Modeling and Control of a Bipolar DC-DC Boost Converter for Bipolar DC Microgrids

Miréli B. Vendruscolo; Ademir Toebe; Everson Mattos; Leandro Michels; António Manuel Santos Spencer Andrade

doi:10.18618/REP.e202612

Authors

Miréli B. Vendruscolo Federal University of Santa Maria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5525-1857
Ademir Toebe Federal University of Santa Maria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7359-2332
Everson Mattos Federal University of Santa Maria
Leandro Michels Federal University of Santa Maria
António Manuel Santos Spencer Andrade Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6098-0475

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18618/REP.e202612

Keywords:

DC microgrids, non-isolated, enewable energy sources, symmetrical bipolar output

Abstract

Bipolar direct current (DC) microgrids have emerged as a promising alternative for efficiently integrating of renewable energy sources. However, these systems are susceptible to voltage imbalance between the positive and negative poles, especially with asymmetric loads. This paper presents the modeling and control of a non-isolated DC–DC Boost converter with a symmetric bipolar output suitable for photovoltaic applications. The proposed topology eliminates issues related to voltage imbalance and leakage currents while providing continuous low-ripple input current, a reduced number of components, simplified operation, and common grounding with the output neutral point. The operating principle, modeling, and control strategy of the converter are discussed, and its performance is validated through simulations and experimental results from a 1500 W prototype. The results demonstrate stable operation under both balanced and unbalanced conditions.

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Author Biographies

Miréli B. Vendruscolo, Federal University of Santa Maria

was born in Dona Francisca, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 1996. She received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil, in 2020 and 2023, respectively, where she is currently working towards her Ph.D. Her research interests include power electronics, DC-DC Converters, DC-AC Inverters, and renewable energy.

Ademir Toebe, Federal University of Santa Maria

received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering in 2015, 2018, and 2025, respectively, all from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at UFSM. He has been with the Power Electronics and Control Research Group (GEPOC) at UFSM since 2013. His research interests include modular and multilevel systems, parallelism of inverters, energy conversion for photovoltaic systems, onboard and fast charger for EVs, and static converters with capacitive isolation.

Everson Mattos, Federal University of Santa Maria

received his the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 1998, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil, in 2016 and 2023, respectively. He is a Senior Technologist at the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). His experience lies in the field of Electrical Engineering, with emphasis on power electronics and control, static converters, grid-connected converters, and optimization applied to converters and controllers.

Leandro Michels, Federal University of Santa Maria

received his the B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Since 2009, he has been with the Power Electronics and Control Research Group (GEPOC) at UFSM, where he is currently an Associate Professor. Hes is holds a DT-1B research fellowship from CNPq (Technological Development and Innovative Extension). He has published more than 100 papers in journals and conference proceedings, holds three patent applications, and has supervised five Ph.D. theses and ten M.Sc. dissertations. He works in the field of photovoltaic systems as the manager of the Photovoltaic Inverter Testing Laboratory (IEM DERlab), participates in working groups for the development of Brazilian standards for the photovoltaic sector, and collaborates in R&D projects with industry. His current research interests include photovoltaic systems, modeling and control of power converters, and digital control applications. He is a member of the Brazilian Power Electronics Society (SOBRAEP) and a Senior Member of the IEEE PELS, IEEE IES, and IEEE IAS.

António Manuel Santos Spencer Andrade, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

was born in Ribeira Grande, Cabo Verde. He received the Bachelor of Science degree in automation and control engineering from the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Brazil, in 2012, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. From 2018 - 2023, he was a professor at UFSM, and since 2023, he has been a professor at UFRGS. He serves as an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Circuit Theory and Applications and Applied Sciences in the special issue ”Renewable and Sustainable Energy Conversion Systems”. He was also selected as a Distinguished Reviewer of 2022. His research interests include renewable energy, energy storage systems, DC-DC converters, and microinverters.

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