Different optimum designs investigation of DC/DC boost converter applied to the photovoltaic system

This paper investigates different optimum designs of DC/DC boost converters applied to photovoltaic systems. The main goal of this work is to improve the total efficiency of a boost converter used to track the maximum power of a PV system, which is formed by three panels, connected in series yielding a total power of 600 W. Efficiency improvement is achieved by means of the selection of an operating point for the converter (Δi @ fs) and choosing the magnetic core and conductor diameter, which provide minimal losses. The losses in capacitors, semiconductors and magnetics are evaluated forall load range. After that, it is obtained the efficiency in 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of nominal power in order to calculate the weighted average efficiency. From this evaluation, the operation point and the magnetic material that will result in the best efficiency are selected. Experimental results are presented to validate the simulated results obtained, as well as results of the total efficiency of the boost converter. Three different configurations will be presented to prove that the operating point and the magnetic core selected is the best among them. A discussion of the results is presented, where alternatives to improve efficiency throughout the power range are analyzed.