A Modified Step-Up Converter with Small Signal Analysis-Based Controller for Renewable Resource Applications

Abstract

Solar energy is one of the most important renewable sources due to its advantages such as simple structure, convenient installation, diverse applications, and low maintenance costs. Low power generation is the main concern with solar panels, so the maximum transmission of this power is a prime priority. The design of boost converters with the ability to generate high voltage gain, efficient structure, and stable and low-cost control circuits is the first step after installing these panels. This study presents a simple and high-gain design of a step-up converter, which uses only one power switch. The significance of this issue is when it will be apparent to know that each switch needs a separate control circuit and complex systems require more control topologies. In comparison with the conventional converter, the gain of the proposed converter, with the use of two additional diodes, a capacitor, and an inductor, was five times greater than the gain of a classical converter with 80% of the duty cycle. The proposed converter can solve the narrow turn-off period problem for the power semiconductor components in order to achieve higher DC voltages that are possible at higher duty cycles in classical converters. Small signal analysis of the proposed converter is presented and a controller based on steady-space matrixes is presented. The reaction of the proposed controller is considerable since a deep mathematical analysis supports this controller. The principal operations of the proposed converter and the projected controller were analyzed mathematically and verified with the help of MATLAB/SIMULINK. Additionally, hardware implementation of the proposed converter was done on a laboratory-scale around 100 W.