Comparative Study of DC-DC Converters for Solar PV with Microgrid Applications

Abstract

This review emphasizes the role and performance of versatile DC-DC converters in AC/DC and Hybrid microgrid applications, especially when solar (photo voltaic) PV is the major source. Here, the various converter topologies are compared with regard to voltage gain, component count, voltage stress, and soft switching. This study suggests the suitability of the converter based on the source type. The merits of a coupled inductor and interleaved converters in micro gird applications are elucidated. The efficiency and operating frequencies of converts for different operating modes are presented to determine the suitable converters for inductive and resistive loads. The drawbacks of converters are discussed. Finally, the mode of operation of different converts with different grid power sources and its stability and reliability issues are highlighted. In addition, the significance of the converter’s size and cost-effectiveness when choosing various PV source applications are discussed.

Keywords

• coupled inductor converter
• full bridge converter
• half bridge converter
• interleaved converter
• micro grid
• photo voltaic (PV)