International Conference on Electrical, Electronics, Signals, Communication and Optimization (EESCO) - 2015
Comparison of Different DC-DC Converter for
MPPT Application of Photovoltaic System
Tadiparthi Ramki
School of Electrical Science
Indian Institute of Technology-Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Abstract— A DC-DC converter is an important constituent of
a photovoltaic(PV) power system. Power generated by the PV
system is a function of solar insolation, and temperature. Power-
voltage (P-V) characteristic of a PV module exhibits a single
power peak. A maximum power point tracking algorithm is
required to operate the PV array at its maximum power point.
The DC-DC converter works as an impedance matching circuit
in between the PV array and load. A suitable selection of DC-DC
converter is an important decision according to the application.
In this study, a comparative analysis of different DC-DC
converter is discussed in terms of efficiency, computational time,
and complexity. A widely adopted Incremental conductance
(INC) MPPT algorithm is used to evaluate the performance of
each DC-DC converter. Performance of each converter in MPPT
application is simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK
Keywords— DC-DC Converter; MPPT ; Photovoltaic system.
I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, installation of photovoltaic(PV) power system
increases due to abundantly available of solar radiation,
environmental friendly, less maintenance, and easy installation
at any palces. A PV system can be used for wide range of
power applications. The initial installation of the PV system is
comparatively high, but in many countries, the government
encourages by providing subsidy for installation of PV system.
Due to these reasons, installation of PV system is growing at
high rate since last decade. A PV system consists of many PV
modules in series or parallel according to the user
requirement. A PV module consists of many PV cells in
series. The basic element of a PV module is a PV cell. An
ideal PV cell is basically a current source with an anti-parallel
diode. Due to the presence of diode, the current-voltage (I-V)
characteristic of a PV module exhibits nonlinear characteristic.
Due to the nonlinear nature, the power-voltage (P-V)
characteristic curve of a PV module exhibits a single peak
power at a voltage. This point is called maximum power point.
To operate the PV module at the maximum power point, a
maximum power point tracking algorithm is required. A basic
architecture of a PV cell and its characteristic module is
discussed in [1]. A comprehensive review of different MPPT
algorithm is discussed in [2-3]. To operate the PV array at its
MPP, an impedance matching circuit is required in between
the load and the PV array. The PV array output power is
highly dependent on solar insolation and temperature. Both
these parameters are random in nature. The load profile also
978-1-4799-7678-2/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
L.N Tripathy
Asst. Professor, Electrical Engineering Department
IGIT, Sarang, Dhenkanal, Odisha, India
varies throughout the day. The impedance matching circuit
should be such that, it will work as intermediate device in
between the load and PV system to match the PV system
impedance to the load impedance. In this condition,
maximum power transform from source to load. A DC-DC
converter is a suitable circuit for impedance matching in
between source to load. Many DC-DC converter architectures
are available in literature. Many of them used boost DC-DC
converter [4-5]. Among the nonisolated DC-DC converter
buck, boost, buck-boost, CUK, SEPIC, and zeta converters are
widely used for PV application. A review of different DC-DC
converter is discussed in[6-8]. A buck type DC-DC is
discussed in some literature. A buck-boost type DC-DC
converter is discussed in [6]. A Cuk type DC-DC converter is
discussed in[8]. A SEPIC type DC-DC converter is discussed
in [6]. A zeta type DC-DC converter is discussed in[7]. But,
till the selection of a particular DC-DC converter has been not
discussed so far. This paper gives a clear picture of different
DC-DC converter for MPPT application.
This paper is organized as follows. According to
application point of view, the. A need for the DC-DC
converter for MPPT application is discussed in section-II.
Different DC-DC converters are discussed in section-III.
Simulation results and a comparative analysis is discussed in
section IV. Finally, a conclusion of this study.
II. NEED OF DC-DC CONVERTER IN MPPT APPLICATION
Need of DC-DC converters
Solar insolation is very random in nature and our electric
load also varies throughout the day. The generated power
from the PV array depends on the solar insolation. Load also
varies throughout the day. According to maximum power
transfer theorem, in order to extract maximum power from
source we have to always maintain the load resistance equal to
source resistance. So an impedance matching circuit is
required between the load and PV array. The basic I-V
characteristic and P-V characteristic of a PV module is shown
in Fig. 1(a) and (b), respectively. From the I-V characteristic
curve, the PV array can be operating at MPP only at
impedance of 8.405. However, the impedance at the MPP will
also vary under different solar insolation. The purpose of the
impedance matching circuit is to adjust the internal impedance
of the PV array at which the PV array can operate at its
maximum power.
 Fig.2 shows basic architecture of a DC-DC converter. In
8 this architecture, by adjusting the position of switch, the
reverse current flow blocking diode, and adding some passive
6 component different types of DC-DC converters can be
implemented.
Current(A)

Resistance = 8.405 ohm

4
Types of DC-DC converters
2 In this study, six different non-isolated DC-DC converters are
considered for MPPT application. These are buck converter,
0 boost converter, buck-boost converter, CUK converter, SEPIC
0 10 20 30 40 50
Voltage(V)
60 70 80 90
converter, and zeta converter.

Fig 1.(a) I-V characteristic of a PV module

A. Buck converter
In this converter, the output voltage is always less than the
input voltage. This is also called as step-down converter.
X: 59.67
450 Y: 426

400
Fig.3 shows the circuit diagram of buck converter. The main
350 application of Buck converters are in the regulated DC power
PV Array Power (W)

300 supplies and the motor speed control. According to the circuit
250 operation , it is also called as current- voltage converter. This
200 converter is suitable when the desired load voltage is less than
150
the voltage corresponding to the MPP.
100

50
L
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
V1
Voltage(V)
iin S + Vl −
Fig. 1(b). P-V characteristic of a PV module + i0

Vin C1 D C V0 R
−
Different DC-DC converter

The DC-DC converters are often used to match the load

resistance to the Thevenin equivalent resistance of the PV Fig. 3. Circuit diagram of Buck DC-DC
module to maximize the power drawn from the module. converter.
These smart converters are also called as tracking
converters. The DC-DC converters can increase or decrease
the internal impedance of the PV array by adjusting the During on–time of switch, diode is in reverse biased condition.
terminal voltages of the PV array to match the load During off–time of switch, diode is in forward biased
impedance. condition.
The output voltage, output current, output resistance equations
are shown in the equation (1)

1
+ L Vo
2 +
= D
V in
R
Vin V0
Vs(t)
C
I0 1
= (1)
- I in D
-
R0
R in =
DC input Switch Low-pass Load D2
network filter DC output
Where D is the duty cycle of the converter and Vin, Iin, Vo, Io
are the input voltage , input current, output voltage and output
current, respectively.
Fig. 2 . Basic architecture of a DC-DC converter.
By changing the duty cycle D, Rin value can be matched with D
RMPP (Resistance at the maximum power point). As the duty iin S
cycle always in between 0-1; so the buck converter cannot get + i0
the impedance which is smaller than the load impedance. So +
Vin L Vl R
the buck converter is best suitable when R0 <= RMPP C V0
− −
B. Boost converter

In this converter, the output voltage is always greater than the

input voltage. This is also called as step-up converter. The
intermediate boost converter is required for grid integration of Fig.5. Circuit diagram of Buck-Boost converter
low voltage DC sources as; photovoltaic and fuel cell. The relations among the output voltage, input voltage,
Fig.4. shows the circuit diagram of a boost DC-DC converter. output current, input current, output resistance, and ,input
resistances are shown in the below equations.
L
D V0
iin + Vl − V0 D
+ i0 =
Vin 1 − D
Vin C V0 R I0 1 − D
S = (3)
− I in D
⎛ (1 − D ) 2 ⎞
Rin = R0 ⎜ ⎟
⎜ D2 ⎟
⎝ ⎠
Fig.4. Circuit diagram of boost converter. This is suitable for both higher and lower values of load
resistances compared to RMPP . From the above input and
During on-time of switch, the diode is in reverse biased state output impedance relation, the input impedance can be
and during off-time of the switch; the diode is in forward adjusted to any load impedance. However, the drawback of
biased condition. According to the circuit operation, it is also this converter is the output voltage is invert of the input
called as voltage – current converter. voltage.
D. CUK converter
V0 1
= The CUK converter is essentially a Boost-Buck converter.
Vin 1 − D Cuk converter is used for getting the output voltage with
different polarity of input voltage. In this case also output
I0 voltage is either lower or higher value of input voltage
= 1− D (2)
I in depends on the value of duty cycle. Fig.6. shows the circuit
2
diagram of the Cuk converter.
Rin = R0 (1 − D) L1 C1 L2
The output voltage, output current, output resistance equations
are shown in the above equation (2).
iin
+ Vl1 − + Vc1 − + Vl 2 − i0
The boost converter is best suitable when, R0 >= RMPP . −
Vin D C2 V0 R
S
C. Buck-Boost converter +

In this converter, the output voltage is either lower or higher

than that of the input voltage depending upon the duty cycle
(D) of the converter. It is also called as voltage to current to
voltage converter.
The following figure shows the circuit diagram of Buck-Boost
converter.
Fig.6. circuit diagram of Cuk converter
The main application of this converter topology is in regulated
dc power supplies, where a negative polarity output may be
desired with respect to the common terminal of the input
voltage.
 converter we use four energy storage elements i.e. two
V0 ⎛ D ⎞
= −⎜ ⎟ inductors (L1, L2) and two capacitors (C1, C2).the output
Vin ⎝ 1− D ⎠ voltage is non-inverting of the input.
I0 ⎛ 1− D ⎞ Fig.8. shows the circuit diagram of Zeta converter.
= −⎜ ⎟ (4)
I in ⎝ D ⎠ C1
L2

⎛ (1 − D ) 2 ⎞ iin S + VC1 − + Vl 2 − i0
Rin = R0 ⎜ ⎟ +
⎜ D2 ⎟ +
⎝ ⎠ Vin L1 Vl1 D
C2 V0 R
The voltage, current, resistance equations are similar to the − −
equations (3 )respectively.
It is also suitable for all values of load resistances. The
architecture of CUK converter is such that it can be used for
both current and voltage control. Fig.8. circuit diagram of Zeta converter
E. SEPIC converter The output equations are similar to the Buck-Boost converter.
This converter is suitable for all values of load resistances.
Single ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC) is one From the above study, CUK, SEPIC, and Zeta converters are
type of non-isolated DC-DC converter. It gives a positive derived from the buck boost converter by arranging the
regulated output voltage corresponding to input voltage. It is position of the passive components.
similar to the Buck-Boost converter but the difference in
SEPIC converter is to exchanges the energy between the
capacitor and inductor inorder to convert from one voltage to III. SIMULATION RESULTS
another voltage. Fig.7. shows the circuit diagram of SEPIC
converter.
The performance of above DC-DC converter for
L1 C1
D photovoltaic application is studied by using
MATLAB/SIMULINK. For this study, a PV array having two
iin + Vl1 − + V − PV module in series with short circuit current, and open circuit
c1 i0
+ voltage as 8.3A, and 43.2V, respectively. In Fig.9, the peak
+ power of the PV array under 1000w/m2 solar insolation is
Vin S L2 Vl 2 C2 V0 R nearly 426W
− −

X: 59.67
450 Y: 426

Fig.7. circuit diagram of SEPIC converter

400

350
PV Array Power (W)

300

250
The equations of the output voltage , output current, output 200
resistance is same as that of Buck-Boost converter. 150

100

50
F. Zeta converter 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Voltage(V)
It is similar to the Buck-Boost converter. The output voltage is
either lower or higher than the input voltage depends on the Fig.9. P-V characteristic of the PV array.
duty cycle (D). It is an fourth order system type because in this
 450

400
sepic R=50
350 Cuck R=50
Buck R=50
300
Cuck R=50
PV array Power

250 boost R=50

Buck Boost R=50
200

150

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
Time

Fig. 10. Performance of different DC-DC converter at R=50Ω

500

400

Buck boost R=5

300 zeta R=5
PV array power

sepic R=5
boost R=5
200 CUK R=5
Buck R=5

100

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
Time

Fig. 11. Performance of different DC-DC converter at R=5Ω

Table-1: Comparison of different DC-DC converter
DC-DC Converter Computational Efficiency Resistance<RMPP Resistance>RMPP
Perforamnce

Resistance<RMPP Resistance>RMPP
Buck better high low suitable Not suitable
Boost Not good low high Not suitable suitable
Buck-Boost better high high suitable suitable
Cuk average medium high Suitable Suitable
SEPIC average medium high Suitable Suitable
Zeta better medium high Suitable suitable
 Table-2: Simulation parameters for different DC-DC for grid integration through an inverter by boosting the PV
converter voltage to the desired level. All these converters simulation
are carried out with incremental conductance MPPT
DC-DC L1 L2 C1 C2 algorithm.
converter
REFERENCE
Buck 0.1 Not 2.0 mF Not
mH Applicable Applicable [1]. M. G. Villalva, J. R. Gazoli, and E. R. Filho, ‘‘Comprehensive
approachto modeling and simulation of photovoltaic arrays,’’ IEEE
Boost 1.0 Not 2.0 mF Not Trans. Power Electron., vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 1198-1208, May 2009.
mH Applicable Applicable [2]. T. Esram and P. L. Chapman, ‘‘Comparison of photovoltaic array
maximum power point tracking techniques,’’ IEEE Trans. Energy
Buck- 0.5 Not 10.0 Not Convers., vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 439---449, Jun. 2007.
Boost mH Applicable mF Applicable [3]. M. A. G. de Brito , L. Galotto , L. P. Sampaio , G. de Azevedo e
Melo and C. A. Canesin "Evaluation of the main MPPT
Cuk 50 mH 50 mH 17.8 100 µF techniques for photovoltaic applications", IEEE Trans. Ind.
µF Electron., vol. 60, no. 3, pp.1156 -1167, 2013.
[4]. G. R. Walker and P. C. Sernia, "Cascaded dc-dc converter
SEPIC 1.0 1.0 mH 2.0 mF 2.0 mF connection of photovoltaic modules", IEEE Trans. Power
mH Electron., vol. 19, no. 4, pp.1130 -1139 2004.
[5]. Eftichios Koutroulis, Kostas Kalaitzakis, Member, IEEE, and
Zeta 30 mH 30 mH 50 µF 50 µF Nicholas C, Voulgaris, " Development of a Microcontroller-Based,
Photovotaic Maximum Power Point Tracking Control System.,"
IEEE Transactions on Power Electron., vol.16, No.l, pp.49-50,
JAN.2001.
Fig. 9 shows the power extracted from the PV array under [6]. A. Ghasemi, S. F. Eilaghi, E. Adib, "A new non-isolated high step-
high resistance which is also more than the resistance at up SEPIC converter for photovoltaic applications," 3rd Power
MPP. Under this condition, the buck converter fails to extract Electronics and Drive Systems Technology Conference, PEDSTC,
maximum power. However, other converters extract nearly pp. 51-56.
[7]. Roberto F. Coelho, Filipe M. Concer, Denizar C. Martins (2010)
the maximum power. Among the DC-DC converter boost "A Simplified Analysis of DC-DC Converters Applied as
converter performs better. Fig. 10, show the performance of Maximum Power Point Tracker in Photovoltaic Systems" in IEEE
different DC-DC converter under low resistance value which international symposium on power electronics for distributed
is also lower than the resistance at MPP. In this condition, generation systems.
buck converter performs better. As zeta, SEPIC, and CUK [8]. M. Taghvaee, M.A.M. Radzi, S. Moosavain, H. Hizam, M.H.
suitable for all range of load but buck the boost is more Marhaban, ‘‘A current and future study on non-isolated DC---DC
suitable. This is due to less complexity than these three converters for photovoltaic applications’’, Renew. Sustain. Energy
Rev., 17 (2013), pp. 216---227.
converters. A comparison analysis of DC-DC converter for
particular MPPT application is shown in Table-1. Design
parameter of different DC-DC converter is given in Table-2

IV. CONCLUSION
A comparison of different DC-DC converter has been carried
out for a photovoltaic system under standard testing
conditions. From the above study, buck-boost DC-DC
converter is more suitable for MPPT and also it can be used