A New High-Power DC/DC Converter for Residential Fuel Cell Power Systems

This paper presents a new high-power step-up DC/DC converter topology with high-frequency isolation intended for residential fuel cell power systems. In contrast to traditional voltage source converters, the proposed topology utilizes the Z-source (impedance source) network represented by a combination of two inductors and two capacitors on the input side of the DC/DC converter. Due to the specific feature of boosting input voltage by introducing a shoot-through operation mode, the new converter provides a more reliable, simpler and cheaper solution than offered by those recently available for residential fuel cell power systems. The paper describes the design methodology, analyzes the results of simulation and optimization possibilities of the proposed topology.