Dual-source inverter for hybrid PV–FC application

Abstract

Multi input-multi output Power electronic interface for hybrid energy resources has gathered much of interest. In this paper, a new configuration for cascade connection of two Z-Impedance networks is presented which is able to extract power from two separate low voltage energy sources such as photovoltaic panels and fuel cell stacks. The required load power can be shared between two sources which may have different low values. The power sharing is controlled by adjusting the shoot through duration and time shifting. The proposed converter includes the features of conventional Z-source converter such as voltage boost and shoot through immunity of the inverter. Steady state operation principles, switching methods and the main relations for power flow from two inputs to the output are derived. A prototype of the converter is built and tested for different operation modes. The results are compared with simulations and theoretical analysis which verify well performance of the system.

A single-stage dual-source inverter using low-power components and microcomputers

“…Photovoltaic panels and fuel cells generate not only low, but also unstable DC voltage. To overcome this shortcoming, power electronic boost converters should be used 1 , 2 . The terminal voltage could increase if additional photovoltaic cells are connected in series.…”

“…The terminal voltage could increase if additional photovoltaic cells are connected in series. Even using the second solution cannot compensate for the effect of partial shading 1 , 2 .…”

“…This solution, however, leads to higher costs, complexity, volume, and so on. The other proposed solution involves using multi-input converters 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 . These converters are powered by sources with different power and voltage levels, producing a fixed output of voltage and frequency 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 .…”

Innovative step‐up direct current converter for fuel cell‐based power source to decrease current ripple and increase voltage gain

“…As a result of the development of the material technology in recent years, the power of the FC source can meet the requirement of low voltage domestic components [12]. Because the voltage output of the FC source is not sufficient to supply the inverter and consequently the output load, ZSC is used to provide the required voltage with wide voltage range [13,14]. A number of studies have been performed to augment the DC voltage gain.…”

An Innovative Step-up DC-DC Converter for Fuel Cell-based Power Source to Decrease Current Ripple and Increase Voltage Gain with Low Stress and Switch Counts

“…As a result of the development of the material technology in recent years, the power of FC source can meet the requirement of low voltage domestic components [12]. Since the voltage output of FC source is not sufficient to supply the inverter and consequently the output load, ZSC is used to provide the required voltage with wide voltage range [13,14].…”