A Novel Single‐Phase Bidirectional Integrated Ćuk‐Based Inverter

ABSTRACT Bidirectional inverters have become increasingly important for interfacing DC systems with the AC utility grid. Moreover, integrated inverters have gained attention due to their capability to boost the input DC voltage while simultaneously supplying a sinusoidal AC output voltage. In this context, this paper proposes a novel single‐phase bidirectional integrated Ćuk‐based inverter (BICI) topology that combines a Ćuk DC–DC converter with a full‐bridge voltage source inverter (VSI). The proposed BICI is designed to operate in discontinuous conduction mode and supports two operating modes: (i) inverter mode and (ii) rectifier mode. Some main advantages associated with the proposed BICI can be highlighted: (i) a lower DC–bus voltage level compared to the traditional VSI; (ii) passive elements exhibit very similar dynamics in both power flow directions, unlike other comparable topologies; and (iii) under current‐mode control, the BICI can be operated with a conventional proportional‐integral controller, due to the employed modulation strategy, static linear gain, and frequency response. The operation and feasibility of the BICI are validated through computational simulation and experimental results. The BICI achieves an efficiency of up to 90.3% at its rated power, while injecting grid current with low harmonic content in both operating modes.