A Novel High Gain DC‐DC Converter Based on Three‐Stage Voltage Multiplier Cell and Three‐Winding Coupled Inductor

ABSTRACT To address the challenges of low output voltage in fuel cell (FV) and small‐scale renewable energy applications, the limited voltage boosting capability of conventional DC‐DC converters, and suboptimal overall performance, this paper proposes a novel integrated boosting module, the three‐stage voltage multiplier cell (3‐stage VMC), in combination with a three‐winding coupled inductor (TWCL), to propose a high‐gain DC‐DC converter that significantly enhances the voltage boost capability. Zero‐current turn‐on and turn‐off operations are realized for certain diodes in the proposed converter, which help reduce switching losses and enhance efficiency. Benefiting from the single inductor input of the SEPIC topology, the proposed converter features continuous low‐ripple input current. Additionally, the converter offers advantages such as shared ground between the input and output voltages and low voltage stress, making it highly suitable for FV and small‐scale renewable energy applications. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the converter's steady‐state behavior, parameter design, loss mechanisms, small‐signal modeling, and system stability. A comparative study with corresponding high‐gain converters is conducted, and the feasibility of the proposed converter is validated through the construction of an experimental prototype.