Growing concerns about climate change have led to the world experiencing an unprecedented push towards renewable energy. Economic drivers and government policies mean that small, distributed forms of generation, like solar photovoltaics, will play a large role in our transition to a clean energy future. In this thesis, a novel DC-DC converter known as the Coupled Inductors Combined Cuk-SEPIC' (CI-CCS) converter is explored, which is particularly attractive for these photovoltaic applications. A topological modification is investigated which provides several benefits, including increased power density, efficiency, and operational advantages for solar energy conversion. The converter, which is based on the combination of the Cuk and SEPIC converters, provides a bipolar output (i.e. both positive and negative voltages). This converter also offers both step-up and step-down capabilities with a continuous input current, and uses only a single, ground-referenced switching device. A significant enhancement to this converter is proposed: magnetic coupling of the converter's three inductors. This can substantially reduce the CI-CCS converter's input current ripple - an important benefit for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic applications. The effect of this coupling is examined theoretically, and optimisations are performed - both analytically and in simulations - to inform the design of a 4 kW prototype CI-CCS converter, switched at a high frequency (100 kHz) with a silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET. Simulation and experimental results are then presented to demonstrate the CI-CCS converter's operation and highlight the benefits of coupling its inductors. An efficiency analysis is also undertaken and its sources of losses are quantified. The converter is subsequently integrated into a domestic photovoltaic system to provide a practical demonstration of its suitability for such applications. MPPT is integrated into the CI-CCS DC-DC converter, and a combined half bridge/T-type converter is developed and paired with the CI-CCS converter to form an entirely transformerless single-phase solar energy conversion system. The combination of the CI-CCS converter's bipolar DC output with the combined half bridge/T-type converter's bipolar DC input allows grounding at both the photovoltaic panels and the AC grid's neutral point. This eliminates high frequency common mode voltages from the PV array, which in turn prevents leakage currents. The entire system can be operated in grid-connected mode - where the objective is to maximise power extracted from the photovoltaic system, and is demonstrated in stand-alone mode - where the objective is to match solar generation with the load's power demands.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-07-11T12:39:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação Mestrado M276 - Gilberto.pdf: 3559945 bytes, checksum: e0e92cec09c72c5a7b8b98260c3b9a8e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-11T12:39:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Dissertação Mestrado M276 - Gilberto.pdf: 3559945 bytes, checksum: e0e92cec09c72c5a7b8b98260c3b9a8e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-22 / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo comparativo de conversores monofásicos aplicados a sistemas fotovoltaicos sem transformador. Topologias de inversores sem transformador têm menores custos, tamanho e peso. Contudo, a não utilização do transformador pode ser responsável por consideráveis valores de correntes de fuga. A associação em série de vários módulos fotovoltaicos se faz necessária para alcançar o nível de tensão desejado no barramento c.c.. Com o intuito de reduzir o número de módulos fotovoltaicos em série, topologias com característica de elevação de tensão (boost) podem ser utilizadas. Portanto, topologias que possuem estas características e que possam apresentar baixos valores de correntes de fuga devem ser escolhidas para o estudo. As topologias presentes neste trabalho são: o conversor de dois estágios, o inversor fonte Z monofásico com diodo adicional, e o inversor fonte Z de três estados. / This work presents a comparative study of single-phase converters applied to transformerless photovoltaic systems. Topologies of transformerless inverters have lower costs, size and weight. However, not using it may cause considerable amounts of leakage currents. The association in series of several PV modules is needed to achieve the voltage level desired in d.c. bus. In order to reduce the number of photovoltaic modules in series, topologies with voltage boost characteristic can be used. Therefore, topologies that have voltage boost characteristic and can have low leakage current values are chosen for the study. Topologies present in this work are: the two stages single-phase converter, the single-phase Z-source inverter with additional diode, and the single-phase three switch three state Z-source inverter.