Dynamic impedance compensation for

wireless power transfer using conjugate

power
Cite as: AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5012272
Submitted: 06 November 2017 • Accepted: 04 February 2018 • Published Online: 12 February 2018

Suqi Liu, Jianping Tan and Xue Wen

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AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5012272 8, 025210

© 2018 Author(s).
 AIP ADVANCES 8, 025210 (2018)

Dynamic impedance compensation for wireless power

transfer using conjugate power
Suqi Liu,1,2,a Jianping Tan,1,2 and Xue Wen1,2
1 Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University,
Changsha 410083, China
2 School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University,

Changsha 410083, China

(Received 6 November 2017; accepted 4 February 2018; published online 12 February 2018)

Wireless power transfer (WPT) via coupled magnetic resonances has been in devel-
opment for over a decade. However, the frequency splitting phenomenon occurs in
the over-coupled region. Thus, the output power of the two-coil system achieves the
maximum output power at the two splitting angular frequencies, and not at the natu-
ral resonant angular frequency. According to the maximum power transfer theorem,
the impedance compensation method was adopted in many WPT projects. However, it
remains a challenge to achieve the maximum output power and transmission efficiency
in a fixed-frequency mode. In this study, dynamic impedance compensation for WPT
was presented by utilizing the compensator within a virtual three-coil WPT system.
First, the circuit model was established and transfer characteristics of a system were
studied by utilizing circuit theories. Second, the power superposition of the WPT sys-
tem was carefully researched. When a pair of compensating coils was inserted into the
transmitter loop, the conjugate power of the compensator loop was created via mag-
netic coupling of the two compensating coils that insert into the transmitter loop. The
mechanism for dynamic impedance compensation for wireless power transfer was then
provided by investigating a virtual three-coil WPT system. Finally, the experimental
circuit of a virtual three-coil WPT system was designed, and experimental results are
consistent with the theoretical analysis, which achieves the maximum output power
and transmission efficiency. © 2018 Author(s). All article content, except where oth-
erwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5012272

I. INTRODUCTION
The theory of wireless power transfer is not new. Over 100 years ago, Nikola Tesla1 demonstrated
the principles of the WPT experiment. However, the efficiency of Tesla’s prototype was very low and
its safety was uncertain. Electromagnetic radiation has been largely used for the wireless transmission
of information. Magnetic induction and microwaves have been used for transmission of power over
long distances in many applications, such as induction heating. Inductive power transfer,2–4 became
a viable option for shorter distances, since it has high efficiency for power transfer. In 2006, an MIT
research team found that efficient mid-range wireless power transfer 5,6 could be achieved by utilizing
near field magnetic coupling between two identical resonators.7 Only when the coils are tuned to
a particular resonance frequency, can the coils transmit electricity through the air and around an
obstacle with acceptable efficiency. WPT technology has replaced conventional conductive battery
chargers, and has even begun to charge a wide variety of portable consumer electronic, medical, and
industrial devices.8,9
Previously demonstrated magnetically coupled resonators used for WPT have shown the potential
to deliver power with more efficiency than far-field approaches, and at longer ranges than traditional

a
Electronic mail: liusuqi2009@126.com

2158-3226/2018/8(2)/025210/11 8, 025210-1 © Author(s) 2018

025210-2 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

inductively coupled schemes. However, frequency splitting is a physical phenomenon that occurs in
mid-range WPT systems when the conditions for the maximum power theorem cannot be met at the
resonance frequency of the resonators within the over-coupled region.10–12 Thus, the output power of
the two-coil system achieves the maximum output power at the two splitting angular frequencies, but
not at the natural resonant angular frequency.10 According to the maximum power transfer theorem,
the impedance compensation method was adopted in many WPT projects.13,14 This maximizes power
transfer and minimizes reflections. In Ref. 15, the conjugate-matched load was shown to be the optimal
load for both efficiency and output power when the source resistance is zero. In Ref. 16, the load
modulation was achieved with minimal impact on efficiency by careful selection of load modulation
impedance. In Ref. 17, a tri-coil impedance and frequency-matching approach was presented that
allows for very precise adjustments of natural frequency that are necessary for high-Q resonators for
mid-range wireless power transfer. In Ref. 18, a design procedure was presented to maximize the
power transfer efficiency in two-, three-, and four-coil inductive links via a comprehensive analysis
based on the reflected load theory. In Ref. 19, the first coil in a four-coil system was replaced with
the proposed-coil. This coil used six switches to change the number of series sub-coils from six
to one, as the distance between the transmitter and receiver coils increased. However, it remains a
challenge to achieve the maximum output power and transmission efficiency with a fixed-frequency
mode. An in-depth analysis of the dynamic impedance compensation is needed to find valuable
approaches.
This study focuses on how to achieve dynamic impedance compensation for wireless power
transfer using conjugate power. We present an analysis based on a circuit model of a two-resonance
system consisting of a transmitter resonator coupled to a receiver resonator, then provide the dynamic
impedance compensation of the WPT system. First, the circuit model was established and trans-
fer characteristics of the system were researched. Thus, with the introduction of the entropy20,21
variable S, the energy equation of the state can be established from the energy of the transmitter
and the receiver sides. The power superposition of the WPT system was then carefully researched.
Finally, the dynamic impedance compensation for wireless power transfer was given by investigat-
ing a virtual three-coil WPT system. The results show that a virtual three-coil WPT system with
a compensator can achieve the maximum output power and transmission efficiency. This deepens
our understanding of the power superposition principle of the near-field magnetic coupling among
resonators.

II. THE CIRCUIT MODEL AND TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS

OF THE TWO-COIL SYSTEM
The magnetically coupled resonator system is represented in terms of lumped circuit ele-
ments L, C, and R. Fig. 1 shows a straightforward circuit model that can be used for MATLAB
simulations.
The circuit model consists of two resonant circuits, linked magnetically by mutual inductance M.
In addition, U S is the input power of the transmitter, RS is the resistance of the U S , R1 and R2 are the
resistances of the coils, L 1 and L 2 are the inductances, C 1 and C 2 are the capacitances, RL is the load
resistance, and U L is the load voltage.

FIG. 1. Equivalent circuit of the two-coil resonator system with series-series compensation.
025210-3 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

Fig. 1 shows magnetically coupled series-series resonant circuits with a driving source of angular
frequency ω, where Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL) is applied to determine the currents in each
resonant circuit in (1), where the self-impedance of the transmitter and receiver can be expressed as
(2), R11 and R22 are the self-resistance of the transmitter and receiver, respectively, and X 11 and X 22
are the self-reactance of the transmitter and receiver, respectively.

U = Z11 I1 − jωMI2
 S


 0 = Z22 I2 − jωMI1 (1)


1
Z11 = R11 + jX11 = R1 + RS + jωL1 +



jωC1



 (2)
1
 Z22 = R22 + jX22 = R2 + RL + jωL2 +




 jωC 2

From (1), the currents of the transmitter and receiver coils can be expressed as
US

 I1 =
(ωM)2






 Z11 +



 Z22


 (jωMU S) (3)
jωM

 Z11
I2 = =

I1


 2 Z22
(ωM)



Z22 +



 Z11
This circuit model provides a convenient reference for analysis of the transfer characteristics
of a WPT system. For the sake of simplicity, we assume that R2 +RL =R, R1 +RS =aR (since a is
the ratio of resistances of the transmitter and receiver, a>0), RL = βR (since β is the ratio of the
load resistance and the receiver resistance, 0< β<1), L 1 =L 2 =L, C 1 =C 2 =C, the frequency detuning
factor is ξ=Q(ω/ω0 –ω0 /ω), and the quality factor of a system is Q=ω0 L/R=1/(ω0 CR). Thus, the
quality factor of the transmitter coil is Q1 =ω0 L/(R1 +RS )=Q/a, the quality factor of √
the receiver coil is
Q2 =ω0 L/(R2 +RL )=Q, and the natural resonant frequency of each element is ω0 =1/ LC. Substitution
of the above parameters into (2) yields the following:
1 jω0 L ω 1 ω0
Z11 = R11 + jX11 = αR + jωL + = R(α + + ) = R(α + jξ)


ω 0 CR ω

jωC R jω

0


(4)
jω0 L ω 1 ω0

1
 Z22 = R22 + jX22 = R + jωL + = R(1 + ) = R(1 + jξ)

+


R ω0 jω0 CR ω

 jωC
According to (3), the reflecting impedance of the receiver Z 11 0 is given as (5), where R11 is the


reflected resistance of the receiver, and X 11 is the reflecting reactance of the receiver.


(ωM)2 (ωM)2 (ωM)2

Z11 =  = R11 + jX11 =
  − jξ (5)
Z22 (1 + ξ 2 )R (1 + ξ 2 )R
According to (3), the reflected impedance of the transmitter Z 22 0 is given as (6), where R22 is 

the reflected resistance of the transmitter, and X 22 is the reflecting reactance of the transmitter.


(ωM)2 α(ωM)2 (ωM)2

Z22 =
 = R22 + jX22 = 2
  − jξ 2 (6)
Z11 (α + ξ )R
2 (α + ξ 2 )R

According to (3), (ωM)2 /Z 11 and (ωM)2 /Z 22 are the reflecting impedances. For the convenience
of analysis, the impedance coupling factor τ is defined as (7), which is the ability of the impedance
coupling.
ωM ωM
τ= √ = √ , τ>0 (7)
(R1 + RS ) (R2 + RL ) αR
025210-4 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

Using (7), the input impedance of the transmitter Z Tx and the output impedance of the receiver
Z Rx are given as (8), where RTx is the input resistance of the transmitter, X Tx is the input reactance
of the transmitter, RRx is the output resistance of the receiver, and X Rx is the output reactance of the
receiver.
1 + ξ 2 + τ2 1 + ξ 2 − ατ 2
ZTx = RTx + jXTx = Z11 + Z11 = α R + jξ R

 

1+ξ 1 + ξ2


 2

 (8)
 α2 + ξ 2 + α2 τ2 α 2 + ξ 2 − ατ 2
 ZRx = RRx + jXRx = Z22 + Z22 =

R + jξ R

 
 α +ξ
2 2 α2 + ξ 2
Substituting (4) and (7) into (3), the currents of the transmitter and receiver coils can be
expressed as
1 + ξ2 US
I1 =


αξ ατ ξ 2 − ατ 2 ) R



 (α + 2 + 2 ) + jξ(1 +
 √ (9)
 j ατ
 I2 =

I1


 1 + jξ
According to the current I 2 of the receiver coil, the power transferred to the load resistance
(the output power of the system) can be written as
α βτ 2 (1 + ξ 2 ) US 2
Pout = |I2 | 2 RL = 2 2
(10)
(α + αξ 2 + ατ 2 ) + ξ 2 (1 + ξ 2 − ατ 2 ) R

III. POWER SUPERPOSITION MECHANISM OF THE WPT SYSTEM

A. Power equation of state in the WPT system
Rudolf Julius Emanuel Clausius is considered one of the central founders of the science of
thermodynamics. By his restatement of Sadi Carnot’s principle known as the Carnot cycle, he gave
the theory of heat a truer and sounder basis. His most important paper, “On the Moving Force of
Heat,” published in 1850, first stated the basic ideas of the second law of thermodynamics. In 1865, he
introduced the concept of entropy.22 Although the concept was originally a thermodynamic construct,
it has been adapted in other fields of study, including information theory,23 ecological economics,24
and evolution.25 In Ref. 26, the vibration phenomenon of the receiver-coil in a three-coil WPT system
was explained using entropy theory. With the introduction of entropy variable S, the energy equation
of the state can be established from the energy of the transmitter and receiver sides in the two-coil
system. We obtain the following expression:
dS
= (PI 1 + PI 2 ) − (PA1 + PA2 )
dt
= {|I1 | 2 (X11 + X11 ) + |I2 | 2 (X22 + X22 )} − {|I1 | 2 (R11 + R11 ) + |I2 | 2 (R22 + R22 )}
   

(α 2 + ξ 2 )ξ(1 + ξ 2 )(1 + ξ 2 − ατ 2 ) + ατ 2 ξ(1 + ξ 2 )(α 2 + ξ 2 − ατ 2 ) US 2 (11)

= 2 2
(α 2 + ξ 2 )[(α + αξ 2 + ατ 2 ) + ξ 2 (1 + ξ 2 − ατ 2 ) ] R
α(α 2 + ξ 2 )(1 + ξ 2 )(1 + ξ 2 + τ 2 ) + ατ 2 (1 + ξ 2 )(α 2 + ξ 2 + α 2 τ 2 ) US 2
− 2 2
(α 2 + ξ 2 )[(α + αξ 2 + ατ 2 ) + ξ 2 (1 + ξ 2 − ατ 2 ) ] R
Where S is the energy entropy according to the energy entropy theory, which is the measures
of disorder. High-energy entropy states are relatively disordered, and low-energy entropy states are
relatively ordered. Let, t be the time, and PI 1 and PI 2 are the reactive power of the transmitter and
receiver, respectively, which are stored on the reactive loads. PA1 and PA2 are the active power of the
transmitter and receiver, respectively, which are consumed on the resistive loads.
When a WPT system works in an over-coupled region,10 the reactive power PI 1 +PI 2 should
achieve the minimum values, so that the WPT system gains low-energy entropy. Namely, the system
obtains the maximum output power.
025210-5 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

B. Mechanism of the power superposition in the WPT system

According to the above analysis and equations (4), (5), and (7), the resistance of the transmitter
side RTx and the reactance of the transmitter side X Tx are given by
(ωM)2 1 + ξ 2 + τ2
= = αR = α

R R + R + R

 Tx 11 11 

(1 + ξ 2 )R 1 + ξ2




 (12)
 (ωM)2 1 + ξ 2 − ατ 2
 XTx = X11 + X11 = ξR − ξ = ξ

R

 

(1 + ξ 2 )R 1 + ξ2


According to equations (4), (6), and (7), the resistance of the receiver side RRx and the reactance
of the receiver side X Rx are given by
α(ωM)2 α2 + ξ 2 + α2 τ2
= = =

R R + R R + R

 Rx 22 22 

(α + ξ )R α2 + ξ 2


 2 2

 (13)
 (ωM)2 α 2 + ξ 2 − ατ 2
 XRx = X22 + X22 = ξR − ξ 2 =ξ

R

 

(α + ξ )R α2 + ξ 2

2

From equations (11), (12), and (13), it is easy to understand how to make the reactance of the
transmitter (or receiver) equal to zero, and drive the system to obtain the minimum entropy in an
over-coupled region by using a power superposition mechanism. In a physical sense, the WPT system
is a power superposed system containing four superimposed powers. The first is a superimposed
reactive power PI 1 on the transmitter side, consisting of the reactive power (namely, |I 1 |2 X 11 ) of the
emitting electromagnetic field on the transmitter side and the reactive power (namely, |I 1 |2 X 11 ) of the


reflecting electromagnetic field on the receiver side. The reactive power was stored on the reactive
loads X Tx . The second is the superimposed active power PA1 on the transmitter side, consisting
of the active power (namely, |I 1 |2 R11 ) of the emitting electromagnetic field on the transmitter side
and the active power (namely, |I 1 |2 R11 ) of the reflecting electromagnetic field on the receiver side.


The active power was consumed on the active loads RTx . The third is the superimposed reactive
power PI 2 on the receiver side, consisting of the reactive power (namely, |I 2 |2 X 22 ) of the inductive
electromagnetic field on the receiver side and the reactive power (namely, |I 2 |2 X 22 ) of the reflecting


electromagnetic field on the transmitter side. The reactive power was stored on the reactive loads
X Rx . The final power is the superimposed active power PA2 on the receiver side, consisting of the
reactive power (namely, |I 2 |2 R22 ) of the inductive electromagnetic field on the receiver side and
the active power (namely, |I 2 |2 R22 ) of the reflecting electromagnetic field on the transmitter side.


The active power was consumed on the active loads RRx . In this way, the power transferred from
the transmitter side to the receiver side via coupled magnetic resonances. The power superposition
not only occurred in the sound wave or electromagnetic wave field, but also appeared in the wireless
power transfer of the near field. Next, we create a conjugate power to achieve the power superposition
in a virtual three-coil WPT system that includes a compensator.

IV. DYNAMIC IMPEDANCE COMPENSATION IN A VIRTUAL THREE-COIL WPT SYSTEM

A. Modeling of the virtual three-coil WPT system
Fig. 2 shows the dynamic impedance compensation for the wireless power transfer using the
conjugate power in a virtual three-coil WPT system. Fig. 2(a) shows an equivalent circuit of the
two-coil resonator system that inserts a pair of compensating coils L P1 and L P2 . This pair is inserted
in the transmitter loop, a conjugate power of the compensating loop is created via magnetic coupling
of the two compensating coils. Namely, a compensator and a virtual three-coil WPT system were
constructed, as shown in Fig. 2(b). The compensator has the same electricity parameters as the
transmitter, due to sharing the same circuit. Where C 1 =C 2 =C, L 1 +L P1 +L P2 =L 2 =L, R2 +RL =R, RL = βR,
RS +R1 =aR (since a is the ratio of resistances of the transmitter and receiver, a>0), the frequency
detuning factor is ξ=Q(ω/ω0 –ω0 /ω), the quality factor of a system is Q=ω0 L/R=1/(ω0 CR). Thus,
the quality factors of the transmitter and compensator coils are QP =Q1 =ω0 L/(R1 +RS )=Q/a, the
quality factor of the receiver coil is Q2 =ω0 L/(R2 +RL )=Q, and the natural resonant frequency of each
025210-6 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

FIG. 2. Dynamic impedance compensation for the wireless power transfer using the conjugate power in a virtual three-coil
WPT system. (a) Equivalent circuit of the two-coil resonator system that inserts a pair of compensating coils L P1 and L P2 .
(b) A virtual three-coil WPT system. When a pair of compensating coils is inserted into the transmitter loop, the conjugate
power of the compensator loop is created via magnetic coupling of the two compensation coils. A virtual three-coil WPT
system is then created, which is only a virtual three-coil WPT system, because the compensator loop was created utilizing a
pair of compensating coils.

√
element is ω0 =1/ LC. L P1 and L P2 are the compensating coils, M 1 is the mutual inductance between
L P1 and L P2 , M 2 is the mutual inductance between L 1 and L 2 , M 21 is the mutual inductance between
L 1 and L 2 , and M 22 is the mutual inductance between L 1 and L 2 . The other parameters of the virtual
three-coil system are referred to the two-coil system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 2(b) shows a virtual three-coil WPT system with a driving source of angular frequency ω,
where Kirchhoff’s voltage law is applied to determine the currents in each resonant circuit in (14),
where ZI=U, and where the self-impedance of the transmitter Z PP , compensator Z 11 , and receiver
Z 22 are expressed as (15).
 ZPP -jωM1 -jωM22   IP   US 
Z11 -jωM21   I1  =  0 
    
 -jωM1 (14)
 -jωM22 -jωM21 Z22   I2   0 

1
ZPP = Z11 = R1 + RS + jω(L1 + LCP1 + LCP2 ) + = R(α + jξ)



jωC

1


 (15)
1
 Z22 = R2 + RL + jωL2 + = R(1 + jξ)




 jωC2
The impedance coupling factors τ 1 , τ 21 , and τ 22 are defined as (16), which indicate the ability
of the impedance coupling.
ωM1 ωM1
τ1 = √ = , τ1 > 0


αR





 R1 R1
ωM21


 τ21 = √ , τ21 > 0


(16)


 R1 (R2 + RL )
ωM22



 τ22 = √ , τ22 > 0




 R 1 (R2 + RL )

According to equations (14), (15), and (16), and definitions of parameters of the virtual three-coil
system, the currents of the transmitter, compensator, and receiver coils are described by:
(α + jξ)(1 + jξ) + ατ21 2 US
=


 IP
(1 + jξ)(α + jξ) + α (1 + jξ)τ1 + α(α + jξ)τ21 + α(α + jξ)τ22 + j2α τ1 τ21 τ22 R
 2


 2 2 2 2 2


ατ21 τ22 − jατ1 (1 + jξ)

 US
 I1 =


(17)

 (1 + jξ)(α + jξ) + α (1 + jξ)τ1 + α(α + jξ)τ21 + α(α + jξ)τ22 + j2α τ1 τ21 τ22 R
2 2 2 2 2 2
√ √


α ατ1 τ21 − j ατ22 (α + jξ)

US


=

 I
 2

2
α 2 (1 + jξ)τ 2 + α(α + jξ)τ 2 + α(α + jξ)τ 2 + j2α 2 τ τ τ

 (1 + jξ)(α + jξ) + 1 21 22 1 21 22 R
025210-7 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

According to the current I 2 of the receiver coil, the power transferred to the load resistance (the
output power of the system) is Pout =|I 2 |2 RL . If ξ 1 =0, τ 1 =τ 21 =0, and τ 22 =1, the output power of the
system achieves the maximum value: Pout max =( βU S 2 )/(4aR). Thus, the normalized output power of
the system is
Pout
ψ=
Pout max
4α 2 [(ατ1 τ21 + τ22 ξ)2 + (ατ22 )2 ]
= 2 2
[α 2 (1 + τ1 2 + τ21 2 + τ22 2 )−(1 + 2α)ξ 2 ] +[ξ(2α + α 2 + α 2 τ1 2 + ατ21 2 + ατ22 2 − ξ 2 )+2α 2 τ1 τ21 τ22 ]
(18)
The transmission efficiency is
Pout |I2 | 2 RL
η= =
Pin |IP | R1 + |I1 | R1 + |I2 | 2 (R2 + RL )
2 2
(19)
β[(ατ1 τ21 + τ22 ξ)2 + (ατ22 )2 ]
= 2
(α + ατ21 2 − ξ 2 ) + (1 + α)2 ξ 2 + α 2 [(τ21 τ22 + τ1 ξ)2 + τ1 2 ] + (ατ1 τ21 + τ22 ξ)2 + (ατ22 )2
According to the theoretical analysis above, the two-coil system only has two eigenfrequencies
in an over-coupled region, and the splitting frequency phenomenon appears.10 The output power
of the two-coil system achieves the maximum output power at the two splitting angular frequen-
cies ω1 and ω2 (namely, ξ 1,2 = Q(ω1,2 /ω0 –ω0 /ω1,2 )=±(aτ 2 -1)0.5 from equation (10) or (11)), which
belongs to a lower frequency mode and a higher frequency mode, respectively (see Fig. 3). In the
higher frequency mode, the system achieves the maximum output power at a fixed angular frequency
ωh using dynamic impedance compensation. From equation (12) or (13), whenever the impedance
coupling factor τ 1 increases with the decreases in the impedance coupling factor τ 22 , the WPT sys-
tem obtains the maximum output power in the over-coupled region. Namely, When the reactance
on the transmitter side X Tx =ξ(1+ξ h 2 -a(τ 1 +τ 22 )2 )R/(1+ξ h 2 ) or the reactance on the receiver side
X Rx =ξ(a2 +ξ h 2 -a2 (τ 1 +τ 22 )2 )R/(a2 +ξ h 2 ) is equal to zero, the WPT system gains low energy entropy,
and will achieve the maximum output power at a fixed angular frequency ωh in a higher frequency
mode.
B. Simulation analysis of the virtual three-coil WPT system
According to equation (18), the normalized output power of the system is plotted in Fig. 3.
Obviously, the normalized output power of the system depends on parameters ξ, a, τ 1 , τ 21 , and τ 22 :
(1) In Fig. 3(a), if a=1, and τ 1 =0.1, the mutual inductance of the compensating coils (L P1 and L P2 ) is
very weak and is ignored. The WPT system is considered a two-coil WPT system; it has three states
in the WPT system, namely, the under-coupled region, critically-coupled point, and over-coupled
region.10 If τ 22 <1 (the under-coupled region), the normalized output power of the system decreases
rapidly. If τ 22 =1 (the critically-coupled point), the normalized output power of the system will achieve
a maximum value. If τ 22 >1 (the over-coupled region), the normalized output power of the system
results in the splitting frequency phenomenon and achieves the maximum output power at the two
splitting angular frequencies ω1 and ω2 . (2) In Fig. 3(a) and (b), if τ 1 gradually increases (that is,
the mutual inductance of the compensating coils gradually increases), the splitting frequency of the
system has extended to the critically-coupled point and under-coupled region. Meanwhile, the curves

FIG. 3. Characteristic curves of the normalized output power of the system. (a) a=1, τ 1 =0.1 (b) a=1, τ 1 =2.
025210-8 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

FIG. 4. Characteristic curves of the transmission efficiency when β=1. (a) a=1, τ 1 =0.1 (b) a=1, τ 1 =2.

of the normalized output power of the system move to the higher frequency. The more τ 1 increases,
the more that the curves of the normalized output power of the system move in a high frequency
direction.
According to equation (19), the transmission efficiency is plotted in Fig. 4. Similarly, the trans-
mission efficiency depends on parameters ξ, a, τ 1 , τ 21 , and τ 22 : (1) In Fig. 4(a), if a=1, and τ 1 =0.1,
the mutual inductance of the compensating coils (L P1 and L P2 ) is very weak and is ignored. The WPT
system is considered a two-coil system; the power transmission efficiency achieves a maximum value
at the natural resonant angular frequency. (2) In Fig. 4(b), if τ 1 gradually increases (that is, the mutual
inductance of the compensating coils gradually increases), the curves of the transmission efficiency
move to the higher frequency. The more τ 1 increases, the more that the curves of the transmission
efficiency move in the high frequency direction.
It is clear that the curves of the normalized output power and transmission efficiency move to
the higher frequency when the τ 1 increases. There exists a one-to-one relationship between τ 1 and
the offset value of the normalized output power and transmission efficiency.
According to the theoretical analysis above, in a higher frequency mode, when the virtual three-
coil wireless power transfer system works at a minimum-coupled distance between the transmitter
and receiver coils, to obtain the maximum output power, the system should tune the driving source
of angular frequency ω to gain low energy entropy. The driving source of angular frequency ω is
recorded as fixed frequency ωh and maintained. When the impedance coupling factor τ 22 decreases
with the increase in the coupled-distance of the transmitter and receiver coils (by increasing τ 1 value to
compensate the impedance coupling factor τ 22 value decreasing), the virtual three-coil WPT system
again obtains the maximum output power and transmission efficiency. In other words, decreasing
the coupled-distance of the compensating coils (L P1 and L P2 ) leads to the curves of the normalized
output power and the transmission efficiency move in the high frequency direction. Therefore, this
approach causes the fixed frequency ωh to be relocated on curves of the maximum output power
and transmission efficiency. Namely, the virtual three-coil WPT system again obtains the maximum
output power and transmission efficiency.

C. Experimental results of the virtual three-coil WPT system

Fig. 5 (Multimedia view) shows an approach of dynamic impedance compensation in the vir-
tual three-coil experimental system, which includes the voltage source, oscilloscope, capacitances,

FIG. 5. Experimental system of the dynamic impedance compensation using two compensating coils. Multimedia view:
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5012272.1
025210-9 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

TABLE I. Measured lumped element values for each individual circuit element of the experimental transmitter, compensator
and receiver.

parameter transmitter compensator receiver

Frequency f0 /kHz 122.5 122.5 122.5

Inductance LP1 or LP2 /µH 14.00
Inductance L1 or L2 /µH 14.00 16.00
Capacitance C/nF 56.27 56.27 57.71
Impedance scaling factor a 0.1
Load RL /Ω 4

transmitter, compensator, receiver, load, transmitter coil, compensating coils, and receiver coil. The
parameters of the transmitter, relay, and receiver are listed in Table I. When the mutual inductance
of the compensating coils is very weak and is ignored, the WPT system is a two-coil WPT system,
then the voltages of the input and output were measured at the different frequencies and coupling
distances (such as 12mm, 35mm, and 40mm). Similarly, the currents of the input and output were
measured. We obtained a set of data in the absence of impedance compensation. Secondly, when the
mutual inductance of the compensating coils gradually increases and is considered, the WPT system
is regarded as a virtual three-coil WPT system. The voltages of the input and output were measured
at the different frequencies and coupling distances using the impedance compensation technique.
Similarly, the currents of the input and output were measured by the impedance compensation tech-
nique. We also obtained another set of data in the case of impedance compensation. Figs. 6 and 7
were obtained by utilizing the two sets of data.
In Fig. 6, in a large-distance range of the transmitter and receiver coils, the system has two
peaks of the output power of the system: one at the frequency point of 110 kHz and the other at
the frequency point of 135 kHz. However, in the higher frequency mode, when the coupling effect
of the compensating coils increases, the peak of the output power of the system shifts to the higher
frequency. These experimental results agree with the simulation results of the Fig. 3. In Fig. 6, in a
large frequency range, using the coupled-effect of the two compensating coils realizes the dynamic
impedance compensation. The output power of the system obtains the relatively flat power peak and
high power peak, and compensating effect is obvious.
In Fig. 7, whether or not the dynamic impedance compensation was implemented, the peak of
the power transmission efficiency of the system appears at the frequency point of 135 kHz. When
the coupling effect of the compensating coils increases, the transmission efficiency of the system
after impedance dynamic compensation decreases relative to the tuning style. In other words, the

FIG. 6. Curves of the output power of system. no-cpt: non-compensated; cpt: compensated.
025210-10 Liu, Tan, and Wen AIP Advances 8, 025210 (2018)

FIG. 7. Curves of the transmission efficiency. no-cpt: non-compensated; cpt: compensated.

compensating coils have consumed and stored a part of the power. When the energy of the compen-
sating coils is ignored, the maximum transmission efficiency achieved the same effects by using a
fixed-frequency mode and tune mode.
In summary, we achieved the dynamic impedance compensation for WPT using the conjugate
power, and the system achieves the maximum output power and transmission efficiency with a
fixed-frequency mode in a virtual three-coil WPT system.

V. CONCLUSION
The work in this study provided a deeper understanding of impedance compensation of cou-
pled magnetic resonance by utilizing circuit and entropy theory. It also provides an analysis of the
impedance characteristics and the power superposition of the WPT system. The analyses performed
led to following conclusions:
(1) The wireless power transfer system is a power superposition system. The conjugate power of the
compensating loop was created via magnetic coupling of the two compensating coils, namely,
a virtual three-coil WPT system was constructed by a pair of compensating coils inserted into
a two-coil resonator system.
(2) A two-coil resonator system that inserts a pair of compensating coils achieved the power
superposition, namely, the dynamic impedance compensation for wireless power transfer. The
system achieved the maximum output power and transmission efficiency with a fixed-frequency
mode.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The work was supported by National Key Basic Research Program of China (2014CB049405).
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