Designing a High Gain Ratio based DC-DC

Converter for DC Microgrid Application

A PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by
Rahul Kumar 1701209251
Aditaya Maharana 1701209077
Sambit Kumar Pradhan 1701209290
Rutuparnno Ray 1701209254
Debasish Nath 1701209473
Soubhagya Swain 1701209485

in partial fulfilment for the

award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
Prof. T Dinesh Varma

SILICON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BIJU PATNAIK UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY: ODISHA

DECEMBER 2020

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 BIJU PATNAIK UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY:
ORISSA

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “Designing a High Gain Ratio based DC-

DC converters for DC Microgrid application.” is the bonafide work of

“Rahul Kumar ,Aditaya Maharana, Debasish Nath, Rutuparnno Ray,

Soubhagya Swain, Sambit Kumar Pradhan” who carried out the project

work under my supervision.

SIGNATURE SIGNATURE

Prof. LN Pathy Prof. T Dinesh Varma

HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT GUIDE

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ASST. PROFESSOR

HEAD ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS

SILICON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DEPT. OF EEE

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 ABSTRACT
A Microgrid defined by CERTS (Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solution of the
USA) is a micro power system including a cluster of loads, storage and multiple Distributed
Generators. DC Microgrids (MGs) are getting more attention due to increasing DC loads. It
has advantage over AC MG in terms of system efficiency, cost, and system size. Because
lesser number of power electronic converters are required in DC MG, its overall efficiency
improves. Additionally, AC/DC converters do not require a transformer, which reduces the
size of DC MG significantly. In this work, a high gain ratio based bi-directional DC-DC
converter for DC MG application is envisaged.

Batteries and Supercapacitors based Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) are interfaced to the DC
bus in a DC MG using converters with bi-directional capabilities for both charging and
discharging modes of operations. High voltage gain ratio in a DC-DC converter results in
bulkier filter circuit due to the large inductors and capacitors. Accordingly, the strategies
adopted for accomplishing the ESSs in a DC MG need carefully designing the filter
components with a trade-off between the gain ratio and system size. Hence, in this project
work, we propose to design a compact high gain ratio based bidirectional DC/DC converter
which can accomplish both charging and discharging efficiently, to maintain a healthy ESS
and extend its runtime. The proposed converter will be developed in MATLAB/Simulink
environment and studied under various operating modes and load profile.

This work will be extended for Major Project with an inclusion of Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
system interfaced to the same DC bus with a high voltage gain ratio based unidirectional
converter that uses MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) technique. The surplus power
from Solar PV into DC MG will be used to charge the Battery and the entire system
behaviour under various modes of operation will be studied.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMEN
T

It gives us immense pleasure to have the privilege of expressing our indebtedness and
gratitude to our guide Prof. T Dinesh Varma for his valuable guidance, his deep
interest, advice and encouragement throughout the project work and our stay at
Silicon Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar.

We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Prof LN Pathy, Head of the
Department, for providing the necessary facilities in the department and providing
continuous support and guidance to us. Finally, we are extremely happy to
acknowledge our gratitude to members of Silicon family for extending their help and
assistance to work on this project.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

ABSTRACT 3
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 4
LIST OF TABLE
LIST OF FIGURES

1. Introduction 7

2. Literature 9

2.1 DC Microgrid 10

2.2 DC-DC Converter 11

2.3 Bidirectional Converter 12

2.4 SEPIC 13

3. Objective 14

3.1 Topology 15

3.2 Designing 20

3.3 Energy Management System 28

3.4 Interfacing with DC Microgrid 28

4. Advantages & Disadvantages 29

5. Conclusion & Future Work Model 31

6. Reference 33

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURES

1. Fig 1: DC Microgrid6 10

2. Fig 2: Bidirectional DC-to-DC converter 12

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 3. Fig 3 : SEPIC Converter 13

4. Fig 4 : (Top) During Q1 On-Time 15

(Bottom) During Q1 Off-Time

5. Fig 5 : Waveform 16

6. Fig 6 : Block diagram of SEPIC converter using feedback control 18

7. Fig 7 : Circuit diagram of SEPIC converter using feedback control 19

8. Fig 8 : Boost + SEPIC 19

9. Fig 9: Boost + CUK 20

10. Fig 10 : Boost + Buck-Boost 20

11. Fig: 11, When switch Q1 is turned ON 21

12. Fig: 12, When switches Q2 and Q3 are turned ON 21

13. Fig: 13, When switches Q2 and Q3 are turned ON 22

14. Fig: 14, When switch Q1 is turned ON 22

15. Fig:15,Simulation of Boost+SEPIC in Boost Mode 23

16. Fig:16,Simulation of Boost+SEPIC in Buck Mode 25

17. Fig:17,EMS 28

TABLES
Table 1 : Difference between advantages and disadvantages 17
Table 2 :Result 25
Table 3 :Result 27

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Chapter 1

Introduction

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Introduction

Batteries and Supercapacitors based Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) are interfaced to the
DC bus in a DC MG using converters with bi-directional capabilities for both charging
and discharging modes of operations.
High voltage gain ratio in a DC-DC converter results in bulkier filter circuit due to the
large inductors and capacitors. Hence, in this project work, we propose to design a
compact high gain ratio based bidirectional DC-DC converter which can accomplish both
charging and discharging efficiently, to maintain a healthy ESS and extend its runtime.
The proposed converter will be developed in MATLAB/Simulink environment and
studied under various operating modes and load profile.  DC-DC converters are high-
frequency power conversion circuits that use high-frequency switching and inductors,
transformers, and capacitors to smooth out switching noise into regulated DC voltages. 

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Chapter 2
Literature

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2.1 DC Microgrid

A microgrid can be defined as power cluster of distributed generation, load, and energy
storage device accumulated together in the vicinity to each other.
It gives opportunity to utilize renewable energy sources for green and clean environment.
As the Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are located nearby to the load, power
transmission losses are minimized. The output of DERs such as PV, fuel cells is DC.
A microgrid is a decentralized group of electricity sources and loads that normally operates
connected to and synchronous with the traditional wide area synchronous grid (macrogrid),
but can also disconnect to "island mode" — and function autonomously as physical or
economic conditions dictate. Microgrids are best served by local energy sources where power
transmission and distribution from a major centralized energy source is too far and costly to
execute. In this case the microgrid is also are called autonomous, stand-alone or isolated
microgrid
Regarding to the DC voltage operation, it is considered that 380 V is the optimal for a higher
efficiency and load requirements. Usually, a three-wire system is adopted for DC microgrids.

Fig 1: DC Microgrid

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2.2 DC-DC Converter

A DC-DC converter is a power electronics device that accepts a DC input voltage and also
provides a DC output voltage. The converter output voltages are used to match the power
supply required to the loads. Some devices need a certain amount of voltage to run the
device. Too much of power can destroy the device or less power may not be able to run the
device.
The converter takes the power from the battery and cuts down the voltage level, similarly a
converter step-up the voltage level.DC-DC converters are widely used to efficiently
produce a regulated voltage from a source that may or may not be well controlled to a
load that may or may not be constant. 
DC/DC converters are available in two circuit types:
1. Non- Isolated types:
• Basic (one coil) type ―― Buck , Boost
• Capacity coupling (two-coil) type ―― SEPIC, Zeta, etc.
• Charge pump (switched capacitor/coil less) type
2. Isolated types:
Isolation is determined by whether or not the input ground is connected to the output
ground.
• Transformer coupling types―― Forward transformer type
• Transformer coupling types―― Fly-back transformer type

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2.3 Bi-directional Converter

Bidirectional DC-to-DC converter allows power flow in both forward and reverse directions.
Bidirectional dc to dc converters work in both buck and boost mode and can manage the flow
of power in both the direction between two dc sources and load. Bidirectional dc-dc
converters are the device for the purpose of step-up or step-down the voltage level with
the capability of flow power in either forward directions or in backward direction

Bidirectional dc-dc converters work as regulator of power flow of the DC bus voltage
in both the direction.In the power generation by wind mills and solar power systems, output
fluctuates because of the changing environment condition.

These energy systems are not reliable to feed the power as a standalone system because of the
large fluctuations in output and hence these energy system systems are always connected
with energy storage devices such as batteries and super capacitors.

Fig 2: Bidirectional DC-to-DC converter

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2.4 SEPIC

• The single-ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC) is a type of DC/DC converter

which allows voltage at its output to be greater than, less than, or equal to than at its
input voltage.
• It is so named because it always steps down, or bucks, the input voltage. The output
of the converter is given by. Interchange the input and the output of the
buck converter, and you get the second basic converter – the boost. The boost always
steps up, hence its name.
• The output of the SEPIC is controlled by the duty cycle of the control
transistor/IGBT/MOSFET.
• A SEPIC is essentially boost converter followed by an inverted buck-boost converter,
therefore it is similar to a traditional buck-boost converter, but has advantages of
having non-inverted output (the output has the same voltage polarity as the input),
using a series capacitor to couple energy from the input to the output (and thus can
respond more gracefully to a short-circuit output)

Fig 3 : SEPIC Converter

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Chapter 3
Objective

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3.1 Topology

1. Modes of operation of SEPIC:

Fig 4 : (Top) During Q1 On-Time

(Bottom) During Q1 Off-Time

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 Fig 5 : Waveform

Duty Cycle Consideration

For a SEPIC converter operating in a continuous conduction mode (CCM), the duty cycle is
given by:

V OUT +V D
D=
V ¿ +V OUT +V D

V is the forward voltage drop of the diode D1. The maximum duty cycle is:
V OUT +V D
D MAX=
V ¿(min)+ V OUT +V D

Inductor Selection
A good rule for determining the inductance is to allow the peak-to-peak ripple current to be
approximately 40% of the maximum input current at the minimum input voltage. The ripple
current flowing in equal value inductors L1 and L2 is given by:
V OUT
∆ I L =I ¿ × 40 %=I OUT × × 40 %
V ¿(min)

The inductor value is calculated by:

V ¿(min)
L 1=L2=L= × D MAX
∆ I L + F SW

BY USING BY USING
POTENTIOMETER POTENTIOMETER

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 DISADVANTAGE 1.Full control is there as the
duty cycle will not change if
input and output voltage
changes.
2.Potentiometer allows SEPIC
to output a wide range of
voltage for a wide range of
input.
1.Constant output will be
maintained.
.Duty cycle will
automatically adjust the
output when it is low or
high. Output will increase if
it is low and decrease if it is
high.

3.It is very useful if we go

for automation.

DISADVANTAGES 1.Output voltage is not 1.We don’t get full control

constant. and an extra feedback
circuit is added.
2.Only way to get correct
output is to watch the output
and adjust accordingly

Table 1 : Difference between advantages and disadvantages

f sw is the switching frequency and Dmax is the duty cycle at the minimum V ¿.The peak current in the
inductor, to ensure the inductor does not saturate, is given by

V OUT + V D 40 %
I L 1( peak )=I OUT × ×( 1+ )
V ¿(min) 2

40 %
I L 2( peak)=I OUT ×(1+ )
2

If L1 and L2 are wound on the same core, the value of inductance in the equation above is
replaced by 2L due to mutual inductance. The inductor value is calculated by:

L V ¿(min)
L 1=L2= = × D MAX
2 2 ×∆ I L × f SW

Block diagram of SEPIC converter using feedback control

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 Fig 6 : Block diagram of SEPIC converter using feedback control

Circuit diagram of SEPIC using feedback control

Fig 7 : Circuit diagram of SEPIC converter using feedback control

2.Different topologies for high gain ratio DC-DC

Bidirectional converter.

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 Fig 8 : Boost + SEPIC

Fig 9: Boost + CUK

Fig 10 : Boost + Buck-Boost

• All of the three integrated topologies used for high gain ratio converters but boost
integrated SEPIC is mostly used due to the high efficiency it shows.

.And the other two integrated circuits are mostly used for led applications

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3.2 Designing And Development
1.Topological states of the SEPIC + Boost converter in boost mode :

a)When Q1 is turned ON

Fig: 11, When switch Q1 is turned ON

b) When switches Q2 and Q3 are turned ON

Fig: 12, When switches Q2 and Q3 are turned ON

2.Topological states of the SEPIC + Boost converter in buck mode :

a) When switches Q2 and Q3 are turned ON

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 Fig: 13, When switches Q2 and Q3 are turned ON

b)When switch Q1 is turned On

Fig: 14, When switch Q1 is turned ON

1.Boost Mode

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 Fig 15 : Simulation of Boost+SEPIC in Boost Mode

Waveform
Mosfet 1

Mosfet 2

Mosfet 3

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V1

V2

Result :

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 V1(v)
V2(v)

Initial 6 12

Final 7.052 10.28

Table 2:
2.Buck Mode

Fig 16 : Simulation of Boost+SEPIC in Buck Mode

Waveform
Mosfet 1

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Mosfet 2

Mosfet 3

V1

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V2

Result

V1(volts) V2(volts)

Initial 24 8

Final 17.68 8.463

Table 3 :

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3.3 Energy Management System (EMS)
In microgrid, an energy management system is essential for optimal use of these
distributed energy resources in intelligent, secure, reliable, and coordinated ways. 

Hence, in this project work, we propose to design a compact high gain ratio based
bidirectional DC-DC converter which can accomplish both charging and discharging
efficiently, to maintain a healthy ESS and extend its runtime.

Fig 17: EMS

3.4 Interfacing with DC Microgrid

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Chapter 4

Advantages & Disadvantages

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4.1 Advantages
This proposed bidirectional DC-DC converter can accomplish both charging and
discharging efficiently.

The presented converter benefit from a wide voltage gain range in boost and buck model.

The proposed converter also has easy structure with three power switches and two
inductors.

4.2 Disadvantages

Simulink model developed may be closest to the real system but the experimental set-up
will have limitations and may behave differently than the results obtained from simulation
model.

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Chapter 5
Conclusion& Future scope

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Conclusions

The battery which is charged and discharged by the proposed converter will act as a
back up in the absence of the supply from renewable energy sources.

In a DC micro-grid system, the excessive energy from renewable energy resources

will transfer to the batteries as DC-load power demand by the bidirectional DC-DC
converter. On the contrary, if the renewable energy resources cannot fully supply the
load demand, then the bidirectional DC-DC converter will provide the energy from
batteries to DC-load.

Future scope
1. Simulation Work (SEPIC + Boost)
Implementing the SEPIC + Boost converter in Simulink and study various operating
modes under various load profile.
2. Energy Management System
The microgrid consists of a photovoltaic panel and a batteries system that is
connected to the microgrid through a bidirectional power converter.
3. Interfacing with DC Microgrid
Interfacing the proposed converter with DC Microgrid.

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 REFERENCE
1. A Family of Bidirectional DC–DC Converters for Battery Storage System with High
Voltage Gain, Hailong Zhang ,Yafei Chen , Sung-Jun Park and Dong-Hee Kim

2. AN-1484 Designing A SEPIC Converter, Dongbing Zhang, Texas Instrument

3. An Overview of DC Microgrid Operation and Control, Manoj Lonkar, Srinivas

Ponnaluri

4. Sepic Converter Design and Operation By Gregory Sharp, Advisor: Alex Emanuel

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