Dual‐Input High Gain Step‐Up Converter for BLDC Motor Applications in Renewable Energy

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a novel front‐end dual‐input high‐gain step‐up converter for brushless DC (BLDC) motor applications powered by renewable energy sources. The converter integrates two independent input sources, namely, photovoltaic (PV) and fuel cells (FC), to boost low and variable input voltages to the levels required by the BLDC motor drive. A vital feature of the proposed converter is the common ground (CG) shared between sources and the load, reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). A comprehensive steady‐state analysis is conducted to derive the voltage gain equation and evaluate the voltage and current stresses on the converter's passive and semiconductor components. Through small‐signal analysis, a proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controller is designed to improve the converter's dynamic performance. A prototype of 250 W of the proposed converter and three‐phase inverter has been developed and tested to validate its practical performance. Furthermore, a detailed efficiency and thermal analysis evaluation ensures reliable operation in real‐world conditions and demonstrates the converter's practicality. Additionally, the converter offers continuous input current (CIC) from both sources and a simple switching scheme. Furthermore, the performance analysis conducted under diverse operating conditions illustrates the behavior of the converter. Key features of the converter include CIC from both sources, CG, operation across a wide duty ratio (D), and a straightforward switching scheme.