An intelligent Cuk-Luo fused DC-DC converter for standalone hybrid renewable energy system’s peak load power management

In recent years, single power electronic converters based on hybrid renewable energy systems have become increasingly popular for powering base transceiver stations (BTS). This work introduces a unique Cuk-Luo fused DC-DC converter (CLFC) that integrates wind and solar powers, enhancing system’s overall performance. The developed converter is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink, demonstrating promising results, including reduced hardware complexity, a compact design compared to other converters, and improved efficiency. A mathematical model is developed to analyse stability challenges and design an optimal controller for the DC-DC converter. To efficiently manage power distribution from the input sources, two innovative control methods are introduced: an embedded controller and an online duty cycle estimator. Additionally, the converter's ability to handle the battery's bi-directional power flow is explored, ensuring charging and discharging occur based on power requirements. For this purpose, a unique embedded control-based online state of charge (SOC) estimator is suggested. Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink validate the performance of the intelligent controller in an off-grid wind/ battery/ solar hybrid renewable energy system, using real-time solar irradiation and wind speed data collected from the NASA's database to simulate variable load demands. To validate the design, prototype hardware of the developed CLFC is developed and examined successfully.