High Frequency Transformer Design and Optimization using Bio-inspired Algorithms

High frequency (HF) transformer at the isolation stage of SST plays a vital role in deciding the power conversion efficiency of the SST system. This paper proposes a new design procedure for optimization of HF transformer used in SST applications such that it fulfils all the requirements pertaining to its operating conditions. The novel design procedure proposed is based on optimizing the core geometry (in 5th power of cm), which has direct influence on regulation and copper loss. An isolated half-bridge DC-DC converter topology is chosen for implementing the proposed design. Four bio-inspired algorithms, namely Particle swarm optimization (PSO), Whale Optimization algorithm (WOA), Dragonfly Algorithm (DA), and Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO) are used to solve the optimization problem and the results are compared with Genetic algorithm (GA). Finally, the optimization results are validated through PowerEsim, a web-based testing platform with huge database of real-time components from leading manufacturers across the globe.