Modelling and Performance Analysis of a Buck Converter Featuring Continuous Input/Continous Output Current for Wind Energy-DC Microgrid

Abstract

Small wind-energy-systems (WESs) offer clean and sustainable energy for DC micro grids or standalone applications. Traditional DC/DC converters for bucking WES rectifies voltage to the required level but lacks input current continuity as per conventional buck converters’ properties. This results in high tracked electric power ripples which deteriorates tracking efficiency and enlarges turbine mechanical power and torque fluctuations. The latter vastly impacts turbine performance and safety in standalone operation. In this paper, continuous input-output power buck DC/DC converter is employed in a small WES-DC micro grid. It guarantees input/output current continuity and experiences minimal tracked power ripples which are reflected on the turbine mechanical power. Thus, MPPT efficiency is maximized, and turbine protection is maintained. Moreover, this converter features low inductor/capacitor values with less resistive losses thus enhancing reliability and power conversion efficiency and reducing system size and cost. The considered converter is modelled and implemented using simulation work to validate its effectiveness and superiority over traditional buck converters.