Digitally Controlled Interleaving Tapped-Inductor Boost Converter for Photovoltaic Module Integrated Converters (PV MIC)

As global warming due to burning fossil fuels and natural resource depletion issues have emerged, the development of renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics (PV) has been brought to recent interest. Amongst the vast efforts to harvest and convert solar energy into electricity, the module integrated converters (MIC) has become a worthy topic of research for grid-connected photovoltaic systems. Due to the required high-boosting qualities, only a restricted amount of DC/DC converter topologies can be applied to MICs. This paper investigates the possibility of a tapped-inductor boost converter as a candidate for PV MICs. A dual-inductor interleaving scheme operating slightly above the boundary of the two conduction modes (BCM) is suggested for reduction of input current ripple and minimization of component stress. A digital controller is used for implementation, assuring maximum power tracking and transfer while providing sufficient computational space for other grid connectivity applications, etc. For verification, a 200W converter is designed and simulated via computer software including component losses. High efficiency over a wide power range proves the feasibility of the proposed PV MIC system.