Solar-generator-interfacing with a current-fed superbuck converter implemented by duality-transformation methods

Utilization of solar energy is one important action to decelerate the observed climate change and to ensure the availability of energy in the future. Reliable solar-energy systems composing of solar arrays and their interfacing converters are of prime importance but known to have certain operational constraints causing reliability problems. The paper investigates a real current-fed converter for the maximum-power-point (MPP) tracking purposes in solar-generator systems. The current-fed converter is implemented from the conventional voltage-fed converter by applying the duality transformation methods. The investigations show clearly that the input-voltage-controlled current-fed converter can operate without constraints in all the regions of solar generator I/U curve but the operation is limited to the voltages lower than the MPP voltage if any output control is used. The theoretical findings are verified with experimental current-fed superbuck converter sourced by a real solar array. Similar information cannot be found from the public literature.