Modeling and Performance Analysis of New Cuk Converter Topology for Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) is a technical name in which radiant (photon) energy from the sun is converted to direct current (dc) Electrical Energy. PV power output is still low, continuous efforts are taken to develop the PV converter and controller for maximum power extracting efficiency and reduced cost factor. The maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a process which tracks one maximum power point from array input, varying the ratio between the voltage and current delivered to get the most power it can. The selection of right converter for different application is a key factor for the optimum performance of the photo voltaic system. This paper details the study on state of the art in research works on Cuk power converters and their characteristics. A new cuk converter topology has also been proposed for the optimal performance of the photovoltaic system. Modeling of the PV array and simulation of basic cuk converter and the proposed cuk converter is carried out in Matlab/Simulink Software.

Index Terms - PV Module, MPPT, Incremental Conductance (IC) Algorithm, Cuk converter, Optimal performance