Στην περιγραφόμενη διπλωματική εργασία μελετώνται τα αυτόνομα φωτοβολταϊκά συστήματα και γίνεται η μελέτη για την τροφοδότηση μιας αγροικίας στην περιοχή της Πάτρας. Τέτοια συστήματα αποτελούνται από φωτοβολταϊκά πλαίσια, συσσωρευτές και ηλεκτρονικές διατάξεις. Τα πλαίσια είναι αυτά που συλλέγουν την ηλιακή ακτινοβολία και μέσω ενός μηχανισμού, που λέγεται φωτοβολταϊκό φαινόμενο, την μετατρέπουν σε ηλεκτρική ενέργεια. Οι συσσωρευτές αποθηκεύουν ηλεκτρική ενέργεια, την οποία εκμεταλλευόμαστε όταν η ζήτηση είναι μεγαλύτερη από την παραγωγή. Οι ηλεκτρονικές διατάξεις, δηλαδή ο μετατροπέας τάσης και ο ελεγκτής φόρτισης, ευθύνονται για την μετατροπή της συνεχούς ισχύος σε εναλλασσόμενη καθώς, επίσης, και για την ομαλή λειτουργία του συστήματος. Αφού γίνει παρουσίαση όλης της θεωρίας και των μαθηματικών τύπων που απαιτούνται, γίνεται εφαρμογή τους μέσω του σχεδιασμού του κατάλληλου φωτοβολταϊκού συστήματος για την τροφοδότηση της αγροικίας. / The subject of this diploma thesis is the study of stand-alone photovoltaic systems. Such systems include photovoltaic modules, batteries, inverters and charge controllers as well. The photovoltaic modules collect solar energy and transform it into electrical energy via a mechanism that is called photovoltaic effect. Batteries storage electrical energy and are used when the electrical demand is greater than the energy generated by the modules. Inverters are used to convert DC power into AC power and charge controllers connect or disconnect the batteries from the system, as needed. After presenting the theory data required, a stand-alone photovoltaic system is designed so as to supply a country house.

Une cellule photovoltaïque organique (OPV) consiste en un empilement de couches minces et comporte une électrode transparente, constituée le plus souvent par une couche mince d’oxyde d’indium dopé à l’étain (ITO). Des matériaux alternatifs sans indium, déposables par voie liquide à l’air ambiant, et sur de grandes surfaces souples plus adaptées à la filière OPV, sont actuellement l’objet d’un grand nombre de recherches. Les nanofils d’argent (Ag NWs) représentent un sérieux candidat pour remplacer l’ITO et sont l’objet de ce travail de thèse. Une méthode de dépôt des Ag NWs par spray à air sur des substrats de PET a été développée en vue de réaliser des films conducteurs et transparents sur une grande surface souple. Puis ces électrodes transparentes ont été intégrées dans des cellules OPV sur substrat souple avec des rendements comparables à l’ITO. Les dépôts par voie liquide ont été privilégiés (spray-coating, Dr Blade), excepté pour l’électrode supérieure en argent, évaporée sous vide. Enfin les cellules ont été interconnectées en série pour former un module OPV, plus efficace en termes de puissance électrique délivrée. Une étude sur l’ablation sélective de couches de l’empilement OPV par laser est également présentée pour la fabrication de modules. / An organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell consists of a thin-layer stack which includes a transparent electrode, usually made of indium tin-doped oxide (ITO). Alternative, indium-free materials, deposited in air with a wet deposition process on large, flexible substrates that are more compatible with the OPV field are currently widely investigated. Silver nanowires (Ag NWs), which represent a serious candidate to replace ITO, are the subject of this thesis. In this work a method to deposit Ag NWs on PET substrates by air spray-coating has been developed : efficient patterned conductive and transparent coatings could be processed on a large, flexible substrate. This transparent electrode was then integrated in flexible and large area OPV cells, with efficiencies comparable to ITO. Wet deposition techniques were preferred except for the silver top electrode, evaporated under vacuum. OPV cells were eventually interconnected in series in order to make an OPV module, delivering a higher electrical output. A study on selective laser ablation of layers in the OPV stack is also shown towards module processing.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-09-12T14:19:20Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Artur_Muniz_Dissertacao_Digital_Biblioteca.pdf: 14042205 bytes, checksum: 21290a8d10774b2848f16e9351043b9a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-12T14:19:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Artur_Muniz_Dissertacao_Digital_Biblioteca.pdf: 14042205 bytes, checksum: 21290a8d10774b2848f16e9351043b9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / FACEPE / A curva da potência em função da tensão nos terminais de uma conexão em série de módulos fotovoltaicos, com diodos de passagem protetores, exposta a um sombreamento parcial, exibe um comportamento com múltiplos picos. Os múltiplos picos tornam as estratégias clássicas de seguimento do ponto de máxima potência, ou MPPT, ineficazes. Em primeiro momento, este trabalho realiza uma análise estatística que determina uma região trapezoidal no plano tensão potência onde o ponto de máxima potência global está inserido para qualquer situação de irradiâncias múltiplas e temperatura, para configurações com inversor central e módulos conectados em séries puras ou conectadas em paralelo. Em segundo momento, este trabalho pesquisa as técnicas de MPPT Global que rastreiam o ponto de máxima potência global de uma curva tensão potência com múltiplos picos. Duas destas técnicas são estudadas a fim de avaliar a rapidez em encontrar o ponto de máxima potência global e a energia perdida na busca. Por fim, é proposta uma nova técnica de MPPT Global baseada no estudo estatístico preliminar. Esta nova técnica é proposta tirando proveito do trapézio delimitado na análise estatística. / The power-voltage characteristic of series arrays of photovoltaic modules with bypass diodes under partial shading conditions, displays a multiple peaks behavior. The multiple peaks make the classical algorithms of maximum power point tracking, or MPPT, ineffective. At first, this work performs a statistical analysis that determines a trapezoidal region in the power voltage plan where the global maximum power point is situated for any situation from multiple irradiances and any temperature, for central inverter configuration with a series array of modules or parallel connected series arrays. Soon after, this paper researches the Global MPPT techniques that track the global maximum power point of power-voltage curves with multiple peaks. Some of these techniques are studied to assess how fast they can find the global maximum power point and the energy lost at this search. Finally, it is proposed a new Global MPPT technique based on the preliminary statistical study. This new technique is proposed taking advantage of the trapezoidal region defined in the statistical analysis.

A geração de energia solar fotovoltaica tem crescido anualmente em utilização. Com o aumento dos custos de geração de energia elétrica, fontes renováveis de energia como essa crescem em interesse, até mesmo em aplicações residenciais de microgeração. Este trabalho apresenta o projeto, construção e ensaios de um rastreador solar autônomo, com controle e aquisição de dados de sensoriamento baseado em sistemas embarcados totalmente projetados e produzidos no país, com o objetivo de se aumentar o ganho de energia elétrica gerada a partir de painéis solares de mercado. O projeto do firmware de controle e os algoritmos utilizados foram adaptados continuamente até se atingir os melhores resultados. Foi utilizado um painel solar comum de mercado para realizar os testes, e as placas de circuito impresso projetadas foram confeccionadas localmente. A tomada de dados em diferentes ensaios mostrou que o rastreamento solar de fato aumentou o ganho de energia elétrica com um painel solar comum de mercado, mesmo com alguns problemas a serem corrigidos em uma próxima pesquisa. Assim, a pesquisa realizada confirmou o ganho de energia elétrica para o painel solar escolhido. / Photovoltaic solar generators have grown annually in use. With the increase in electricity generation costs, renewable sources of energy like that grow in interest, even in residential microgeneration applications. This work presents the design, construction and testing of a standalone solar tracker, with control and acquisition of sensors data based on embedded systems totally designed and produced in the country, aiming to increase the power generated from retail solar panels. The firmware design and used algorithms have been continuously adapted to achieve the best results. It was used a standard solar panel to perform the tests, and the designed printed circuit boards were manufactured locally. The data taken in different tests showed that the solar tracking actually increased the power generated with a standard solar panel, even with some problems in the design that have to be corrected in a future implementation. So the project was validated and can be used, including microgeneration in ordinary houses.

A geração solar fotovoltaica em painéis de silício tem se destacado como uma maneira limpa e renovável de atender à demanda por energia elétrica. Este trabalho apresenta o projeto, construção e testes de um sistema autônomo para obtenção da curva IV e caracterização de painéis fotovoltaicos comerciais instalados em campo. Após um estudo do problema de medição de painéis solares, uma especificação da Solução foi concebida. Com base na especificação, foram realizados o projeto elétrico, a construção de protótipos, a escrita do software de medição e os testes de validação em laboratório. Para validação definitiva do hardware desenvolvido, foram realizados testes em campo utilizando um painel solar comercial. Após a tomada de dados e análise dos resultados, conclui-se que o dispositivo concebido atende aos requisitos especificados e cumpre sua proposta inicial. A metodologia empregada neste trabalho pode ser utilizada para geração de outros instrumentos com finalidade similar ou idêntica. / Photovoltaic solar generators, using silicon panels, have grown popular as a clean and renewable way to supply electrical energy. This work presents the project, construction and testing of an autonomous system for IV curve tracing and characterization of commercial photovoltaic panels deployed in the field. After a study how to properly measure solar panels, a Solution was put in a form of a specification. From specifications, the following phases took place: electrical project, prototype construction, software development and lab testing. To perform final validation of the developed hardware, a field test with a commercial solar panel was performed. After collecting and analyzing data from, it was concluded that the design fulfills the required specifications and intended goals. The methodology employed in this work and be utilized to generate other measuring instruments with similar or identical function.

Les cellules solaires organiques continuent leur essor dans le domaine du photovoltaïque, grâce aux structures et matériaux activement étudiés, pour tendre vers le maximum de rendement et passer le cap de l'industrialisation. La séparation de phase des matériaux qui constituent la couche photo-active des cellules à hétérojonction en volume gouverne en partie les performances de la cellule, ainsi que des phénomènes de recombinaison liés à la photo-conversion. Des moyens de caractérisation spécifiques sont nécessaires pour sonder les propriétés des cellules aussi bien à l'échelle microscopique qu'à l'échelle nanométrique. Des bancs de caractérisations opto-électriques pour les cellules solaires organiques ont alors été développés. Ainsi, la technique du courant induit par faisceau lumineux (LBIC) permet de visualiser l'uniformité des cellules avec une résolution de 50µm. La microscopie à force atomique en mode conduction (C-AFM) permet quant à elle de sonder les propriétés photo-électriques des cellules à l'échelle du nanomètre. / Organic solar cells are becoming more prominent in the photovoltaic field thanks to new materials and stacked structures. The active layer of bulk heterojunction solar cells is composed of an interpenetrating network of electron donor and acceptor materials. Vertical phase separation governs cells power conversion efficiency and recombination phenomena are still being studied. Specific characterization tools are necessary to gain insights into cell properties at the nanometer scale and at the molecular level. In this context, this thesis allowed the development of electrical characterization tools for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on polymer/fullerene blend. Thus, the Light Beam induced Current (LBIC) technique has been developed to check the current uniformity of the cells with a 50µm resolution. Conductive-AFM (C-AFM) has been used to probe the photovoltaic properties of the cells in the nanometer range.

Standard crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) modules are designed to continuously convert solar energy into electricity for 25 years. However, the continual generation of electricity by the PV modules throughout their designed service life has been a concern. The key challenge has been the untimely fatigue failure of solder interconnections of solar cells in the modules due to accelerated thermo-mechanical degradation. The goal of this research is to provide adequate information for proper design of solar cell solder joint against fatigue failure through the study of cyclic thermo-mechanical stresses and strains in the joint. This is carried-out through finite element analysis (FEA) using ANSYS software to develop the solar cell assembly geometric models followed by simulations. Appropriate material constitutive model for solder alloy is employed to predict number of cycles to failure of solder joint, hence predicting its fatigue life. The results obtained from this study indicate that intermetallic compound thickness (TIMC); solder joint thickness (TSJ) and width (WSJ) have significant impacts on fatigue life of solder joint. The impacts of TIMC and TSJ are such that as the thicknesses increases solder joint fatigue life decreases. Conversely, as solder joint width (WSJ) increases, fatigue life increases. Furthermore, optimization of the joint is carried-out towards thermo-mechanical reliability improvement. Analysis of results shows the design with optimal parameter setting to be: TIMC -2.5μm, TSJ -20μm and WSJ -1000μm. In addition, the optimized model has 16,264 cycles to failure which is 18.82% more than the expected 13,688 cycles to failure of a PV module designed to last for 25 years.

Σκοπός αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να εμβαθύνουμε στη λειτουργία φωτοβολταϊκού πλαισίου μονοκρυσταλλικού πυριτίου και μέσα από τα αριθμητικά δεδομένα των μετρήσεων και των υπολογισμών, να αποφανθούμε πώς η λειτουργία σε πραγματικές συνθήκες μπορεί να επηρεάσει την παραγόμενη ισχύ του. Στα πλαίσια αυτά, πραγματοποιήθηκαν μετρήσεις ρεύματος και τάσης, στο χώρο του τμήματος των Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών, με φωτοβολταϊκό πλαίσιο μονοκρυσταλλικού πυριτίου ισχύος αιχμής 80 W. Οι μετρήσεις γίνονταν μια φορά την εβδομάδα κατά τη διάρκεια ενός έτους περίπου (2008-2009) και στόχος ήταν να διεξαχθούν μετρήσεις υπό διάφορες συνθήκες ακτινοβολίας και θερμοκρασίας και για αρκετές γωνίες κλίσης ώστε να αποκτήσουμε μια ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα της ενεργειακής του συμπεριφοράς. Στη διάρκεια των μετρήσεων αλλάζαμε την τιμή ενός μεταβλητού φορτίου, για να πάρουμε τη χαρακτηριστική ρεύματος τάσης του συγκεκριμένου πλαισίου και επιπλέον σημειώναμε την ακτινοβολία, τη θερμοκρασία του περιβάλλοντος, του κυττάρου και της πίσω όψης του, καθώς και της κλίσης τοποθέτησης. Ακόμα ελέγχαμε πώς επηρεάζει τη χαρακτηριστική καμπύλη I-V, και κατά συνέπεια την απόδοση, τυχόν φυσική σκίαση από παρακείμενο αντικείμενο. Ο προσανατολισμός των πλαισίων ήταν πάντα προς το Νότο, ώστε να έχουμε περισσότερες ώρες ηλιοφάνειας, μίας και η Ελλάδα είναι χώρα του βόρειου ημισφαιρίου. Κατά την επεξεργασία των μετρήσεων καταλήξαμε στην βέλτιστη κλίση τοποθέτησης του πλαισίου ανά εποχή και είδαμε πως η ακτινοβολία επιδρά θετικά στην απόδοση του σε αντίθεση με τη θερμοκρασία του κυττάρου που τη μειώνει όταν αυτή αυξάνεται. Τέλος, έγινε μια σύγκριση των τιμών που δίνει ο κατασκευαστής σε εργαστηριακό περιβάλλον με τις τιμές των μετρήσεων για να διαπιστώσουμε τις απώλειες που έχουμε όταν το μονοκρυσταλλικό πλαίσιο λειτουργεί σε πραγματικές συνθήκες. / The aim of this diploma thesis is to take a better look at the operation of a monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module and through the numerical data of measurements and the calculations, to come to a conclusion about how the operation in real conditions can influence his produced power. Measurements of current and tendency have been made in the area of the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering using a monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic module of peak power 80 W. The measurements took place once a week for about a year (2008-2009) and our goal was to obtain measurements under various conditions of radiation and temperature and for some angles of bent so that we acquire a completed picture of its energy behavior. During the measurements we changed a variable load, in order to form the characteristic curve of current and tendency of the module and we also noted down the radiation, the environmental, the cell and the back side temperature of the module, as well as the bent of placement. Moreover, we checked how a possible natural shading from an adjacent object influences the characteristic I-V curve, and as a result the efficiency of the module. The orientation of the module was always South, in order to gain more hours of sunlight, since Greece is a country of the northern hemisphere. While processing the measurements, we found the optimal bent of placement per season for the module and we saw that the radiation affects positively its efficiency contrary to the cell temperature that decreases the efficiency when increased. Finally, we compare the electrical specifications in laboratorial environment that the constructor gives, with the measurements in order to realise the losses that we have when the monocrystalline module functions in real conditions.

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται τη μελέτη, την ανάλυση καθώς και την κατασκευή μιας νέας τοπολογίας για τη διασύνδεση φωτοβολταϊκών (Φ/Β) γεννητριών, μικρής ισχύος, με το ηλεκτρικό δίκτυο των αστικών περιοχών. Η εργασία αυτή εκπονήθηκε στο Εργαστήριο Ηλεκτρομηχανικής Μετατροπής Ενέργειας του Τμήματος Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών της Πολυτεχνικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Στόχος της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι η συμβολή της στον τομέα των Φ/Β μονάδων διεσπαρμένης παραγωγής, με την κατασκευή μιας ηλεκτρονικής διάταξης, η οποία θα χρησιμοποιηθεί για τη διασύνδεση φωτοβολταϊκών (Φ/B) γεννητριών μικρής ισχύος, στο ηλεκτρικό δίκτυο χαμηλής τάσης. Συγκεκριμένα, διερευνάται και κατασκευάζεται ένας υψίσυχνος αντιστροφέας ρεύματος τοπολογίας Flyback, ο οποίος θα είναι κατάλληλος για εφαρμογές «Φωτοβολταϊκών Πλαισίων Εναλλασσόμενου Ρεύματος» (AC-PV Modules), δηλαδή Φ/Β διατάξεων, ηλεκτρικής ισχύος έως 300W, στις οποίες ενσωματώνεται ένας ηλεκτρονικός μετατροπέας συνεχούς τάσης σε μονοφασική εναλλασσόμενη (Micro-inverter). Ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά του αντιστροφέα που κατασκευάστηκε είναι ο μικρός βαθμός πολυπλοκότητας του κυκλώματος ισχύος με άμεση συνέπεια την υψηλή αξιοπιστία του, η γαλβανική απομόνωση που παρέχει ανάμεσα στη Φ/Β γεννήτρια και το ηλεκτρικό δίκτυο εναλλασσόμενου ρεύματος (Ε.Ρ.), η ικανότητα σημαντικής ανύψωσης της τάσης εισόδου του, ο υψηλός συντελεστής ισχύος, καθώς και ο υψηλός βαθμός απόδοσης (ο οποίος αγγίζει το 94,25%) για ένα ευρύ φάσμα λειτουργίας του. Ο μικρός όγκος και το μικρό βάρος (σε περίπτωση βιομηχανοποίησης), είναι επιπρόσθετα χαρακτηριστικά της συγκεκριμένης τοπολογίας. Αρχικά, αναλύεται διεξοδικά η λειτουργία του αντιστροφέα ρεύματος τοπολογίας Flyback, η οποία έχει αναπτυχθεί στη Διδακτορική Διατριβή του Αναστάσιου Χ. Κυρίτση, «Βέλτιστος Σχεδιασμός Υψίσυχνου Μονοφασικού Αντιστροφέα για τη Διασύνδεση Φωτοβολταϊκών Συστημάτων Μικρής Ισχύος με το Δίκτυο Χαμηλής Τάσης». Ταυτόχρονα, διερευνώνται δύο διαφορετικές τεχνικές ελέγχου, οι οποίες οδηγούν σε διαφορετικές καταστάσεις λειτουργίας (λειτουργία σε ασυνεχή αγωγή, DCM - λειτουργία στο όριο μεταξύ συνεχούς και ασυνεχούς αγωγής, BCM) και εξασφαλίζουν τη δημιουργία εναλλασσόμενου ημιτονοειδούς ρεύματος συμφασικού με την τάση του ηλεκτρικού δικτύου. Αναπτύσσονται τα κυκλώματα ελέγχου του αντιστροφέα, ενώ παρουσιάζεται ένας αποτελεσματικός τρόπος μέτρησης του υψίσυχνου διακοπτικού ρεύματος που διαρρέει τα τυλίγματα του μετασχηματιστή του αντιστροφέα. Τέλος, πραγματοποιείται η κατασκευή της διάταξης στο εργαστήριο, με σκοπό τη διεξαγωγή πειραματικών μετρήσεων για την επιβεβαίωση και αξιολόγηση της θεωρητικής ανάλυσης. / This degree thesis deals with the study, the analysis and the manufacture of a new topology that will be used for the interconnection of small photovoltaic (PV) generators with the electric network of urban regions. This work was conducted in the Laboratory of Electromechanical Energy Conversion, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Patras. The goal of the present thesis is to contribute in the sector of Dispersed Power Generation PV systems, with the development of an electronic device that will be used for the interconnection of small photovoltaic (PV) generators with the low voltage electric network. Specifically, a high frequency current source Flyback inverter is investigated and manufactured, that will be suitable for “Alternative Current Photovoltaic Modules” (AC-PV Modules) applications. An AC-PV Module is the combination of a single PV module (whose power production varies under 300W) and a single-phase power electronic micro-inverter in a single electrical device. Special characteristics of the inverter are the simple power electronic circuit structure, having high reliability as an immediate consequence, the electrical isolation provided between the PV generator and the electric network, the high power factor and the high efficiency (reaching 94.25%) for a wide range of its power. Moreover, small volume and weight are particular characteristics, attributes very important considering its applications (incorporation in PV generators that will be placed in aspects or roofs of buildings). For this topology - whose theory is in the Ph.D. thesis of A. Ch. Kyritsis “Optimum Design of a High Frequency Singe - Phase Inverter for the Interconnection of Small Power PV Systems with the Low Voltage Network” developed - two different control techniques were investigated, leading to different operation modes (Discontinuous Conduction Mode - DCM, Boundary between Continuous and Discontinuous Mode - BCM) and ensuring alternative sinusoidal current, in phase with the electric network voltage. Simultaneously, their suitability is studied for different power levels. Moreover, the control circuits of the inverter were developed and an effective way of measuring the high - frequency switching currents of the inverter’s transformer is presented. Last but not least, the design of the whole system is completed in the laboratory, in order to carry out the experimental measurements required, to confirm and evaluate the studied theory.

Renewable energy sources normally require power converters to convert their energy into standardized regulated ac output. The motivation for this thesis is to design and control power converters for renewable energy systems to ensure very good power quality, efficiency and reliability. The renewable energy sources considered are low voltage dc sources such as photovoltaic (PV) modules. Two transformer-isolated power circuit topologies with input voltage of less than 50V are designed and developed for low and medium power applications. Various design and control issues of these converters are identified and new solutions are proposed. For low power rating of a few hundred watts, a line-frequency transformer interfaced inverter is developed. In the grid connected operation, it is observed that this topology injects considerable lower order odd and even harmonics in the grid current. The reasons for this are identified. A new current control method using adaptive harmonic compensation technique and a proportional-resonant-integral (PRI) controller is proposed. The proposed current controller is designed to ensure that the grid current harmonics are within the limits set by the IEEE 1547-2003 standard. Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are used for grid synchronization of power converters in grid-tied operation and for closed-loop control reference generation. Analysis and design of synchronous reference frame PLL (SRF-PLL) and second-order generalized integrator (SOGI) based PLLs considering unit vector distortion under the possible non-ideal grid conditions of harmonics, unbalance, dc offsets and frequency deviations are proposed and validated. Both SRF-PLL and SOGI-PLL are low-complexity PLLs. The proposed designs achieve fastest settling time for these PLLs for a given worst-case input condition. The harmonic distortion and dc offsets in the resulting unit vectors are limited to be well within the limits set by the IEEE 1547-2003 standard. The proposed designs can be used to achieve very good performance using conventional low-complexity PLLs without the requirement of advanced PLLs which can be computationally intensive. A high-frequency (HF) transformer interfaced ac link inverter with a lossless snubber is developed medium power level in the order of few kilowatts. The HF transformer makes the topology compact and economical compared to an equally rated line frequency transformer. A new synchronized modulation method is proposed to suppress the possible over-voltages due to current commutation in the leakage inductance of the HF transformer. The effect of circuit non-ideality of turn-on delay time is analyzed. The proposed modulation mitigates the problem of spurious turn-on that can occur due to the turn-on delay time. The HF inverter, rectifier and snubber devices have soft switching with this modulation. A new reliable start-up method is proposed for this inverter topology without any additional start- up circuitry. This solves the problems of over-voltages and inrush currents during start-up. The overall research work reported in the thesis shows that it is possible to have compact, reliable and high performance power converters for renewable energy conversion systems. It is also shown that high control performance and power quality can be achieved using the proposed control techniques of low implementation complexity.