Design of novel universal converter for integration of solar and wind energy for AC and DC load

Abstract

AbstractPower generation through renewable sources using a multistage power conversion process was plagued with efficiency and reliability issues. It led to the evolvement of a novel universal converter for the simultaneous interfacing of solar and wind energy. Solar energy is extracted using a multiphase boost converter, while a 2n converter with a switch reluctance generator has been used for wind energy extraction. In this paper, a novel universal converter is used to integrate both solar and wind energies, which will reduce multiple stages of the power conversion process. This converter generates an output voltage of the sino‐square waveform, which is a combination of a sinusoidal and square waveform. Enhanced efficiency and competency of this sino‐square waveform in domestic and industrial applications have been validated with a systematic comparison with conventional square waveform. These two waveforms have been compared based on various harmonics generation, total harmonic distortion (THD), and switching losses. The proposed topology has been validated with an experimental setup using a PV emulator for solar energy. Wind energy has been implemented using an induction motor with switch reluctance generator.