Multiport Converter With Reduced Part Count for DC Nanogrid Application

Using multiple energy sources in electric vehicles (EVs) and dc grid presents a practical solution to circumvent concerns about fuel usage and battery range. Battery packs, fuel cells, ultra-super capacitors, and solar PV offer more viable energy options for propelling onboard electric motors and other supplementary EV components. To manage power distribution among input sources, loads, utility grids, and EVs, a multiport converter becomes necessary. In most cases, these converters employ a time-sharing strategy where only one energy source connects to the load, leaving others dormant within specific duty cycle parameters. This approach also has limitations related to duty cycle range or inductor charging. In this proposed study, a new configuration employing a dual-input dual-output converter is devised to concurrently manage loads without operational restrictions. This design effectively tackles the challenge of cross-regulation and enables both buck and boost voltage conversion simultaneously by adeptly controlling switches through a suitable strategy. This article outlines the converter's operational modes, and a design prototype (300 W) along with its corresponding test results are presented to validate its viability.