperature.
The differences between the two models are not
significant and for this reason in Fig. 7 are given details
using a suitable representation scale.
Following the presented results one can see that the
differences between the models based on a single Fourier
coefficient and the model based on more Fourier
coefficients are not significant, especially when the
quality factor of the resonant circuit is high enough. The
differences between the two models are only of the
percent order and in the case of a series resonant inverter
doesn’t justify the use of a complex model based on more
Fourier coefficients.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This paper presents a method to obtain large signal and
small signal model for a series resonant inverter used for
inductive heating. The general averaging method was
used to obtain models based on only one or more Fourier
coefficients providing a comparison between them. It was
demonstrated also that the use of more detailed models is
not always justified by a significant increase of the results
precision. This work is very useful for learning purposes
and also for the engineers that wish to design inductive
heating systems.
REFERENCES
[1] C. T. Rim, G. H. Cho, “Phasor transformation and its application to
the dc/dc analyses of frequency phase-controlled series resonant
converters (SRC) “, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 5, no. 2, pp.
201-211, Apr. 1990.
[2] S. R. Sanders, J.M. Noworolski, X. Z. Liu, G. C. Verghese,
“Generalized Averaging Method for Power Conversion Circuits“,
IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 251-258, Apr.
1991.
[3] J. M. Alonso, “Resonant Inverter Modeling for Closed-Loop
Electronic Ballasts“, Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y
Tecnología (CICYT), Research grant number TIC-1999-0884,
Universidad de Oviedo, Spain, 1999.
[4] M. Tomşe, V. Popescu, S. Paşca, “Resonant Inverter Modeling for
Induction Heating“, Symposium of Electronics and
Telecommunications "ETC 2004", Timişoara, 2004, pag. 53-58.
[5] R. W. Erikson, D. Maksimovic, “ Fundamentals of power
electronics”, Second edition, Springer, 2001.