Abstract

Partial power converters (PPCs) have emerged as an attractive solution for battery charging applications due to their reduced processed power and improved power density compared to conventional full power converters (FPCs). However, when employed in constant-current/constant-voltage (CC–CV) battery charging, the output power variation throughout the charging cycle leads to efficiency degradation at light-load conditions. This paper proposes a novel hybrid modulation strategy for a full-bridge-based partial power converter, enabling adaptive operation as either a partial or full power converter depending on the operating point. By dynamically reconfiguring the converter behaviour through modulation, the processed power is maintained closer to the nominal design point over a broader operating range, thereby enhancing efficiency during the complete CC–CV charging cycle. Detailed electrical and thermal simulations performed in PLECS validate the dynamic feasibility of online modulation transitions and demonstrate efficiency improvement in the low-power region. The proposed strategy provides a simple and hardware-efficient solution for wide-range high-efficiency battery charging applications.