Modeling the PV Power Conversion Chain

The DC/DC converter influences the system performance through three effects. The first effect is related to the efficiency and voltage‐conversion ratio of the DC/DC converter. The second effect is the high‐frequency ripple produced by the switching operation of the DC/DC converter at the source terminals. The third effect is related to the low‐frequency dynamics introduced by the capacitors and inductors of the DC/DC converter in the photovoltaic (PV) power‐conversion chain. This chapter examines these effects from the PV source point of view. The analyses are illustrated by considering module integrated units (MlUs), which are composed of a single PV module and the associated DC/DC converter. The operation of a MIU involves few variables in comparison with large PV arrays, so the illustration of the proposed analyses is simpler. The chapter introduces additional examples concerning MlUs, based on different DC/DC converters and covering boost, buck, and buck‐boost topologies.