A hard switched high frequency link converter with constant power output for photovoltaic applications

This paper presents a DC to AC converter based upon the half bridge dual converter, a high frequency coupling transformer and a three-switch frequency changer. The converter is designed as a photovoltaic module integrated converter (MIC) allowing direct connection of photovoltaic systems to a single-phase grid. The three-switch converter is capable of providing a two-phase output. One phase output injects unity power factor current into the mains while the second output supplies a capacitive load with a waveform that ensures that the instantaneous power remains constant. This guarantees that 100 Hz power ripples are avoided at the DC input to the converter. The operation of this converter is analyzed and the simulation results are presented for a 100 W, low voltage photovoltaic input, 240 V sine wave output converter.