Abstract
Hard‐switched high‐gain DC‐DC converters such as the boost converter play an important role in renewable energy systems. Research to increase their efficiency is important and can be achieved using soft‐switching techniques; however, that approach requires an auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary circuit decreases power density and reliability while increasing the cost. Moreover, soft‐switching topologies usually cannot improve the efficiency for all power and voltage ranges. Wide bandgap (WBG) devices, such as gallium nitride (GaN), result in lower switching losses than silicon (Si), can be used while retaining the simple structure of a hard‐switched topology. However, the high cost of these devices is problematic for their frequently cost‐sensitive applications. To quantify the cost and efficiency, this study compares soft‐switching techniques and WBG‐based switches in DC‐DC boost converters for a photovoltaic (PV) energy application. The performance of four prototypes including the soft‐switched and hard‐switched DC‐DC converters with both state‐of‐the‐art Si and GaN switches are evaluated in terms of cost, power density, efficiency, and reliability using theoretical analysis, simulation and experimental results. It is shown that the GaN‐based hard‐switched converter provides higher efficiency and power density; it is more expensive than its Si‐based counterpart, yet is cheaper than soft‐switched converters.
Highlights
Nowadays, due to the increase in energy demand and limited fossil fuel sources, research into renewable energy has increased dramatically
DC-DC converters are a significant element of renewable energy systems
We aim to answer the important question they raise: In general, are Si-based soft-switching DCDC converters more efficient and/or more convenient than Wide bandgap (WBG)-based hard-switched DC-DC converters or is the reverse true? For completeness and to set benchmarks, we investigate WBG-based soft-switched converters and Si-based hardswitched converters
Summary
Due to the increase in energy demand and limited fossil fuel sources, research into renewable energy has increased dramatically. DC-DC converters are a significant element of renewable energy systems For this reason, significant effort has been applied to enhance performance in recent years, with high efficiency, voltage gain, power density, dynamic response time and reliability—as well as low cost—being chief considerations [1,2,3]. In addition to reduced passive component volume, a low-capacitance and low-inductance filter can be used, which enhances the dynamic response of the system. Increases in switching frequency are limited due to switching device availability (and cost), and because high-frequency operation increases switching losses considerably [4]. Several soft-switching techniques have been introduced to augment traditionally hard-switched DC-DC converters, thereby limiting switching losses [5,6,7,8,9,10] by commutating the devices during their zero-current or zero-voltage transitions
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