Sustainability, Free Full-Text

High gain DC-DC converters are getting popular due to the increased use of renewable energy sources (RESs). Common ground between the input and output, low voltage stress across power switches and high voltage gain at lower duty ratios are desirable features required in any high gain DC-DC converter. DC-DC converters are widely used in DC microgrids to supply power to meet local demands. In this work, a high step-up DC-DC converter is proposed based on the voltage lift (VL) technique using a single power switch. The proposed converter has a voltage gain greater than a traditional boost converter (TBC) and Traditional quadratic boost converter (TQBC). The effect of inductor parasitic resistances on the voltage gain of the converter is discussed. The losses occurring in various components are calculated using PLECS software. To confirm the performance of the converter, a hardware prototype of 200 W is developed in the laboratory. The simulation and hardware results are presented to determine the performance of the converter in both open-loop and closed-loop conditions. In closed-loop operation, a PI controller is used to maintain a constant output voltage when the load or input voltage is changed.