Improved Power Transfer Efficiency Using a Dual Transmitter Receiver Design with Integrated Decoupling Coils for IPT EV Charging

In high-power inductive power transfer (IPT) systems, multiple coils are used to enhance efficiency, but interactions between coils on the same side can reduce overall performance. Traditionally, decoupling coils are added to minimize these interactions, however they don’t contribute to power transfer and may even hinder system efficiency. This article introduces a new IPT system and coil structure that integrates decoupling coils, which not only improve mutual interaction between same-side coils but also actively contribute to power transfer. The coils are optimized for high mutual inductance, strong coupling coefficient, reduced self-inductance, and minimized side-by-side mutual inductance, performing well even with X-axis, Y-axis, and angular misalignments. Using 3-D Finite Element Analysis (ANSYS-Maxwell), the magnetic coupler’s performance is thoroughly evaluated, and a downsized experimental setup demonstrates the system’s feasibility. The proposed system achieves a maximum dc-dc efficiency of 94.27%, successfully delivering 1 kW across a 120-mm air gap with zero-voltage switching, presenting a significant advancement for multi-transmitter and multi-receiver systems.