Article

A Comparison Based Review of DC-DC

Step-up Converter
Chirag Arora1, Nagendra Kumar Swarnkar2, Rahul Sharma3

Abstract
This review article mainly focused on high efficiency DC-DC converters with high voltage gain. Output
voltage of renewable energy sources like PV modules, batteries and fuel cell delivered output power
at the range of 12 to 70 V DC. If we want to connect them into grid the voltage level should be adjust
according to the electrical network. The very first step of this is to step-up the voltage up to
sufficient level. For this purpose DC-AC conversion can be performed. Performance of the system is
affected by the efficiency of step-up DC-DC converters. A comparison of different type of DC-DC
step-up topologies will be discussed over number of parameters presented in this article.

Keyword: Boost Converter, DC-DC Converter, High Step-Up

Introduction
As we know the availability of fossil fuel is decreasing continuously and energy demand is like forest fire.1 DC/DC
converters are very essential part of renewable energy systems.2 Figure 1 shows the historical view of PV inverters.3

Figure 1.Historical Overview of PV Inverters

1
M.Tech Scholar, 2Professor, 3Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur,
Rajasthan, India.
Correspondence: Mr. Chirag Arora, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
E-mail Id: chirag.arora@mygyanvihar.com
Orcid Id: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6582-0478
How to cite this article: Arora C, Swarnkar NK, Sharma R. A Comparison Based Review of DC-DC Step-up Converter. J Adv Res
Electri Engi Tech 2017; 4(1&2): 1-5.

© ADR Journals 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Arora C et al.
The very first technology shows in the Fig. 1 named as
past centralized technology: in this technology one
inverter is used to connect other renewable energy
sources to the grid. In the first technology several strings
are connected which is replaced by two standard strings
for the Present string technology. For the third part of
the figure every string can be controlled separately. The
last but not least part of the figure shows one electric
device which have inverter and PV module.3
Figure 2.Basic Circuit of Boost Converters
Many researches examine on how to achieve high step-
up converter with high circuit performance with high
voltage gain, low cost and high efficient single stage
converter.4 According to these parameters the brief
comparison of single-stage transformer less converters
will be listed below.
Boost Converter
A single cell boost technology is a basic step-up
technology shows in Fig. 3. According to the theory if
Figure 3.Single Cell Boost Converter
Interleaved Boost Converters
To increase the output power and reduce the output
ripple, we used two or more boost converter in high
power applications .7 Even there is mismatching of duty
cycle, the boost converter must have good current
J. Adv. Res. Electri. Engi. Tech. 2017; 4(1&2)
Comparison of Transformer less DC-DC Boost
Converter
In this review article, we learnt about how to realize
high efficient single-stage converter with low coast and
high voltage gain.4 The basic diagram of boost converter
shows in Fig. 2, it is second order circuit having an
inductor, a resister and a load resistance connected
parallel with the capacitor.5
the duty cycle reaches to 1, voltage gain becomes
infinite. Increasing conduction losses effects the duty
cycle which increases turn on period of the switch. As
we know the power rating of single switch boost
converter is limited to switch rating. If we want to
improve the gain of the boost converter a number of
boost converters connected by back to back connection.
To want to improve the power and reduce input
current, interleaved parallel technology is best, which
have been used under low power rated switches.6
sharing characteristic. Low voltage gain (lesser than 2) is
basic disadvantage of this topology. In order to boost
voltage gain of these topology inductors can be coupled
shows in Fig. 4 or combine this topology with
transformer.2
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J. Adv. Res. Electri. Engi. Tech. 2017; 4(1&2) Arora C et al.

Figure 4.Two Cell Interleaved Boost Converter

Interleaved step-up converter with voltage
multiplier cell
In order to have high step-up static gain, switch voltage
must be reduced because of this we use voltage
multiplier cell along with interleaved step-up converter.8
It is made of diodes (2 no.), capacitor (1 no.) and
secondary winding of coupled inductors. Converter
performance can be increased by the low RDS-on
switches. High voltage gain can accomplish by altering
the turn ratio of two same coupled inductor without
acute duty cycle.

Figure 5.Voltage Multiplier Cell Integrated with dc-dc Boost Converters

Isolated Boost Converter with Coupled output inductors are connected in series. We can also
Inductors use lower-voltage-rated switch to increased voltage
gain, its least matter whether the switch is on or off.10
The parallel configuration of input side is endorsed to By using active clamp technology efficiency increased
share the large input current it can also minimize the and switching losses are reduced of the proposed
conduction losses.9 To double the output voltage gain converter.

Figure 6.Equivalent Circuit of Proposed Converter

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Arora C et al. J. Adv. Res. Electri. Engi. Tech. 2017; 4(1&2)

Soft Switching Boost Converter
Efficiency of whole system is reduced because of
switching losses of boost converter at turn-off and turn-
on. The efficiency of hard switching is 91% whereas it is
increased to 96% by soft switching. Here we talk about
the ZVS (zero voltage switching) boost converter having
high-voltage gain to bury the limit of conventional boost
converter with small turn-off period thus we can
improve the efficiency of the proposed converter.11
There are two switches present (Fig. 7) which operates
at the same potential. Due to this reason driver side
separation is useless. Main disadvantage of this type of
converter is its designing complexity of the circuit.

Figure 7.Soft Switching Boost Converter

Conclusion sure that you have to avoid electrolytic capacitors.

Coupled inductor topologies provide compact design. In
the starting all the energy stored in parasitic leakage
inductance of coupled inductors is recycled here. In
order to improve the reliability of the solution makes
Active clamp circuit decreases voltage stress on the
switches. Similarly in order to reduce voltage stress on
switch and extended voltage gain use voltage multiplier
cell. Interleaved input structure with lower duty cycle is
used for input current sharing and reduce input current
ripple.

Table 1.Comparison of Transformerless Converter

S. Name of converter PMAX Gain Voltage gain formula No. of No. of
no. (kW) (V/V) switches diodes
1 Interleaved boost 2.50 1.3 4 4
converters
2 Interleaved step- 1.00 9.5 4 2
up converter with
voltage multiplier
cell
3 Isolated boost 1.00 9.5 4 2
converter with
coupled inductors
4 Soft switching 0.60 3.0 2 3
boost converter

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