Cascaded Buck Hybrid Interlink Converter for Multiple-Input / Multiple-Output Operation

The provision of isolated- and non-isolated DC output voltages by Power electronics power-conditioning devices in the recent ‘green-energy-revolution’ era is on course. In this paper, a structure for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) DC–DC buck converter is proposed to generate output voltages of varying levels with fewer component-count. The DC output voltage of each of the constituting buck converters can be used independently or cascaded with one another, depending on the output load voltage requirement. The converter operational modes are analysed and its gain models are derived. Also, expressions for the efficiency and power density of the proposed buck converter are presented. Distinct features of proposed converter are: its simplified configuration, high input/output power density, low-cost involvement, reduction of ripple amplitudes of the source currents, and possibility of deploying energy sources with different voltage-current characteristics. High voltage gain, and bidirectional power flow can be achieved in the converter operations. Experimental results on a laboratory prototype of the proposed MIMO validated the presented DC-DC buck converter topological concept.