[Abstract]: The disadvantages of using solar energy are its capital cost (which is about A$6/W), in comparison to that of conventional sources of energy (which is about A$1.80/W), and its conversion efficiency, which in commercially available Photovoltaic (PV) systems is less than 20%. Consequently, for utility connected PV generation to become a viable alternative energy source, its efficiency needs to be improved, its cost reduced, and the quality of power supplied by the inverters must meet stringent standards.This dissertation describes the research work carried out to optimise the conversion efficiency and to minimise the cost of a single-phase, hysteretic current controlunipolar switched inverter system, for use as an interface between solar panels and the grid network. The 1 kW (peak power) PV system being considered does not useenergy storage batteries and the inverter output is connected to the grid supply without the use of a power transformer. Improvements in the efficiency of such aninverter system often come at the expense of the quality of its output power and an increase in cost. However, in the proposed inverter system the harmonics of theoutput current has been improved without compromising its overall efficiency or its cost. An improvement in power quality has been achieved using a novel AC splitinductorfilter network that reduces electromagnetic interference, prevents unwanted operation of the inverter switches, attenuates switching frequency harmonics,minimises low frequency harmonics and provides an average value of the inverter output current necessary for the removal of DC offset currents.An improvement in inverter efficiency and a reduction in cost has been achieved by omitting the 50 Hz power transformer (transformerless) and by optimising theinverter current control strategies. In Australia, some power supply authorities permit transformerless PV inverters of less than 10 kW rating to be connected to their supply system. However, avoiding the use of transformers can lead to magnitudes of DC offset current outside the limits specified by Australian Standard 4777.2, 2005 being injected into the grid supply. In this project a new cost effective DC offset current controller that removes DC offset current from the output of the inverter has been realised. This result translates into two primary benefits; firstly, a saving of about20% in the cost of the power transformer and in the cost of providing additional solar panels to overcome transformer power losses, and secondly the DC offset controller can also be utilised in inverter applications where power transformers are used, to prevent distortion of the magnetising current.The novel design procedure proposed in this thesis for a current controller takes into account intentional and unintentional switching circuit delays, and yields higherefficiencies without sacrificing power quality or increasing the cost of the inverter system. The inclusion of the effect of circuit delays in the design procedure issignificant as it is shown that delay not only has an adverse effect on the performance of the current controller but also on the efficiency and the power quality of the inverter system.Of paramount importance for the successful completion of this project was the relationship between switching circuit delays and the level of low frequencyharmonics generated by unipolar switched inverters. Theoretical analysis is developed to show why circuit delays, inverter DC input voltage and the inductanceof the current loop, are responsible for low frequency harmonics in unipolar switched and not in bipolar switched inverters. It has also been established that unipolarswitched inverters can be designed to operate within the limits specified by the Australian Standard 4777.2, 2005 and that the low frequency harmonics can be maintained at acceptable levels.For a current controller using unipolar switching, the choice of only one of four equivalent switching combinations of the inverter switches leads to suppression of switching noise, and prevents unwanted switching without the need for additional filters. Results are presented to demonstrate the unique advantage of unipolarswitching over bipolar switching.

abstract: A new photovoltaic (PV) array power converter circuit is presented. The salient features of this inverter are: transformerless topology, grounded PV array, and only film capacitors. The motivations are to reduce cost, eliminate leakage ground currents, and improve reliability. The use of Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistors is the key enabling technology for this particular circuit to attain good efficiency. Traditionally, grid connected PV inverters required a transformer for isolation and safety. The disadvantage of high frequency transformer based inverters is complexity and cost. Transformerless inverters have become more popular recently, although they can be challenging to implement because of possible high frequency currents through the PV array's stay capacitance to earth ground. Conventional PV inverters also typically utilize electrolytic capacitors for bulk power buffering. However such capacitors can be prone to decreased reliability. The solution proposed here to solve these problems is a bi directional buck boost converter combined with half bridge inverters. This configuration enables grounding of the array's negative terminal and passive power decoupling with only film capacitors. Several aspects of the proposed converter are discussed. First a literature review is presented on the issues to be addressed. The proposed circuit is then presented and examined in detail. This includes theory of operation, component selection, and control systems. An efficiency analysis is also conducted. Simulation results are then presented that show correct functionality. A hardware prototype is built and experiment results also prove the concept. Finally some further developments are mentioned. As a summary of the research a new topology and control technique were developed. The resultant circuit is a high performance transformerless PV inverter with upwards of 97% efficiency. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2014

[EN] Multilevel inverters are being used in high-power applications, but the use of those topologies in small-power photovoltaic power plants presents some advantages. In this Thesis it is proposed a transformerless grid-connected single-phase photovoltaic inverter topology, called NPC+GCC, based on a multilevel topology. The characteristics of the NPC+GCC are of great interest for grid-connected transformerless inverters. It is demonstrated that that topology generates a very low capacitive leakage current, which is well below the limits stablished by the DIN VDE 0123-1-1 norm. The NPC+GCC topology permits the connection of a pair of photovoltaic sources on its input, getting the maximum power of both sources simultaneously. The efficiency of the power electronic converter is very high, since cascaded power stages are not used. This feature is of great interest in photovoltaic generation in urban areas because of the partial shadowing of the photovoltaic modules. Partial shadowing significantly deteriorates the energy harvesting. The double maximum power point tracking of the NPC+GCC reduces the effects of partial shadowing. Moreover, the inverter has been designed for working in distributed generation microgrids, an upcoming scenario. The main features of the inverter, transformerless and with a double maximum power point tracking, are especially relevant for power generation in the context of microgrids. The design has been validated by means of the construction and experimental study of an NPC+GCC converter with a nominal power of 5kW. / [ES] Los inversores multinivel se utilizan de forma habitual en aplicaciones de gran potencia, pero la aplicación de las topologías multinivel en la generación fotovoltaica de pequeña potencia presenta algunas ventajas de interés. Se propone una topología de inversor fotovoltaico monofásico de inyección a red sin transformador, basada en las topologías multinivel, llamada NPC+GCC. Esta topología presenta características de gran interés para su uso como inversor sin transformador directamente conectado a la red eléctrica. Se estudia su tensión de modo común, y cómo esta genera una corriente de derivación capacitiva que se mantiene muy por debajo de los límites permitidos por la normativa. La topología NPC+GCC permite la conexión de dos generadores fotovoltaicos en su entrada, sobre los que efectuará una búsqueda del punto de máxima potencia de manera totalmente independiente y con un elevado rendimiento y fiabilidad, ya que no utiliza convertidores conectados en cascada para realizar esta función. Esta característica es de especial interés para la generación fotovoltaica en entornos urbanos, pues frecuentemente aparecen sombreados parciales sobre los módulos fotovoltaicos, que pueden deteriorar significativamente el aprovechamiento energético. El doble seguimiento del punto de máxima potencia permite reducir la influencia del sombreado parcial. Además, el inversor está diseñado para funcionar en microrredes de generación distribuida, adaptando así la generación fotovoltaica al nuevo escenario que está naciendo en la actualidad. Las principales características del inversor (sin transformador y con doble seguimiento del punto de máxima potencia) son de especial relevancia para la generación en el entorno de microrredes. El diseño se ha validado mediante la construcción y experimentación de un convertidor NPC+GCC de potencia nominal 5kW. / [CAT] Els inversors multinivell s'utilitzen de forma habitual en aplicacions de gran potència, però l'aplicació de les topologies multinivell en la generació fotovoltaica de petita potència presenta alguns avantatges d'interès. Proposem una topologia d'inversor fotovoltaic monofàsic d'injecció a xarxa sense transformador, basada en topologies multinivell, anomenada NPC+GCC. Aquesta topologia presenta característiques de gran interès per l'ús com a inversor sense transformador directament connectat a la xarxa elèctrica. N'estudiem la tensió de mode comú, i com aquesta genera un corrent de derivació capacitiu que es manté molt per davall dels límits permesos per la normativa. La topologia NPC+GCC permet la connexió de dos generadors fotovoltaics en l'entrada, sobre els quals efectuarà una cerca del punt de màxima potència de manera totalment independent i amb una elevada eficiència i fiabilitat, ja que no usa convertidors connectats en sèrie per a dur a terme aquesta funció. Aquesta característica és d'interès especial per a la generació fotovoltaica en entorns urbans, ja que freqüentment apareixen ombrejats parcials als mòduls fotovoltaics, que poden deteriorar significativament l'aprofitament energètic. El doble seguiment del punt de màxima potència permet reduir la influència de l'ombrejat parcial. A més, l'inversor està dissenyat per a funcionar en microxarxes de generació distribuïda, i així la generació fotovoltaica s'adapta al nou escenari que està naixent en l'actualitat. Les principals característiques de l'inversor (sense transformador i amb doble seguiment del punt de màxima potència) són d'especial rellevància per a la generació en l'entorn de microxarxes. El disseny ha sigut validat per mitjà de la construcció i l'experimentació d'un convertidor NPC+GCC de potència nominal 5kW. / Patrao Herrero, I. (2015). Concepción e integración en microrredes residenciales de inversores multinivel sin transformador de aislamiento con extracción simultánea de la máxima potencia de múltiples generadores fotovoltaicos [Tesis doctoral]. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/52023 / TESIS

In order to inject solar power to the utility grid, among various types of inverters, Grid Connected Transformerless Solar Inverters (GCTSI) are mostly preferred for residential or commercial applications. This preference is because of the high energy efficiency and low cost due to the absence of a line frequency or a high frequency transformer. Peak value of the efficiency characteristics of GCTSIs can reach 98%, which are selected topology, component optimization, switching strategy and operating condition dependent. In spite of the attractive energy efficiency characteristics of GCTSIs, due to the lack of galvanic isolation, these inverters are vulnerable to leakage currents, which are prohibitive for the safety and the maintenance reasons. The purpose of this research is to analyze GCTSIs in terms of their leakage current and energy efficiency characteristics. In the research, the leakage current mechanisms of GCTSIs are identified and grid connected solar inverters are classified in terms of their leakage current characteristics including the GCTSIs. In addition to the existing ones, several novel topologies are proposed enriching the family of GCTSIs. The leakage current and the inductor current ripple performances of GCTSI topologies are analyzed and evaluated by detailed simulations for 3 kVA and 10 kVA single-phase systems. In addition, the energy efficiency characteristics of GCTSIs are investigated in these power levels by making use of Calculated Average Power Per Switching Cycle (CAPPSC) method. The efficiency studies with CAPPSC method provide design guidelines and comparison of the GCTSI topologies in terms of their energy efficiency characteristics.

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία πραγματεύεται τη μελέτη και την κατασκευή ενός μονοφασικού αντιστροφέα Η5, ο οποίος χρησιμοποιείται ευρέως σε τοπολογίες αντιστροφέων χωρίς μετασχηματιστή για τη διασύνδεση φωτοβολταϊκών πλαισίων με το δίκτυο χαμηλής τάσης. Η εργασία αυτή εκπονήθηκε στο Εργαστήριο Ηλεκτρομηχανικής Μετατροπής Ενέργειας του Τμήματος Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Τεχνολογίας Υπολογιστών της Πολυτεχνικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Σκοπός της διπλωματικής αυτής εργασίας είναι να καταστεί σαφής η λειτουργία του αντιστροφέα Η5 μέσω της θεωρητικής ανάλυσής του. Ακόμη, σκοπός της εργασίας αυτής είναι να γίνει κατανοητός ο λόγος για τον οποίο ο αντιστροφέας Η5 βρίσκει μεγάλη εφαρμογή και προτιμάται έναντι άλλων τοπολογιών αντιστροφέων στα φωτοβολταϊκά συστήματα ισχύος της τάξης των 5-20 kW. Αρχικά, παρουσιάζεται η ανάγκη εκμετάλλευσης της ηλιακής ενέργειας και περιγράφονται εν συντομία τα φωτοβολταϊκά στοιχεία που αποτελούν καθοριστικό ρόλο στον τομέα αυτό. Στη συνέχεια, περιγράφονται τα φωτοβολταϊκά συστήματα, οι τρόποι διασύνδεσής τους με το δίκτυο χαμηλής τάσης καθώς και οι τοπολογίες αντιστροφέων χωρίς μετασχηματιστή. Ακολούθως, παρατίθεται η θεωρητική ανάλυση και η προσομοίωση του αντιστροφέα Η5 καθώς και η σύγκρισή του με την τοπολογία πλήρους γέφυρας. Τέλος, αναλύεται η διαδικασία υλοποίησης κάθε σταδίου του μονοφασικού αντιστροφέα τύπου Η5 και παρατίθενται παλμογραφήματα και μετρήσεις που προέκυψαν από τα πειράματα που διενεργήθηκαν μετά την ολοκλήρωση της κατασκευής σε εργαστηριακό περιβάλλον. / This thesis deals with the design and construction of a single-phase H5 inverter, which is widely used in transformerless inverter topologies to interconnect PV modules to the low voltage grid. The study was prepared in the Laboratory of Electromechanical Energy Conversion, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras. The aim of this thesis is to clarify the operation of the H5 inverter through theoretical analysis. Moreover, the aim of this work is to illustrate the reason why the H5 inverter finds wide application and is preferred over other transformerless inverter topologies in photovoltaic power systems in the range of 5-20 kW. Initially, is presented the need to exploit solar energy and are described shortly PV modules which form a key role in this area. Then, takes place a description of photovoltaic systems, the interconnection ways to the low voltage grid as well different transformerless topologies. Thereafter,is presented the theoretical analysis and simulation of H5 inverter and its comparison with the full-bridge topology. Finally, is analyzed the implementation process of every step of the single-phase H5 inverter,while some graphs and measurements obtained from the experiments carried out after the copletion of H5 inverter's construction in a lab environment are cited.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work proposes the use of an auxiliary circuit to perform the voltage balancing and reduce the low frequency currents of the DC Bus center point of a three-phase transformerless UPS. The Bus voltage unbalance may occur due to the connection of unbalanced loads and non-idealities of the circuit and may impair the quality of the UPS output voltage. The low frequency current components occur due to the connection of non-linear or unbalanced loads. With the occurrence of these currents, there is an increase in the DC Bus voltage ripple, making it necessary to use a DC Bus with significant capacitance values. Moreover, these currents should increase the losses in the capacitor and deteriorate its lifespan. Thus, it is proposed the use of an auxiliary circuit comprising a switching branch and an inductor, whose function is to reduce the harmonic content from the currents flowing through the central point of the capacitive divider, in addition to ensuring the balancing of the DC Bus voltages. It is carried out the design of a three-phase transformerless UPS and the proposed auxiliary circuit, besides the design of its control systems. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the procedures developed over this work and validate the functionality of the proposed circuit with respect to its purpose. / Este trabalho propõe a utilização de um circuito auxiliar para realizar o equilíbrio de tensão e redução das correntes de baixa frequência do ponto central do barramento CC de uma UPS trifásica sem transformador. O desequilíbrio de tensão do barramento pode ocorrer devido a conexão de cargas desequilibradas e não-idealidades do circuito e podem prejudicar a qualidade da tensão de saída da UPS. Já as componentes de corrente em baixa frequência ocorrem devido à conexão de cargas não-lineares ou desequilibradas. Com a ocorrência dessas correntes, há um aumento na ondulação de tensão do barramento CC, tornando necessário a utilização de expressivos valores de capacitância. Além disso essas correntes devem aumentar as perdas nos capacitores e deteriorar sua vida útil. Dessa forma, propõe-se a utilização de um circuito auxiliar composto por um braço de interruptores e um indutor, cuja função é reduzir o conteúdo harmônico proveniente das correntes que circulam pelo ponto central do divisor capacitivo, além de assegurar o equilíbrio das tensões do barramento CC. É realizado o dimensionamento de uma UPS trifásica sem transformador e do circuito auxiliar proposto, bem como o projeto dos sistemas de controle dos mesmos. Resultados de simulação e experimentais comprovam os procedimentos desenvolvidos ao longo do trabalho, bem como validam a funcionalidade do circuito proposto com relação a sua finalidade.

With worldwide growing demand for electric energy, there has been a great interest in exploring photovoltaic (PV) sources. For the PV generation system, the power converter is the most essential part for the efficiency and function performance. In recent years, there have been quite a few new transformerless PV inverters topologies, which eliminate the traditional line frequency transformers to achieve lower cost and higher efficiency, and maintain lower leakage current as well. With an overview of the state-of-the-art transformerless PV inverters, a new inverter technology is summarized in the Chapter 2, which is named V-NPC inverter technology. Based this V-NPC technology, a family of high efficiency transformerless inverters are proposed and detailly analyzed. The experimental results demonstrate the validity of V-NPC technology and high performance of the transformerless inverters. For the lower power level transformerless inverters, most of the innovative topologies try to use super junction metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor(MOSFET) to boost efficiency, but these MOSFET based inverter topologies suffer from one or more of these drawbacks: MOSFET failure risk from body diode reverse recovery, increased conduction losses due to more devices, or low magnetics utilization. By splitting the conventional MOSFET based phase leg with an optimized inductor, Chapter 3 proposes a novel MOSFET based phase leg configuration to minimize these drawbacks. Based on the proposed phase leg configuration, a high efficiency single-phase MOSFET transformerless inverter is presented for the PV micro-inverter applications. The PWM modulation and circuit operation principle are then described. The common mode and differential mode voltage model is then presented and analyzed for circuit design. Experimental results of a 250 W hardware prototype are shown to demonstrate the merits of the proposed MOSFET based phase-le and the proposed transformerless inverter. New codes require PV inverters to provide system regulation and service to improve the distribution system stabilization. One obvious impact on PV inverters is that they now need to have reactive power generation capability. The Chapter 4 improves the MOFET based transformerless inverter in the Chapter 3 and proposed a novel pulse width modulation (PWM) method for reactive power generation. The ground loop voltage of this inverter under the proposed PWM method is also derived with common mode and differential mode circuit analyses, which indicate that high-frequency voltage component can be minimized with symmetrical design of inductors. A 250-W inverter hardware prototype has been designed and fabricated. Steady state and transient operating conditions are tested to demonstrate the validity of improved inverter and proposed PWM method for reactive power generation, high efficiency of the inverter circuit, and the high-frequency-free ground loop voltage. Besides the high efficiency inverter circuit, the grid connection function is also the essential part of the PV system. The Chapter 5 present the overall function blocks for a grid-connected PV inverter system. The current control and voltage control loop is then analyzed, modeled, and designed. The dynamic reactive power generation is also realized in the control system. The new PLL method for the grid frequency/voltage disturbance is also realized and demonstrate the validity of the detection and protection capability for the voltage/frequency disturbance. At last, a brief conclusion is given in the Chapter 6 about each work. After that, future works on device packaging, system integration, innovation on inverter circuit, and standard compliance are discussed. / Ph. D.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Throughout the twentieth century, the supply of electricity, mainly obtained from fossil fuels like oil and coal, it has supported the growth and transformation of the world economy. In the early years of this century, the scenario has changed to a new reality, the need for sustainable development. In other words, the challenge is to gradually replace the traditional sources of electricity from renewable energy sources, in which the solar photovoltaic energy has highlighted. Photovoltaic inverters may be constituted in different ways, presenting in recent decades a high research progress. The main study efforts focus on getting high efficiency, high power density and high reliability, to increase the overall performance of the photovoltaic installation. In this direction, this Master Thesis aims to propose, analyze, design and implement a single-phase grid-tied photovoltaic inverter, which provides high efficiency and high power density. This circuit is called Transformerless Photovoltaic Interleaved Multilevel NPC Inverter , that use uncoupled inductors, Gallium Nitride power transistors and employs interleaving strategy beside the LCL filter, synthesizing 9 levels. Are introduced studies on the operation, modulation and design methodology of power stages, considering the static performance. Results are presented for the 1 kW, in order to support the validity of the proposed topology in conjunction with the standard aspects, especially in relation to THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of grid current, leakage current, efficiency and power density. / Durante todo o século XX, a oferta de energia elétrica, obtida principalmente a partir dos combustíveis fósseis como petróleo e o carvão mineral, deu suporte ao crescimento e as transformações da economia mundial. Já nos primeiros anos do século atual, o cenário mudou para uma nova realidade, a necessidade do desenvolvimento sustentável. Em outras palavras, o desafio é substituir gradativamente as fontes tradicionais de energia elétrica por fontes de energia renovável, onde a energia solar fotovoltaica tem destaque. Os conversores eletrônicos para sistemas fotovoltaicos, também chamados de inversores, podem ser constituídos de diversas maneiras, apresentando nas últimas décadas um acentuado progresso de pesquisa. Os principais esforços de estudo tem se concentrado em obter alto rendimento, alta densidade de potência e alta confiabilidade, de modo a aumentar o desempenho global da instalação fotovoltaica. Neste horizonte, esta dissertação tem por objetivo propor, analisar, projetar e implementar um inversor fotovoltaico monofásico, para aplicação conectada à rede, de alto rendimento e alta densidade de potência. Esta estrutura é denominada de Inversor Fotovoltaico NPC Multinível Intercalado sem Transformador , que utiliza indutores não acoplados, interruptores de Nitreto de Gálio e emprega a técnica interleaving junto ao filtro LCL, sintetizando 9 níveis. No decorrer do trabalho são introduzidos estudos relativos à operação, modulação, metodologia de projeto e estágios de potência, estabelecendo critérios, enquanto considera a performance estática. São apresentados resultados, observando a potência de 1 kW, com a finalidade de corroborar a validade da topologia proposta juntamente as normativas e aspectos que norteiam a aplicação, especialmente com respeito à THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) da corrente da rede, corrente de fuga, rendimento e densidade de potência.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This Master Thesis presents the development of a grid-connected transformerless three-phase photovoltaic inverter. The Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) three-level inverter was chosen for implementation. The grid connection is made with a modified LCL filter (MLCL), where the common point of the output filter capacitors is connected directly to the dc bus central point (neutral point). The MLCL filter reduces the leakage current of photovoltaic system and attenuates the current harmonics injected in the grid. A passive damping of MLCL filter resonance peak was employed in order to avoid instability in the grid connection. In this sense, this Master Thesis contributes proposing a passive damping design method which is based not only on the stability requirement, but also considers the leakage current of photovoltaic system, once that passive damping impacts on the high frequency components of voltage on parasitic capacitance. Therefore, based on leakage current limit and current loop stability, a range for the damping resistance was obtained. The control system of the threephase inverter was developed in a synchronous reference frame (dq0), where the proper alignment with the grid voltage reference vector allows the independent control of active and reactive power inject in the grid. Simulation and experimental results are shown to evaluate the inverter performance and to validate the theoretical analysis. / Esta Dissertação de Mestrado apresenta o desenvolvimento de um inversor fotovoltaico trifásico não isolado conectado à rede. A topologia desenvolvida foi a de um inversor trifásico três níveis com ponto neutro grampeado (NPC Neutral Point Clamped). A conexão com a rede é feita através de um filtro LCL modificado (LCLM), que possui o ponto comum dos seus capacitores conectado ao ponto central do barramento CC do inversor. O filtro LCLM possui a finalidade de reduzir a corrente de fuga do sistema fotovoltaico ao mesmo tempo em que atenua os harmônicos de corrente injetados na rede. De modo a evitar problemas de instabilidade da malha de corrente do inversor, um sistema de amortecimento passivo do pico de ressonância do filtro LCLM foi empregado. Neste sentido, esta Dissertação de Mestrado contribui propondo um método de projeto do amortecimento passivo que se baseia não somente no critério de estabilidade, mas que também considera a corrente de fuga do sistema fotovoltaico, uma vez que o amortecimento impacta na atenuação das componentes de alta frequência da tensão sobre a capacitância parasita dos módulos fotovoltaicos. Com isso, uma faixa de valores para a resistência de amortecimento foi obtida a partir do limite permitido para a corrente de fuga e da estabilidade da malha de corrente. O sistema de controle do inversor trifásico foi desenvolvido com base no sistema de coordenadas síncronas dq0, cujo correto alinhamento com o vetor de referência das tensões da rede permite o controle independente das potências ativa e reativa injetadas na rede. Resultados experimentais e de simulação são apresentados de modo a comprovar o desempenho do inversor trifásico.

abstract: The dissertation encompasses the transformer-less single phase PV inverters for both the string and microinverter applications. Two of the major challenge with such inverters include the presence of high-frequency common mode leakage current and double line frequency power decoupling with reliable capacitors without compromising converter power density. Two solutions are presented in this dissertation: half-bridge voltage swing (HBVS) and dynamic dc link (DDCL) inverters both of which completely eliminates the ground current through topological improvement. In addition, through active power decoupling technique, the capacitance requirement is reduced for both, thus achieving an all film-capacitor based solution with higher reliability. Also both the approaches are capable of supporting a wide range of power factor. Moreover, wide band-gap devices (both SiC and GaN) are used for implementing their hardware prototypes. It enables the switching frequency to be high without compromising on the converter efficiency. Also it allows a reduced magnetic component size, further enabling a high power density solution, with power density far beyond the state-of-the art solutions. Additionally, for the transformer-less microinverter application, another challenge is to achieve a very high gain DC-DC stage with a simultaneous high conversion efficiency. An extended duty ratio (EDR) boost converter which is a hybrid of switched capacitors and interleaved inductor technique, has been implemented for this purpose. It offers higher converter efficiency as most of the switches encounter lower voltage stress directly impacting switching loss; the input current being shared among all the interleaved converters (inherent sharing only in a limited duty ratio), the inductor conduction loss is reduced by a factor of the number of phases. Further, the EDR boost converter has been studied for both discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) operations and operations with wide input/output voltage range in continuous conduction mode (CCM). A current sharing between its interleaved input phases is studied in detail to show that inherent sharing is possible for only in a limited duty ratio span, and modification of the duty ratio scheme is proposed to ensure equal current sharing over all the operating range for 3 phase EDR boost. All the analysis are validated with experimental results. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2017