Studies on Quasi-Z-Source-Based Isolated DC/DC Converter for Distributed Power Generation

Abstract

Distributed generation is an emerging concept in the electricity sector, which represents good alternatives for electricity supply instead of the traditional centralized power generation concept. In particular, fuel cell power generation due to its inherent advantages is expected to play a big part as a distributed generation scheme. The present chapter describes novel quasi-Z-source-based isolated DC/DC converter for distributed power generation. It is used to interconnect low-DC-voltage-producing fuel cell to residential loads. The system contains voltage-fed quasi-Z-source inverter with continuous input current on the primary side, a single-phase isolation transformer, and a voltage doubler rectifier. The model of the quasi-Z-source-based isolated DC/DC converter is considered for simulation studies using MATLAB. Simulated data related to gate signals of quasi-Z-source inverter, voltage from fuel cell, DC-link voltage, primary and secondary voltage from the isolation transformer, and output voltage from the voltage doubler rectifier are used to test the performance of the quasi-Z-source-based DC/DC converter.