Derivation of new double-input DC-DC converters using H-Bridge cells as building blocks

Abstract

In most power electronic systems, the instantaneous input and output power vary by time and are not exactly identical with each other. Hence, providing a good match between them is a complicated task to deal with if not impossible. Furthermore, due to the wide variation range of the processed power, the overall efficiency of the system is not high. The solution is to hybridize the system using an energy storage unit like in hybrid electric vehicles, power factor correction systems, and photovoltaic systems. Multi-input converters play a key role in such hybridized systems, where it is required to have more than one power source. Utilizing multi-input converters is preferred to using several independent converters (multiple converters) from efficiency, components count and size, cost, and performance points of view. Several types of multi-input converters have been proposed in the literature. However, there havenpsilat been many systematic approaches to derive multi-input converter topologies. In this paper, several new double-input converters are proposed using H-bridge cells as building blocks. Different operating modes and the switch realization of the new converters are obtained and their corresponding voltage ratios are derived. All of the proposed converters in this paper consist of only one inductor; hence, the number of passive elements that are required is reduced. The operating characteristics of the new converters are verified using simulation and experimental results.