High Gain DC-DC Converter Based on the Cockcroft-Walton Multiplier

Recent advancements in renewable energy have created a need for both high step-up and high-efficiency dc-dc converters. These needs have typically been addressed with converters using high-frequency transformers to achieve the desired gain. The transformer design, however, is challenging. This paper...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on power electronics 2016-09, Vol.31 (9), p.6405-6415
Main Authors: Muller, Lukas, Kimball, Jonathan W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Capacitors
Converters
DC to DC
DC-DC power converters
Electric currents
Electric potential
Electrical equipment
Gain
High gain
Mathematical model
Maximum power point trackers
Multipliers
Renewable energy sources
Simulation
Stress
Topology
Transformers
Voltage
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Summary:Recent advancements in renewable energy have created a need for both high step-up and high-efficiency dc-dc converters. These needs have typically been addressed with converters using high-frequency transformers to achieve the desired gain. The transformer design, however, is challenging. This paper presents a high step-up current fed converter based on the classical Cockcroft-Walton (CW) multiplier. The capacitor ladder allows for high voltage gains without a transformer. The cascaded structure limits the voltage stresses in the converter stages, even for high gains. Being current-fed, the converter (unlike traditional CW multipliers) allows the output voltage to be efficiently controlled. In addition, the converter supports multiple input operation without modifying the topology. This makes the converter especially suitable for photovoltaic applications where high gain, high efficiency, small converter size, and maximum power point tracking are required. Design equations, a dynamic model, and possible control algorithms are presented. The converter operation was verified using digital simulation and a 450-W prototype converter.
ISSN:0885-8993
1941-0107
DOI:10.1109/TPEL.2015.2505678