Design and optimization of PCB-type planar inductors for high-power wireless power transfer

The reported work aims to design and optimize a high-power wireless power transfer coupling interface by proposing a design method for PCB-type planar inductors in kHz band application. Especially for kilowatts power levels, coupled inductors are critical components of this technology and their characteristics may negatively affect the system performance and costs. Despite the potential margin to optimize planar coils, a limited number of research papers address their study in high power consumption applications like kitchen appliances. Conventional kitchen appliances may require over 2 kW during normal operation; hence such power levels may drastically increase the bill of materials and manufacturing costs of the inductive elements. Since planar inductors can be mounted on a printed circuit board, their application could offer relevant benefits like lower weight, lower costs, and improve volume efficiency. The optimization process of the proposed structure has been carried out by 3D numerical analyses. The obtained transfer efficiency is about 92% as a result of the SPICE simulation with real models.