Novel solar PV-fuel cell fed dual-input-dual-output dc-dc converter for dc microgrid applications

In this paper, a new dual-input-dual-output (DIDO) dc-dc converter is proposed to interface solar PV and fuel cell (FC) sources to a low-voltage dc microgrid. This non-isolated converter topology is efficient, compact and has fewer circuit components with only one inductor compared to the conventional non-isolated dc-dc converters. The proposed topology is suitable for a low-voltage bipolar type dc-microgrid system, where power from both the sources is fed to the bipolar bus of a bipolar type dc microgrid system. Further, the proposed converter ensures MPPT operation of PV source and also regulates one of the pole voltages of the dc bus. Detailed analysis and control of the proposed converter are presented. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the performance and theoretical claims of the proposed converter.