An Extended Sepic DC-DC Converter for Micro-Grid Based Photovoltaic (Pv) Applications.

Abstract

Background The demands for clean energy is growing rapidly and the fossil fuel we use in our everyday live is ushered in CO2 and other greenhouse effects, resulting in natural disasters and other climate threats. To continue on this route, the world is challenged to prepare for the unknown disasters. Hence, the search for a clean, alternative energy resource, which could bring resilience back to our cities is in incredibly rapid velocity. Solar energy is a clean and alternative energy that can be use but PV panels tend to generate low energy in nature which is why a lot of panels have to be employed in order to go off-grid. A simple DC-DC converter can be used to boost the energy generated by PV panels. Provided herein is an extended DC-DC single ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC) for micro-grid based photovoltaic (PV) applications. The new topology was designed with an addition of some components to the conventional SEPIC. Results The extended SEPIC topology utilizes a single power switch with high voltage gain, low duty-cycle, reduced voltage stress across the power switch, low density and cheap. The new topology was designed with an addition of some components to the conventional SEPIC. A 125 V DC output was generated from a 12 V DC input through MATLAB/SIMULINK. The new SEPIC converter revealed the best value voltage gain as 10.42, duty-cycle value of 0.8 and voltage stress of 62.5 V compared to the conventional SEPIC or SEPIC integrated with other converters. Conclusions the results of voltage gain, duty-cycle and voltage stress obtained validate the credibility of the new converter and show the potentiality of the converter for the adoption in power step-up applications.