Split Duty Super Boost Converter for High Voltage Applications in a DC Microgrid

Abstract

In order to establish an appropriate interaction of a renewable DC generating source such as Photovoltaic or Fuel cells with a DC microgrid, there is need of some DC-DC converter with suitable attributes and features. Imparting high voltage at the low duty ratio is the most demanding quality of such converters. This paper introduces and explains the entire features and behavioral assessment of a novel split duty super boost converter (SDSB) involving switched structure of passive components for a partial contribution in the voltage boosting. The proposed converter is capable of attaining the highest voltage gain without any magnetic coupling, multi-staging/leveling, interleaving, or any complex networking. Additional features of the proposed converter includes its suppleness in duty ratio selection from an extended range, lower voltage stress across switches, low conduction losses, simpler and flexible control as well as enhanced reverse recovery of diodes with a continuous input current. The converter involves three switches where a splitting in duty ratio is realized for many possible positive outcomes including very low duty ratio operation of the switches. Theoretical analysis of the converter is elaborated in CCM, DCM along with the boundary conditions. Later, the performance is justified through developing a hardware prototype of 400 W for the input supply of 24 V.