Important considerations of a photovoltaic (PV) source are achieving a high voltage and drawing currents with very little ripple component from it. Furthermore, the output from such a source is variable depending on irradiation and temperature. In this research, literature review of prior methods employed to boost the output voltage of a PV source is examined and their limitations identified. This research then proposes a multi-phase tapped-coupled inductor boost DC-DC converter that can achieve high voltage boost ratios, without adversely compromising performance, to be used as an interface to a PV source. The proposed converter achieves minimal current and voltage ripple both at the input and output. The suitability of the proposed converter topology for variable input voltage and variable power operation is demonstrated in this dissertation. The proposed converter is also shown to have good performance at high power levels, making it very suitable for high power applications. Detailed analysis of the proposed converter is done. Advantages of the proposed converter are explained analytically and confirmed through simulations and experimentally. Regulation of the converter output voltage is also explained and implemented using a digital controller. The simulation and experimental results confirm that the proposed converter is suitable for high power as well as variable power, variable voltage applications where high voltage boost ratios are required. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / Unrestricted

This dissertation presents various systematic design techniques for photovoltaic (PV) source simulators to serve as a convenient tool for the dynamic performance evaluation of solar power conditioning systems and their maximum power point tracking algorithms. A well-designed PV source simulator should accurately emulate the static and the dynamic characteristic of actual PV generator. Four major design features should be adopted in any PV source simulator: (i) high power-stage efficiency, (ii) fast transient response-time, (iii) output impedance matching with actual PV generator, and (iv) precise reference generation technique. Throughout this research, two different PV source simulator systems are designed, modeled, and experimentally verified. The design of the first system focuses mainly on creating new reference generation techniques where the PV equivalent circuit is used to precisely generate the current-voltage reference curves. A novel technique is proposed and implemented with analog components to simplify the reference signal generator and to avoid computation time delays in digital controllers. A two-stage LC output filter is implemented with the switching power-stage to push the resonant frequency higher and thus allowing a higher control-loop bandwidth design while keeping the same switching ripple attenuation as in the conventional one-stage LC output filter. With typical control techniques, the output impedance of the proposed simulator did not  match the closed-loop output impedance of actual PV generator due to the double resonant peaks of the two-stage LC output filter. Design procedures for both control and power-stage circuits are explained. Experimental results verify the steady-state and transient performance of the proposed PV source simulator at around 2.7 kW output. The design concept of the first simulator system is enhanced with a new type of PV source simulator that incorporates the advantages of both analog and digital based simulators. This simulator is characterized with high power-stage efficiency and fast transient response-time. The proposed system includes a novel three-phase ac-dc dual boost rectifier cascaded with a three-phase dc-dc interleaved buck converter. The selected power-stage topology is highly reliable and efficient. Moreover, the multi-phase dc-dc converter helps improve system transient response-time though producing low output ripple, which makes it adequate for PV source simulators. The simulator circuitry emulates precisely the static and the dynamic characteristic of actual PV generator under different environmental conditions including different irradiance and temperature levels. Additionally, the system allows for the creation of the partial shading effect on PV characteristic. This dissertation investigates the dynamic performance of commercial and non-commercial solar power conditioning systems using the proposed simulator in steady-state and transient conditions. Closed-loop output impedance of the proposed simulator is verified at different operating conditions. The impedance profile --magnitude and phase- matches the output impedance of actual PV generator closely. Mathematical modeling and experimental validation of the proposed system is thoroughly presented based on a 2.0 kW hardware prototype. The proposed simulator efficiency including the active-front-end rectifier and the converter stages at the maximum power point is 96.4%. / Ph. D.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / With the increasing demand of economy and environmental pollutions, more and more renewable energy systems with clean sources appear and have attracted attention of systems involving solar power, wind power and hybrid new energy powers[1]. However, there are some difficulties associated with combined utilization of solar and wind, such as their intermittent behavior and their peak hours mismatch in generation and consumption[1]. For this purpose, advanced network of a variety of renewable energy systems along with controllable load and storage units have been introduced[1-3]. This thesis proposes some configurations of hybrid energy harvesting systems, including wind-wind-storage DC power system with BOOST converters, solar-solar-storage DC power system with cascade BOOST converters, wind-solar-storage DC power system with BOOST converter and cascade BOOST converter, and wind-solar DC power system with SEPIC converter and BOOST converter. The models of all kinds of systems are built in Matlab/Simulink and the mathematical state-space models of combined renewable energy systems are also established. Several MPPT control strategies are introduced and designed to maximize the simultaneous power capturing from wind and solar, such as Perturb & Observe (P&O) algorithm for solar and wind, Tip Speed Ratio (TSR) control and Power Signal Feedback (PSF) control for wind, and Sliding Mode Extremum Seeking Control (SM-ESC) for wind and solar systems[4]. The control effects of some of these MPPT methods are also compared and analyzed. The supervisory control strategies corresponding to each configurations are also discussed and implemented to maximize the simultaneous energy harvesting from both renewable sources and balance the energy between the sources, battery and the load[2]. Different contingencies are considered and categorized according to the power generation available at each renewable source and the state of charge in the battery[2]. Applying the system architectures and control methods in the proposed hybrid new energy systems is a novel and significant attempt, which can be more general in the practical applications. Simulation results demonstrate accurate operation of the supervisory controller and functionality of the maximum power point tracking algorithm in each operating condition both for solar and for wind power[3]

No description available.

För sammankoppling av multi-terminala HVDC-system med punkt-till-punkt kopplingar ärDC-DC-omvandlaren den enda möjliga sammankopplingen. Därför genomgår problemenmed spänningsmatchning och likspänningsströmbegränsning i högspännings DC-systemomfattande forskning samt ligger i fokus för denna avhandling. Först analyseras toppmodernatopologier för högspännings DC-DC-omvandlare som används för samtrafik av flera terminalaHVDC-system. De analyserade topologierna jämförs sedan baserat på dess olika funktioner.Topologin för en konventionell icke-isolerad DC-DC-omvandlare analyseras när det gäller design,kostnad, storlek, förlust och effektstyrningskapacitet. Först skapas en matematisk modell ochsedan utförs en numerisk analys för olika arbetsområden. Därefter görs en jämförelse av entvåfas-icke-isolerad DC-omvandlare baserad på energilagring, maximal likströmsöverföring ochtotala förluster. Simulering utförs av en tvåfas och en trefas icke-isolerad DC-omvandlare iPSCAD med olika typer av styrenheter. Dessutom tas en isolerad omvandlartopologi och analyserasi detalj från matematisk modellering till validering med hjälp av simuleringsresultat.Olika typer av felanalyser för både isolerad och icke-isolerad omvandlartopologi görs. Slutligenutförs även analyser av DC-felet i olika möjliga anslutningar av omvandlaren i Multi-TerminalGrid, dvs Monopole, Bipole med både symmetriska och asymmetriska konfigurationer. / For interconnection of multi-terminal HVDC systems involving point-to-point links, aDC-DC converter is the only possible way to interconnect. Therefore, the issues of voltagematching and DC fault current limiting in high voltage DC systems are undergoing extensiveresearch and are the focus of this thesis. Starting with analyzing the state of the art highvoltage DC-DC converter topologies for interconnection of multi-terminal HVDC systems andbenchmarking each converter topology based on different functionalities. A basic non-isolatedDC-DC converter topology is analyzed in terms of design, cost, sizing, losses and power controlcapability. First, starting with the mathematical modeling and then the numerical analysis isdone for different operating regions. Next, it is compared with the two-phase non-isolated DCconverter based on energy storage, maximum DC power transfer, and total losses. Simulation oftwo-phase and three-phase non-isolated DC converter is done in PSCAD incorporating differenttypes of controllers. Then, an isolated converter topology is taken and analyzed in detail startingfrom mathematical modeling to validation using simulation results. Different types of faultsanalysis for both isolated and non-isolated converter topology is done. Finally, analyzing the DCfault in different possible connection of the converter in the multi-terminal grid, i.e. monopole,bipole in both symmetric and asymmetric configurations.

Arbetet med att konstruera en spänningsomvandlare med multipla utgångar med fokus på minimering av EMI har gjorts på TEMPEST Center Combitech i Växjö. Detta för att känslig mätutrustning behöver strömförsörjas utan att samtidigt påverka mätobjekten. För att konstruera en lösning bättre än de nätaggregat som används idag, med avseende på störningar, har beräkningar, simuleringar och mätningar gjorts. Kretsarna har konstruerats på kopplingsdäck och mätningar har gjorts med oscilloskop och i mätkammare. Omvandlarna består av en AC/DC-del med 230VAC till 24VDC och 4 olika utgångar med spänningsnivåer på 5VDC, 12VDC, 24VDC och 36VDC.

No description available.

In this Thesis a Unified Discrete State-Space Model for power converters in CCM is presented. Two main approaches to arriving at the discrete model are used. The first approach involves an impulse function approximation of the duty cycle modulations of the converter switches , and this approach results in a small signal discrete model. The Second approach is direct and does not involve any approximation of the modulations , this approach yields both a large signal nonlinear discrete model and a linear small signal model. Harmonic analysis of the converter states at steady-state is done for steady-state waveform acquisition , which increases the accuracy of the model especially for finding the control to inductor current frequency response. Finally the Discrete model is verified for the Half-Bridge DC/DC topology for its three main control schemes (Asymmetric , Symmetric , DCS). A GUI platform in MATLAB is presented as a wrapper that utilizes the models and analysis presented in this thesis.

Active transient voltage compensator (ATVC) has been proposed to improve VR transient response at high slew rate load, which engages in transient periods operating in MHZ to inject high slew rate current in step up load and recovers energy in step down load. Main VR operates in low switching frequency mainly providing DC current. Parallel ATVC has largely reduced conduction and switching losses. Parallel ATVC also reduces the number of VR bulk capacitors. Combined linear and adaptive nonlinear control has been proposed to reduce delay times in the actual controller, which injects one nonlinear signal in transient periods and simplifies the linear controller design. Switching mode current compensator with nonlinear control in secondary side is proposed to eliminate the effect of opotocoupler, which reduces response times and simplifies the linear controller design in isolated DC-DC converters. A novel control method has been carried out in two-stage isolated DC-DC converter to simplify the control scheme and improve the transient response, allowing for high duty cycle operation and large step-down voltage ratio with high efficiency. A balancing winding network composed of small power rating components is used to mitigate the double pole-zero effect in complementary-controlled isolated DC-DC converter, which simplifies the linear control design and improves the transient response without delay time. A parallel post regulator (PPR) is proposed for wide range input isolated DC-DC converter with secondary side control, which provides small part of output power and most of them are handled by unregulated rectifier with high efficiency. PPR is easy to achieve ZVS in primary side both in wide range input and full load range due to 0.5 duty cycle. PPR has reduced conduction loss and reduced voltage rating in the secondary side due to high turn ratio transformer, resulting in up to 8 percent efficiency improvement in the prototype compared to conventional methods.

Evolutions in integrated circuit technology require the use of a high-frequency synchronous buck converter in order to achieve low cost, low profile, fast transient response and high power density. However, high frequency operation leads to increased power MOSFET switching losses. Optimization of the MOSFETs plays an important role in improving converter performance. This dissertation focuses on revealing the power loss mechanism of power MOSFETs and the relationship between power MOSFET structure and its power loss. The analytical device model, combined with circuit modeling, cannot reveal the relationship between device structure and its power loss due to the highly non-linear characteristics of power MOSFETs. A physically-based mixed device/circuit modeling approach is used to investigate the power losses of the MOSFETs under different operating conditions. The physically based device model, combined with SPICE-like circuit simulation, provides an expeditious and inexpensive way of evaluating and optimizing circuit and device concepts. Unlike analytical or other SPICE models of power MOSFETs, the numerical device model, relying little on approximations or simplifications, faithfully represents the behavior of realistic power MOSFETs. The impact of power MOSFET parameters on efficiency of synchronous buck converters, such as gate charge, on resistance, reverse recovery, is studied in detail in this thesis. The results provide a good indication on how to optimize power MOSFETs used in VRMs. The synchronous rectifier plays an important role in determining the performance of the synchronous buck converter. The reverse recovery of its body diode and the Cdv/dt induced false trigger-on are two major mechanisms that impact SyncFET's performance. This thesis gives a detailed analysis of the SyncFET operation mechanism and provides several techniques to reduce its body-diode influence and suppress its false Cdv/dt trigger-n. This thesis also investigates the influence of several circuit level parameters on the efficiency of the synchronous buck converter, such as input voltage, circuit parasitic inductance, and gate resistance to provide further optimization of synchronous buck converter design.