• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2021

This research proposes a modeling and controller design of a three-level boost (TLB) converter for the implementation of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in the photovoltaic power conditioning system (PCS). Contrary to the output voltage control of the conventional controller, the Photovoltaic PCS requires an input voltage controller for MPPT operation. A TLB converter has the advantage of decreasing the inductor size and increasing efficiency compared with the existing booster converter. However, an optimal controller is difficult to design due to the complexity of the TLB operations, which have two operational modes on the duty ratio boundary of 0.5. Therefore, the unified linear model equations of the TLB converters, which can be applicable to both operational modes, are derived using linearized solar cell expressions. Furthermore, the transfer functions are obtained for the controller design. The MPPT voltage controller is designed using MATLAB SISOTOOL. In addition, a controller for capacitor voltage unbalancing is described and designed. The simulations and experimental verifications are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the small-signal analysis and control system design.