Performance evaluation of a high-gain 50 W DC-DC flyback boost converter for variable input voltage low-power photovoltaic applications

Abstract

DC-DC boost converters are essential for stabilizing the voltage output of photovoltaic (PV) modules. This paper analyzes a unique 50 W high-gain DC-DC flyback boost converter for various input voltage PV applications. Scientific analysis was employed to determine suitable parameters for critical circuit components. Simulations were conducted to evaluate the proposed high-gain DC-DC boost converter's performance. Subsequently, a prototype of the high-gain DC boost converter was fabricated with a printed circuit board (PCB) size of 100×100 mm. The proposed prototype's performance is compared to that of conventional boost converters based on criteria such as input voltage, output voltage, component count, voltage stress, voltage gain, efficiency, and rated power. The results indicate that the proposed converter can achieve a 300 V output voltage with a 50 W power rating from variable input voltages ranging between 12 V and 36 V. The highest gain achieved was 25 with a 12 V input voltage, though at a lower power rating of 15 W. A peak efficiency of 84.30% was measured with a 24 V DC input voltage. The proposed converter's features, particularly its high step-up voltage gain, make it suitable for industrial and renewable energy applications.