Parameter identification of wireless power transfer with a movable receiver

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a monitoring method for a three-coil wireless power transfer (WPT) system, which consists of a transmitting coil (Tx), a relay coil and a movable receiving coil (Rx). Both an ideal resistance and a rectifier bridge load are taken into account. Design/methodology/approach - From the perspective of fundamental component, the equivalent impedance of a rectifier bridge load is well analyzed. On the basis of the circuit model of a three-coil WPT, estimation equations of the variable mutual inductances and load condition are deduced. Multi-frequency input impedance obtained by frequency scans combined with the Newton-Raphson method are used to obtain solutions. Findings - Experimental results indicate that the estimated parameter values are close to each other when different sets of source frequencies are applied. When compared with simulation results, these estimated parameters including both mutual inductances and load resistances are found to be accurate. Originality/value - Using only the information of input side, the proposed algorithm can estimate the mutual inductances and load resistance regardless of the Rx positions. Estimation is feasible for the system with a rectifier bridge load. The estimated analysis will serve as a key step in load power stabilization for WPT systems.