Analysis of different designs for the boost converter applied to PV systems

This paper presents an analysis of different designs of DC/DC boost converter applied to photovoltaic systems. Different objectives are evaluated and the impact over the energetic efficiency, volume, and energy losses resulting of the boost converter are investigated. The used design methodology selects the best solution through a unique objective function and its obtained weights of importance of its (single or multi) criteria: i. Energetic efficiency; ii. Volume; iii. Energetic efficiency and volume. It is defined the selection way of the best solution by importance attributed to energetic efficiency and volume. The methodology will select the input current ripple of boost inductor, the switching frequency, the magnetic materials, number of stacked cores, winding cross section, the capacitors part number, heat sink part number, and semiconductors part numbers which maximize the objective function. The best solution provided a reduction of 50.7 % when compared to the higher volume solution, maintaining the energy efficiency nearly 98.18 %. Experimental results are presented in order to validate the methodology.