Performance Evaluation of Solar-PV-Based Non-Isolated Switched-Inductor and Switched-Capacitor High-Step-Up Cuk Converter

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is the most promising renewable energy source available on Earth. Three topologies based on a switched-inductor capacitor and non-isolated high-step-up Cuk converter have been proposed for solar PV. These topologies of the Cuk converter have higher boosting ability than conventional Cuk and boost converters and can reduce the voltage stress of the main switch. A small voltage rating and on-state resistance can give higher efficiency of the converter. The voltage boosting ability of all three topologies was compared to each other and with a conventional Cuk converter. The boosting capability of the third converter was 11 times at 0.75 duty cycle with a solar PV source. These converters do not use a coupled inductor and transformer, which leads to less volume, reducing coupling/core saturation loss, and thus the cost of the converter. A solar PV system of 12 volts was used for boosting with these converters for analysis of the feasibility of use with renewables. The three topologies of the switched-inductor and switched-capacitor (SLSC) Cuk converter were designed and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink to evaluate their effectiveness.