Review on Non-Isolated Multiport Converters for Residential DC Microgrids

Abstract

Nowadays, energy sustainability needs drive the development of novel power system architectures that efficiently harvest and deliver green energy. Specifically, DC Microgrids (DC-MG) have emerged as promising bases for distributed power generation, especially in residential applications. The pivotal role of power conversion and the need for more affordable and compact converters has led to an increasing research interest. MultiPort Converters (MPCs) exhibit beneficial operational characteristics for these applications and, therefore, a plethora of different topologies is suggested in the literature. Even though there have been some attempts to organize and review the field status, the categorization is based on the existence or not of isolation between the converter’s ports, without providing insight on the topology conception. In this article, a literature review is conducted to specify the most suitable non-isolated MPC topologies for residential DC-MGs. Converters with a power rating ranging from 0.1 to 1 kW are compared based on technical features and categorized according to their topology derivation process. This procedure is performed separately for MPCs suitable for unipolar and bipolar DC Buses. The selected approach highlights the design basis for each MPC in a structured manner, facilitating further development of original converters by both new and experienced researchers.