• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2010.07a
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• pp.563-564
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• 2010

In this paper, photovoltaic module integrated converter (MIC) based on active clamp current-fed half-bridge converter is proposed. The converter stage operates in zero-voltage condition using active clamp technique. The theoretical study and circuit design for proposed inverter are confirmed with PSIM simulator.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.1146-1147
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• 2008

PV Power Conditioning System (PCS) must have high conversion and low cost. Generally, PV PCS uses either a single converter or multilevel module integrated converter (MIC). Each of these approaches has both advantage and disadvantage. For a high conversion efficiency and low cost of PV module, this paper proposes series connection of module integrated DC-DC converter's output with PV panel. Output voltage of PV panel is connected to the output capacitor of flyback converter. Thus, converter's output voltage is added to the output voltage of PV panel. Isolated DC-DC converter generates only the difference voltage between the PV panel voltage and the required total output voltage. This method reduces power level of DC-DC converter and enhances the energy conversion efficiency compared with conventional DC-DC converter.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2012.07a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2012

본 논문은 태양광 발전의 주변 환경 변화에 종속적인 태양광 모듈 출력을 개선하기 위해 사용되는 태양광 발전 시스템용 DC-MIC (Module Integrated Converter) 의 효율 향상을 위한 주파수 제어 기법을 제안한다. 최적 주파수 제어 기법을 위해 전부하 범위 DC-MIC의 효율을 이론과 실험을 통해 분석하였고 이를 바탕으로 기존의 고속의 스위칭 주파수 대비 스위칭 주파수를 낮춰 효율을 높이고 과도 상태 구간 동안 주파수를 높여 시스템 응답 속도를 높이는 시스템을 구현한다.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.222-231
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• 2017

In this paper, a new architecture for a cost-effective power conditioning systems (PCS) using a single-sourced asymmetric cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (MLI) for photovoltaic (PV) applications is proposed. The asymmetric MLI topology has a reduced number of parts compared to the symmetrical type for the same number of voltage level. However, the modulation index threshold related to the drop in the number of levels of the inverter output is higher than that of the symmetrical MLI. This problem results in a modulation index limitation which is relatively higher than that of the symmetrical MLI. Hence, an extra voltage pre-regulator becomes a necessary component in the PCS under a wide operating bias variation. In addition to pre-stage voltage regulation for the constant MLI dc-links, another auxiliary pre-regulator should provide isolation and voltage balance among the multiple H-bridge cells in the asymmetrical MLI as well as the symmetrical ones. The proposed PCS uses a single-ended DC-DC converter topology with a coupled inductor and charge-pump circuit to satisfy all of the aforementioned requirements. Since the proposed integrated-type voltage pre-regulator circuit uses only a single MOSFET switch and a single magnetic component, the size and cost of the PCS is an optimal trade-off. In addition, the voltage balance between the separate H-bridge cells is automatically maintained by the number of turns in the coupled inductor transformer regardless of the duty cycle, which eliminates the need for an extra voltage regulator for the auxiliary H-bridge in MLIs. The voltage balance is also maintained under the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). Thus, the PCS is also operational during light load conditions. The proposed architecture can apply the module-integrated converter (MIC) concept to perform distributed MPPT. The proposed architecture is analyzed and verified for a 7-level asymmetric MLI, using simulation results and a hardware implementation.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2015

This paper presents a current sensorless maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control method for dual-mode photovoltaic (PV) module-type interleaved flyback inverters (ILFIs). This system, called the MIC (Module Integrated Converter), has been recently studied in small PV power generation systems. Because the MIC is an inverter connected to one or two PV arrays, the power system is not affected by problems with other inverters. However, since the each PV array requires an inverter, there is a disadvantage that the initial installation cost is increased. To overcome this disadvantage, this paper uses a flyback inverter topology. A flyback inverter topology has an advantage in terms of cost because it uses fewer parts than the other transformer inverter topologies. The MPPT control method is essential in PV power generation systems. For the MPPT control method, expensive dc voltage and current sensors are used in the MIC system. In this paper, a MPPT control method without current sensor where the input current is calculated by a simple equation is proposed. This paper also deals with dual-mode control. Simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the performance and effectiveness of the proposed current sensorless MPPT control method on a 110 [W] prototype.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2012.07a
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• pp.168-169
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• 2012

본 논문에서는 Cascade Buck-Boost 컨버터를 사용한 모듈 직접형 컨버터 (Module Integrated Converter, MIC)를 이용하여 독립형으로 저전압 배터리를 충전할 수 있는 알고리즘을 제안하고 이를 검증한다. 제안한 알고리즘은 입력 조건의 변화를 고려하여 MPPT 충전 동작 및 Constant Current (CC) - Constant Voltage (CV) 제어를 수행할 수 있어 배터리를 항상 최대의 전력으로 충전할 수 있게 한다. 제안한 충전 장치는 150W급 PV Module을 사용하여, 98.4%의 고효율 획득 및 알고리즘 성능을 검증한다.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2013.07a
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• pp.240-241
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• 2013

태양광발전 시스템에서 PV 모듈 스트링에서 발생되는 손실을 저감할 수 있어 태양광 발전시스템의 발전효율을 향상시킬 수 있는 태양광발전용 마이크로인버터 (MIC: Module Integrated Converter)들의 출력특성을 시험하고 그 결과를 비교분석하여 마이크로인버터 설계에 있어 필요 요소들을 도출한다.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.25-26
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• 2011

In some cases of grid connected system using photovoltaic modules, high voltage step up ratio is required. In this paper, non-isolated 2-stage cascaded boost converter with coupled inductor is proposed. Due to reduce the input current ripple and size of the inductor by using coupled inductor method, this topology is suitable for MIC(Module Integrated Converter). The operational characteristic of the proposed topology is verified through the theorical analysis, simulation and experimental waveform.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.21-33
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• 2012

This paper presents the new maximum power point tracking(MPPT) control of the photovoltaic(PV) module integrated converter(MIC) system considering the shadow influence. The output characteristics of the solar cell is a nonlinear and affected by a temperature, the solar radiation and influence of a shadow. Particularly, MIC system is very sensitive to the shadow influence because the capacity is very small. In order to increase an output and efficiency of the solar power generation, the maximum power point(MPP) obeying control are necessary. Conventional perturbation and observation(PO) and Incremental conductance(IC) are the method finding MPP by the continued self-excitation vibration. The MPPT control is unable to be performed by rapid output change affected by the shadow. To solve this problem, the new control algorithm of the multi-level in which the step value changes by output change is presented. In case there are the solar radiation, a temperature and shadow influence, the presented algorithm treats and compares the conventional control algorithm and output error. In addition, the validity of the algorithm is proved. through the output error response characteristics.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1037-1047
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• 2017

The Differential Power Processing (DPP) converter is a promising multi-module photovoltaic inverter architecture recently proposed for photovoltaic systems. In this paper, a DPP converter architecture, in which each PV-panel has its own DPP converter in shunt, performs distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) control. It maintains a high energy conversion efficiency, even under partial shading conditions. The system architecture only deals with the power differences among the PV panels, which reduces the power capacity of the converters. Therefore, the DPP systems can easily overcome the conventional disadvantages of PCS such as centralized, string, and module integrated converter (MIC) topologies. Among the various types of the DPP systems, the feed-forward method has been selected for both its voltage balancing and power transfer to a modified H-bridge inverter that needs charge balancing of the input capacitors. The modified H-bridge multi-level inverter had some advantages such as a low part count and cost competitiveness when compared to conventional multi-level inverters. Therefore, it is frequently used in photovoltaic (PV) power conditioning system (PCS). However, its simplified switching network draws input current asymmetrically. Therefore, input capacitors in series suffer from a problem due to a charge imbalance. This paper validates the operating principle and feasibility of the proposed topology through the simulation and experimental results. They show that the input-capacitor voltages maintain the voltage balance with the PV MPPT control operating with a 140-W hardware prototype.