International Journal of Applied Engineering Research

ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 9, Number 23 (2014) pp. 21553-21560

© Research India Publications
http://www.ripublication.com

Design And Simulation of LUO Converter Topologies For

Photovoltaic Applications

Mr.M.Chilambarasan M.E1, Dr.M.Ramesh Babu2, Ms.R.Sujatha3

1Assistant professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,

St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai-60119.
2
Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai-60119.
3
P.G Scholar, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai-60119.
a
chimbum@gmail.com brameshbabum@st.josephs.ac.in
c
sujatha_rajagopal@yahoo.com

Abstract
Voltage lift technique is a popular method widely applied in electronic circuit
design. The effect of parasitic elements limits the output voltage and power
transfer efficiency of DC-DC converters. Voltage lift technique opens a good
way to improve circuit characteristics. Luo-converters are a series of new DC-
DC step-up converters, which were developed from prototypes using voltage
lift technique. In this paper, four converters with voltage-lift circuit are
analyzed: Positive output elementary Luo converter, Negative output
elementary Luo converter, Positive output self-lift Luo converter, Negative
output self-lift Luo converter. These converters possess high output voltage
with small ripples along with high power density, high efficiency and simple
structure. These converters are widely used in computer peripheral equipment
and industrial applications, especially for high output voltage projects. These
converters can be used for various photovoltaic applications. Simulation
results are given to highlight the merits of the converters.

Introduction
DC–DC converters are widely used in computer hardware and industrial applications,
such as traction motor control in electric automobiles, marine hoists, forklift trucks
and mine haulers.[1,2] In recent years, DC–DC conversion technology has been
developed to achieve high efficiency, high power density and simple topology[3,4].
Series DC–DC Luo converters have been successfully implemented with the voltage-
lift technique [5], which results in good performance such as high voltage transfer
21554 M.Chilambarasan

gain (VTG) and low ripple voltage and current. The voltage-lift circuit (VLC) has
been applied in Positive output self-lift Luo converter, Negative output self-lift Luo
converter. Positive Luo converters perform positive to positive DC-DC voltage
increasing conversion while Negative Luo converters perform positive to negative
DC-DC voltage-increasing conversion with high power density, high efficiency and in
a simple structure. They are different from other existing DC-DC step-up converters
and possess many advantages including the high output voltage with small ripples.
Switch S is a P- channel power MOSFET device (PMOS). It is controlled by a pulse-
width-modulated (PWM) switching signal with repeating frequency f and conduction
duty k .In this paper the switch repeating period is T = 1 / f, so that the switch-on
period is kT and switch-off period is (1 - k)T. For all circuits, the load is usually
resistive, R = Vo/Io. Photovoltaic (PV) systems have been used for many decades.
Today, with the focus on greener sources of power, PV has become an important
source of power for a wide range of applications. Photovoltaic cell generates
electricity from the sun. PV panel works under the phenomenon of photoelectric
effect [6]. When solar cells are exposed to sunlight, it converts solar energy into
electrical energy. The location of the MPP is not known, but can be located, either
through calculation models or by search algorithms. Incremental conductance
algorithm is used to maintain the PV array’s operating point at its maximum power
point. A photovoltaic cell is comprised of a P-N junction semiconductor material such
as silicon that produces currents via the photovoltaic cell. When light energy strikes
the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms in the semiconductor
material. If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides,
forming an electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric
current [7]. This electricity can then be used to power a load. The simplest model of a
photovoltaic cell consists of an ideal current source in parallel with an ideal diode is
shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Equivalent circuit of the PV cell

The current output of PV module is

Ipv=NpIph-NpIs[exp{q(Vpv+IpvRs)/NsAkT}-1] (1)
Where Ipv is the photovoltaic current and Np is the number of cells connected in
parallel. In fact, the PV efficiency is sensitive to small change in R s but insensitive to
variation in Rsh [8].
Design And Simulation of LUO Converter Topologies For Photovoltaic et.al. 21555

Positive Output Luo Converter

The circuit diagram of elementary positive output luo converter is shown in figure 2.
The converter consists of a positive Luo-pump and a low-pass filter - , and lift
circuit.

Figure 2: Positve output Luo converter

The pump inductor transfers the energy from source to capacitor C during
switch-off, and then the stored energy on capacitor C is delivered to load R during
switch-on. Therefore, if the voltage is higher the output voltage should be high.
When the switch S is turned off, the current flows through the free- wheeling diode
D. This current descends in whole switch-off period (1-k) T. If current does not
become zero before switch S turned on again, this working state is defined as the
continuous conduction mode (CCM). If current becomes zero before switch S
turned on again, this working state is defined as the discontinuous conduction mode
(DCM) [9] .
= (2)

= (3)

Negative Output Luo Converter

The circuit diagram of elementary negative output Luo converter is shown in figure
3.The pump inductor L absorbs energy from the source during switch-on, and
transfers the stored energy to capacitor C during switch-off.

Figure 3: Negative output Luo converter

21556 M.Chilambarasan

The energy on capacitor C is then delivered to the load during switch-on.

Therefore, if the voltage V, is high, the output voltage Vo is correspondingly .When
the switch S is turned off, the current io flows through the freewheeling diode D. This
current descends in a whole switching-off period (1 - k)T. If the current io does not
reach zero before switch S is turned on again, we define this working state to be a
continuous mode. If the current io reaches zero before switch S is turned on again, we
define this working state to be a discontinuous mode[10].
= (4)

= (5)

Self Lift Positive Output Luo Converter

The circuit diagram of self lift positive output Luo converter is shown in figure 4.

Figure 4: Self Lift Positive output Luo converter

When switch S is on ,the instantaneous source current is = + + .

Inductor absorbs energy from the source. In the mean time inductor absorbs
energy from source and capacitor C. Both currents and increase, and is
charged to =V1.When switch S is off, the instantaneous source current is i1= 0.
Current flows through capacitor C1 and diode D to charge capacitor C. Inductor L1
transfers its stored energy to capacitor C. In the mean time, current iL2 flows through
the (CO – R) circuit, capacitor C1 and diodeD, to keep itself continuous. Both currents
iL1 and iL2 decrease. Assuming that capacitor C1 is sufficiently large, voltage VC1 is
equal to V1 in steady state. Current iL1 increases in switch-on period kT, and decreases
in switch-off period (1 – k)T. The corresponding voltages applied across L1 are V1
and –(VC – V1)respectively.
= = (6)
= (1 − ) (7)

Self Lift Negative Output Luo Converter

The circuit diagram of self lift negative output Luo converter is shown in figure 5.
Circuit C1-D1 is the lift circuit. Capacitor C1 functions to lift the capacitor voltage VC
by a source voltage V1.
Design And Simulation of LUO Converter Topologies For Photovoltaic et.al. 21557

Figure 5: Self Lift negative output Luo converter

When switch S is on, the source current iI = iL + iC1. Inductor L absorbs energy
from the source, and current iI linearly increases with slope VI/L. In the mean time the
diode D1 is conducted and capacitor C1 is charged by the current iC1. Inductor LO
keeps the output current IO continuous and transfers energy from capacitor C to the
load R i.e., iC-ON = iLO.When switch S is off the source current i1 = 0. Current iL flows
through the free-wheeling diode D to charge capacitor C and enhances current iLO.
Inductor L transfers its stored energy via capacitor C1 to capacitor C and load R (via
inductor LO), i.e., iL = iC1–off = iC–off + iLO. Thus, current iL decreases.
= = (8)
= (1 − ) (9)

Table 1: Comparison of component values used in simulation For V1 =12V,Duty

cycle=75%,Ripple Voltage=5%,Ripple Current=5%

CONVERTER L1 L2 C C0 C1
Positive Output Luo
Converter 0.006H 0.003H 20µF 0.5µF -
Negative Output Luo 0.006H 25 µH 0.06mF 0.5µF -
Converter
Self Lift Positive 0.375mH 1.5mH 24mF 32mF 1.7µF
Output Luo Converter
Self Lift Negative 0.006H 0.0008mH 0.15mF 7.8mF 0.2mF
Output Luo Converter
21558 M.Chilambarasan

Simulation Results:

Figure 6: Positive output Luo Converter

Figure 7: Negative output Luo Converter

Figure 8: Self Lift Positive output Luo Converter

Design And Simulation of LUO Converter Topologies For Photovoltaic et.al. 21559

Figure 9: Self Lift Negative output Luo Converter

Table 2: Comparison of Output Voltages For V1 =12V,Duty cycle=75%,Ripple

Voltage=5%, Ripple Current=5%

CONVERTER OUTPUT VOLTAGE [V]

Positive Output Luo Converter 35 V
Negative Output Luo Converter 36 V
Self Lift Positive Output Luo Converter 45 V
Self Lift Negative Output Luo Converter 45 V

Conclusion
In this paper four LUO converter topologies have been compared and analyzed. All
these topologies have been designed, modeled, and simulated, to test their
performance. All Luo-Converters implementing the voltage lift technique, avoid
taking too high value of the conduction duty k. For the same value of duty cycle
increased output voltage is obtained for self lift Luo converters compared to the
elementary Luo converters. Also the values of inductance and capacitance are less for
self lift Luo converters than the elementary Luo converters. The effects of parasitic
elements are overcomed effectively which ultimately increases the output voltage of
these DC-DC converters. MPPT algorithm tracks the maximum power from the sun.
Incremental Conductance method is widely used to compute the maximum power and
to control the extracted power from the PV by changing the duty cycle. Thus these
converters are used for various photovoltaic applications also.
21560 M.Chilambarasan

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