Switching Losses Analysis of a Constructed Solar DC-DC Static Boost Converter

Abstract

The DC-DC converter is majorly used in several renewable energy applications. It is usually relevant in a hard-switching operating mode at the cost of increasing power losses and declining efficiency. Power losses are comprised of switching losses and conduction losses, which affect the reliability and speed up the aging of the switch. Therefore, soft-switching techniques are inescapable to reduce electromagnetic interference EMI, minimize losses, and enhance power conversion efficiency. Among the sundry techniques of soft-switching, passive snubbers are uncomplicated and vigorous, besides it has been spotlighted as a finer alternative compared to the active snubbers that involve extra switches and an additional control circuit. This paper investigates the power loss of a conventional solar DC-DC static converter designed and controlled through Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). It evaluates the switch's temperature in the hard-switching operating mode. Besides, this paper presents a new research initiative that aims to allow a zero switching and stabilizing the temperature of the switch through a novel approach of design for RLD and RCD snubber cells. This new design allows the switch to achieve soft-switching, by abolishing the voltage stress, minimizing the power losses, and stabilizing the junction temperature. This snubber has a simple structure with a few components and ease of control, which helps to upgrade the power conversion efficiency through controlling the high voltage and current stress in the switch. In this treatise, elements of the snubber are designed and adjusted for maximum reliability through the simulation in OrCAD environment. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the model is approved through experimental results on a 1600 W conventional boost to validate the proposal.