Study on high performance integrated DC/DC converters for renewable-based DC microgrids

Abstract

This dissertation presents a new structure of integrated converters that improve various power conversion devices within a renewable energy-based DC microgrid. The proposed research consists of two main parts. The first part introduces an integrated dual active bridge (DAB) converter with high efficiency and high power density for the solid-state transformer. The second part presents an integrated pulse width modulation (PWM) resonant converter with high efficiency and near-zero-ripple input current for fuel cell converters. The proposed integrated converters equally employ the center-tap transformer and additional techniques to overcome the limitations and improve the performance of conventional converters, which integrate interleave buck or boost structures. The proposed converters significantly improve the performance of conventional converters without requiring additional components and altering their operation. Consequently, the proposed converters will be promising candidates for various power conversion devices for DC microgrids in practical industries.