Comparative analysis of buck-boost converters used to obtain I–V characteristic curves of photovoltaic modules

In this paper, the usefulness of several topologies of DC-DC converters for measuring the characteristic curves of photovoltaic (PV) modules is theoretically analyzed. Eight topologies of DC-DC converters with step-down/step-up conversion relation (buck-boost single inductor, CSC (canonical switching cell), Cuk, SEPIC (single-ended primary inductance converter), zeta, flyback, boost-buck-cascaded, and buck-boost-cascaded converters) are compared and evaluated. This application is based on the property of these converters for emulating a resistor when operating in continuous conduction mode. Therefore, they are suitable to implement a system capable of measuring the I-V curve of PV modules. Other properties have been taken into account: input ripple, devices stress, size of magnetic components and input-output isolation. The study determines that SEPIC and Cuk converters are the most suitable for this application mainly due to the low input current ripple, allow input-output insulation and can be connected in parallel in order to measure PV modules o arrays with greater power. CSC topology is also suitable because it uses fewer components but of a larger size. Experimental results validate the comparative analysis.