Soft-switching flyback inverter with enhanced power decoupling for photovoltaic applications

Abstract

A novel single-phase flyback inverter for photovoltaic applications is proposed to achieve low-frequency ripple current reduction on the DC busbar and to draw sinusoidal current into the AC grid. Based on capacitive idling techniques, the proposed circuit topology is derived from a single-ended primary-inductance converter and two-switch flyback inverter to obtain soft-switching operation for all of the active switches. Compared with a buck-boost inverter and other flyback inverter topologies for AC photovoltaic module systems, no extra active switches are used in the proposed inverter to realise both soft-switching and enhanced power decoupling with only four active switches. Peak-current mode control method is employed in the control schemes to ensure pure sinusoidal current with unity power factor on the AC grid. Laboratory experimental results based on a 500 W prototype are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed inverter.