Power electronic loss models of DC-DC converters in photovoltaic applications

The paper presents loss models of MOSFET-based DC-DC power converters suitable for photovoltaic (PV) applications. Both buck and boost converters are investigated. The losses in the converters are estimated using parameters from the data sheets. The calculated losses are verified using results obtained from laboratory experiments. The efficiency of the power converters is found to be greater than 95%, with more than 70% of the total losses attributed to the conduction losses of the switching device and the freewheeling diode. Two important conclusions are reached: first, DC-DC power converters have sufficiently high efficiency for PV applications; and secondly losses in the power converters can be calculated with reasonable accuracy if the device parameters are known.