New step-up DC/DC converter with high-frequency isolation

This paper presents a new step-up DC/DC converter topology with high-frequency isolation intended for residential fuel cell power systems. In contrast to traditional voltage source converters, the proposed topology utilizes the impedance network represented by a combination of two inductors and two capacitors on the input side of the DC/DC converter. Due to the specific feature of boosting input voltage by introducing a shoot-through operation mode, the new converter provides a more reliable, simpler and cheaper solution than offered by those recently available for residential fuel cell power systems. The paper describes the design methodology, analyzes the experimental results and discusses the optimization possibilities of the proposed topology.