Combined Low-Cost, High-Efficient Inverter, Peak Power Tracker and Regulator for PV Applications

A novel photovoltaic converter system is proposed, implementing a new maximum power point tracking technique. The three functions, battery regulation, inverting and maximum-power-point-tracking, needed for photovoltaic systems with battery back-up, are integrated in a single cost effective converter. This converter charges the battery, operates close to the maximum power point of the photovoltaic array and forms a dc to ac inverter for a complex power load. The step down charger allows the combination of high-voltage PV arrays with low-voltage batteries. A full description of the circuit and practical measured results with efficiencies are presented.