3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS, ELECTRONICS & VISION 2014
Design of Single-Stage Buck and Boost Converters
for Photovoltaic Inverter Applications
Sajib Chakraborty1, Saila Ishrat Annie2 and M. A. Razzak2
1
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Science & Technology Chittagong, Bangladesh
2
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Independent University, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Chakraborty.sajib@yahoo.com1; ishrat_annie@yahoo.com2; razzak@secs.iub.edu.bd2
Abstract—In conventional inverters, implementation of a
transformer greatly enhances the Total Harmonic Distortion
(THD) which is counted to have a negative impact on the inverter
output. In order to overcome this limitation, transformer can be
replaced by buck and boost converters thereby making a
transformer-less inverter which will greatly reduce the THD and
enhance the efficiency. In this paper, the design of a single stage
buck and boost converters has been presented for photovoltaic
inverter applications. The proposed design employs a single-stage
switch mode buck converter and a single-stage switch mode boost
converter. The converters are so designed that the boost
converter provides an output voltage of 312V DC from 24V PV
array while the buck converter provides an output voltage of
7.07V pulsated DC from 312V AC grid. The designed buck and
boost converters are then employed to run a single-phase full-
bridge inverter. The circuit is simulated using the PSIM
software. The simulation results show that the designed buck and
boost converters can be used to replace transformers from
conventional inverter circuit to make low-THD, highly efficient
and cost effective transformer-less inverter topology.
Keywords—Buck converter; Boost converter; Inverter;
Transformer; THD.
I. INTRODUCTION
ELECTRICITY plays a vital role for the survival of the
mankind and the growth of a nation. With the increasing
human population and rapid growth of the economy, there has
been a tremendous increase of using the energy resources
especially electricity. The classical and conventional method
of generating electricity is by burning fossil fuels which is no
longer being able to fulfill the increasing electricity demand
all around the globe. This conventional method is giving rise
to environmental problems which is causing dramatic change
to the world climate and this is calling upon a serious threat to
the noble planet. The emission levels of harmful gases such as
Carbon dioxide (CO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulphur
dioxide (SO2) are increasing in large scales which in turn is
blatantly killing our planet and alarmingle giving rise to global
warming problems. Adding to this, the cost of fossil fuel is
increasing on a daily basis as the natural reserves will get
exhausted within a few decades which will create shortage of
the world’s energy. In such circumstances, the conventional
method can no longer be thought as the optimum solution for
978-1-4799-5180-2/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE
the energy crisis. Hence, the renewable energy sources have
taken over the electricity generation process. Renewable
energy sources are of many types such as solar, wind,
biomass, hydro and tidal power. Among all of these energy
sources, solar energy is one of the most demanding energy
source over the globe.
In photovoltaic (PV) system there needs to be a
conversion of the solar energy into electrical one through PV
arrays using inverter circuit. In conventional inverters, step-up
transformers (forward, push-pull, or fly back type) are used to
convert unregulated voltage of the PV cells into regulated
voltage for the inverter input [1-3]. The main drawback of
using a transformer is that it is heavy, bulky, expensive and
has high THD. In order to overcome these limitations, this
article proposes to employ a single-stage boost converter in
order to make the transformer-less inverter [4-8]. The boost
converter is so designed that it provides an output of 312V DC,
which is the inverter input.
Moreover, to make a grid-tie inverter, the inverter’s
phase, frequency and amplitude will have to be the same as
that of the grid parameters. To fulfill these grid
synchronization conditions, the voltage sample from the grid
is taken to produce the gate pulses for switching the inverter’s
MOSFETs by decreasing the grid voltage to 5V RMS (7.07V
AC) using a step-down transformer. Another important point
is that the inverter switching is controlled by using
microcontroller and its limit cannot be exceeded beyond 5V
DC (7.07V AC). In order to attain these features and avail the
inverter with advantages of being cost effective, compact and
to have dilated THD, in this paper, a single-stage buck
converter is recommended to replace the step-down
transformer. The buck converter is so designed that it provides
an output of 7.07V AC or 5V RMS, which has an output in the
shape of an envelope. This envelope is compared with a high
frequency triangular wave to produce sinusoidal pulse width
modulated (SPWM) signals which are used as the gate signals
of the inverter. The buck frequency matches with the grid
frequency since the input of buck converter is taken from the
grid. The inverter’s phase is matched with the grid by
applying a zero crossing phase detector with SPWM signal.
The inverter’s parameters are designed mathematically, and
the designed inverter is simulated via PSIM software to verify
the inverter’s output performances.
3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS, ELECTRONICS & VISION 2014

II. DESIGN OF BOOST CONVERTER

This section demonstrates the design of a DC-DC boost B. Design Specifications
converter for converting unregulated voltage (24V) of PV
The design specifications of boost converter are enlisted
array to a fixed high level regulated voltage same as the grid
in Table-I:
value (312V peak or 220V RMS in Bangladesh).
TABLE I.
A. Operation of Proposed Boost Converter DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS OF BOOST CONVERTER
In a boost converter, the power MOSFET operation is Actual Meaning Symbol Value
divided into modes: (1) switch closed mode, (2) switch open Input Voltage Vin 24V
mode. The equivalent circuit for switch closed mode in boost Maximum output voltage Vout 312V
converter is shown in Fig. 1. At time t =0, the input current Minimum switching frequency
fs 5KHz
rises as it flows through the inductor and the transistor [5]. of the converter
Assuming that, the inductor current rises linearly from I1 to I2 Maximum inductor current ILMax 2500A
in time t1. Estimated inductor ripple current
∆IL 177A
(7% of inductor current)
I −I
Vs = L 2 1 . (1) Desired output voltage ripple
∆Vout 0.408V
t1 (0.13% of output voltage)
Maximum output current(Vout/R) Iout 9.75A
Converter working efficiency η 95%

C. Duty cycle
Duty cycle of the boost converter is calculated
considering efficiency of the converter is 95%; the efficiency
is added to the duty cycle calculation because this calculation
gives a more reasonable duty cycle than just the equation
without the efficiency factor [9].
V in 24
D = 1− ×η = 1 − × 0 .95 ≈ 0 .85
Fig. 1. Switch closed state of boost converter V out 312

The equivalent circuit for switch open state is shown in

Fig. 2. In this mode, at time t=t1, the inductor current starts to D. Inductor Selection
flow through the diode, capacitor and load so that the current In conventional process the inductor value is chosen from
falls. Assuming, the inductor current falls linearly from I2 to I1 the recommended data sheets. Since no inductor value is given
in time t2. for such a large scale voltage conversion 24V DC to 312V
I −I2 DC. Hence to obtain a good estimated inductor value, the
Vs − Va = L 1 . (2) following equation is used which is generated by solving
t2
Equation(1) and (2) [9-10].

V (V − Vin ) 24 × (312 − 24)

Lboost = in out = ≈ 25μH
ΔI L × f s × Vout 177 × 5000 × 312

E. Capacitor Selection
For this design, the output capacitor values can be
adjusted to the desired output voltage ripple by using the
following equation [9-10]:

I out × D 12 × 0.85
Cboost = = ≈ 5mF
f s × ΔVout 5000 × 0.408
Fig. 2. Switch open state of boost converter
F. The Designed 24V-312V Boost Converter
The inductor current will rise when the transistor is turned on
again in the next cycle. Thus the input energy is momentarily The 24V-312V boost power converter which consists of a
hoarded and will be discharged at a higher scale in the output. power MOSFET, a diode, an inductor and a capacitor is
illustrated in Fig. 3.

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3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS, ELECTRONICS & VISION 2014

Fig. 3. PSIM simulation circuit of the boost converter using the designed
circuit parameters
G. Output Voltage of Boost Converter
The output of the designed boost converter is simulated
using PSIM which is shown in Fig. 4. Thus 24V of
unregulated voltage of PV array is stepped up into regulated
312V which is matched with grid amplitude. This 312V DC
will then be converted to 312V AC (or 220V RMS) using an
H-bridge inverter as discussed in Section- IV.
Fig. 5. Switch closed sate of buck converter
The equivalent circuit for switch open mode is shown in
Fig. 6. At time t=t1, the inductor current will continue to flow
through the inductor, capacitor, load and the diode. In the next
cycle, when the transistor is switched on again the inductor
current will linearly deteriorate. Assuming that, the inductor
current falls linearly from I2 to I1 in time t2.
I −I2 (4)
− Va = L 1 .
t2

Fig. 4. Boost converter output in PSIM Fig. 6. Switch open sate of buck converter

III. DESIGN OF BUCK CONVERTER B. Design Specifications of Buck Converter

The design specifications of buck converter are enlisted in
This section provides the design of an AC-DC buck power Table-II:
converter. Here AC voltage sample is taken from grid which is
converted into 312V pulsating DC through full bridge rectifier TABLE II.
DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS OF BUCK CONVERTER
as shown in Fig. 8. Then 312V pulsating DC is converted into
7.07V pulsating DC by implying buck power converter. Here Actual Meaning Symbol Value
Input Voltage Vin 312V
Buck converter can be considered as dc equivalent to an ac
Maximum output Voltage Vout 7.07V
step down transformer.
Minimum switching frequency fs 25KHz
A. Operation of proposed Buck Converter Maximum inductor current ILMax 0.61A
Estimated inductor current ripple
The circuit operation of buck converter can be divided ∆IL 0.061A
(10% of inductor current)
into parts: (1) switch closed mode, (2) switch open mode. The Desired output voltage ripple
equivalent circuit of buck converter for switch closed mode is ∆Vout 0.05V
(1% of output voltage)
shown in Fig. 5. At time, t=0 the transistor is switched on. The Converter working efficiency η 95%
input current rises as it flows through the inductor, capacitor
and the resistive load [5]. Assuming that, the inductor current C. Duty cycle
rises linearly from I1 to I2 in time t1. Duty cycle of the buck converter is calculated considering
efficiency of the converter is 95%; the efficiency is added to
I − I1 the duty cycle calculation to gives a more reasonable duty
Vs − Va = L 2 .
t1 (3) cycle than just the equation without the efficiency factor [11].

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3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS, ELECTRONICS & VISION 2014

Vin 7.07 G. Output Voltage of Buck Converter

D= ×η = × .95 ≈ 0.02
Vout 312 The output of buck converter is shown in Fig. 9. It is
converted 312V DC to 7.07V DC which RMS value is 5V.
D. Inductor Selection Therefore a 5V envelope is build which is used for switching
In order to limit the current ripple a smoothing inductor is gate drive circuit of an inverter as discussed in Section -IV.
being used. The inductor value has been chosen from the
recommended data sheets in conventional process. Since no
inductor value range is given for large scale voltage
conversion (312V to 7.07V),hence to make a good estimation
of the right inductor value following equation is used which is
taken by solving Equation (3) and (4) [11].

V out (V in − V out )= 7 . 07 (312 − 7 . 07 )

L buck = ≈ 4 . 5 mH
Δ I L × f s × V in 0 . 06 × 25000 × 312

E. Output Capacitor Selection

The basic selection of the output capacitor is based on the
ripple voltage, ripple current and on the loop stability. In the
present design, the following equations can be used to adjust
the output capacitor values for buck conversion [11].
ΔI L 0.06
C buck = = ≈ 6 μF
8 × f s × Δ Vout 8 × 25000 × 0 .05
F. The Designed 312V-7.07V Buck Converter
The 312V-7.07V buck power converter which consists of
a full-bridge rectifier, a power MOSFET, a diode, an inductor
and a capacitor is illustrated in Fig. 7.
`
Fig. 9. Output of buck converter in PSIM
IV. APPLICATION OF BUCK AND BOOST CONVERTERS TO
SINGLE-PHASE GRID-TIE INVERTER
A. Grid Synchronization
The output voltage of a grid-tie inverter should maintain
some fixed requirements so that it may provide power to
utility grid [6-8]. The requirements are given below:
i. The output voltage amplitude should equal as grid
amplitude.
ii. The frequency of inverter should be equal as grid
frequency (50Hz in Bangladesh).
iii. The phase of inverter should match with grid.

To fulfil the grid synchronization a buck converter is

employed. The buck converter is used to take sample from
grid. The sampled 5V pulse setting DC is compared with high
frequency triangular wave of 20 KHz; which is used to
generate the SPWM signal. Hence ensuring output voltage
from GTI will have same frequency with utility grid. During
Fig. 7. PSIM simulation circuit of the buck converter using the designed
synchronization, inverter produces output in phase with grid
circuit parameters
by employing a 50Hz square-wave which is taking from grid
as well and applying AND operation with comparator output
and generates four sets of switching signals. With this kind of
switching the output voltage and current of GTI is controlled.
The boost converter is designed so that the inverter output
amplitude is matched with the utility grid (312V peak or 220V
RMS) [7]. Then the GTI is directly tied with grid utility where
load is quite larger than GTI. Therefore, it is transmitted force
to GTI for generating power from PV array into grid.

Fig. 8. Rectify voltage in buck converter input

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3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS, ELECTRONICS & VISION 2014

Fig. 10. Schematic diagram of inverter circuit using buck and boost converters

B. Power Circuit Therefore a low pass L-C filter is employed at the output
The proposed single-phase inverter circuit has utilized four terminal of the inverter to reduce the harmonics. Thus 312V
numbers of MOSFETs for switching purpose in H-bridge (AC peak value) or 220V (RMS), 50Hz pure sine wave output
configuration. The circuit is employed a DC-DC boost power voltage is obtained which is in same phase with the grid from
converter, AC-DC buck converter as shown in Fig. 10. A DC- inverter as is shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 12 shows the inverter
DC boost converter, the design of which is shown in section output current which became stable within couple of cycles.
II, is used to step up the unregulated input voltage from 24V
to regulated 312V, which is finally converted to 312V pure
AC (220V RMS) applicable to grid by using inverter. AC-DC
a buck converter detail is shown in Section-III which is
employed to match the inverter frequency and phase with grid
utility [7-8].
C. Inverter Output Voltage & Current
Fig. 11 shows the simulated output voltage waveform that
is non-sinusoidal which is distorted, contains excessive
harmonics.
Fig. 12. Inverter output voltage waveform in PSIM

Fig. 11. Output voltage waveform without filtering in PSIM Fig. 13. Output current waveform in PSIM

978-1-4799-5180-2/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE

3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFORMATICS, ELECTRONICS & VISION 2014

Table III reviews output current and voltage This design will make the inverter cost effective and highly
performances. Hence it is observed that inverter output is efficient. THD of the circuit is 0.02% which is below the
optimum when modulation index is 0.8. At that time output IEEE 519 standard. Therefore, the proposed transformer-less
power of GTI is 1.4KW. inverter is cost effective, light weighted and efficient with less
THD.
TABLE III.
SUMMARY OF TRANSFORMERLESS INVERTER SIMULATION RESULT IN PSIM
It is found, from the design parameters of buck and boost
Modulation Voltage Voltage RMS RMS Power
converter, that the duty cycle for boost converter is 85%
Index THD THD Output Output Factor
V modulation (before (after Voltage Current which is quite large for the conventional MOSFET switching.
M=
Vtri
filtering) filtering) Vo(V) Io(A) And for buck converter, the duty cycle is 2% which is very
small and practically not feasible to turn on the MOSFET. In
0.3 1.52 0.020 125.50 3.54 0.999 order to obtain convenient duty cycles, dual-stage buck and
0.4 1.58 0.021 132.52 3.79 0.999
dual-stage boost converter should be employed, which will be
0.5 1.33 0.019 159.20 4.55 0.999
0.8 0.84 0.014 220.03 6.30 0.999 discussed elsewhere.
1.0 0.59 0.015 252.95 7.23 0.999
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V. CONCLUSION
This proposed design analyses a single-stage buck and
boost converter for inverter application. The main conclusion
is that a transformer in a inverter makes it more complex,
heavy weighted and has high influence on total harmonic
distortion. In order to minimize these disadvantages from the
inverter this single stage buck-boost converter is proposed.

978-1-4799-5180-2/14/$31.00 ©2014 IEEE