High Step-Up Three-Level Soft Switching DC-DC Converter for Photovoltaic Generation Systems

In this paper, a high step-up three-level DC–DC converter with a symmetric structure for PV application is proposed. The converter has high voltage gain. This is achieved due to the use of two high step-up cells and two resonant paths in its structure. The converter has low input current ripples and the voltage stress across all switches is equal to half of the output voltage. The proposed converter uses simple pulse–width modulation (PWM) to trigger the switches. Hence, the proposed converter benefits from a simple structure and control circuit. All semiconductor devices are turned on/off under ZCS conditions. Thus, the switching losses are decreased, and the total efficiency is increased. The converter is implemented and tested through a laboratory prototype. The experimental results verify the theoretical analysis.