High voltage boost DC-Dc converter suitable for variable voltage sources and high power photovoltaic application

Abstract

Important considerations of a photovoltaic (PV) source are achieving a high voltage and drawing currents with very little ripple component from it. Furthermore, the output from such a source is variable depending on irradiation and temperature. In this research, literature review of prior methods employed to boost the output voltage of a PV source is examined and their limitations identified. This research then proposes a multi-phase tapped-coupled inductor boost DC-DC converter that can achieve high voltage boost ratios, without adversely compromising performance, to be used as an interface to a PV source. The proposed converter achieves minimal current and voltage ripple both at the input and output. The suitability of the proposed converter topology for variable input voltage and variable power operation is demonstrated in this dissertation. The proposed converter is also shown to have good performance at high power levels, making it very suitable for high power applications. Detailed analysis of the proposed converter is done. Advantages of the proposed converter are explained analytically and confirmed through simulations and experimentally. Regulation of the converter output voltage is also explained and implemented using a digital controller. The simulation and experimental results confirm that the proposed converter is suitable for high power as well as variable power, variable voltage applications where high voltage boost ratios are required.