Multi-input DC/DC converter based on the multiwinding transformer for renewable energy applications

A multi-input DC/DC power converter based on the flux additivity is proposed in this paper. Instead of combining input DC sources in the electric form, the proposed converter combines input DC sources in magnetic form by adding up the produced magnetic flux together in the magnetic core of the coupled transformer. With the phase-shifted pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) control, the proposed converter can draw power from two different DC sources and deliver it to the load individually and simultaneously. The operation principle of the proposed converter has been analyzed in detail. The output voltage regulation and power flow control can be achieved by the phase-shifted PWM control. A prototype converter with two different DC voltage sources has been successfully implemented. Computer simulations and hardware experimental results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed multi-input DC/DC power converter.