Simulation of DC/DC Converter for DC Nano-
Grid Integrated with Solar PV Generation
Rajesh M Pindoriya1, Student Member, IEEE, N. M. Pindoriya2, Senior Member, IEEE, and S. Rajendran3
Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India2, 3
rajeshpindoriya@gmail.com1, naran@iitgn.ac.in2, rajendran@iitgn.ac.in3
Abstract Distributed energy resources (DER) based micro grid
and Nano-grid framework is most technically viable bottom-top
approach to sustainably meet ever-increasing demand of rural and
urban communities. Recently the growth of DC operative home
appliances like mobile and lap top chargers, ovens and hair dryers
etc. are increasing and therefore a DC/DC converter is an efficient
way to meet the electricity need from the local DER and helps in
improving the system efficiency. This paper presents simulation
results of a buck boost converter, MPPT algorithm (P & O method)
for solar PV module and closed loop PI control system for obtaining
constant 12 V and 24 V DC output voltage at DC bus. The proposed
methodology is to extract maximum DC power from solar PV
system and it is directly fed to DC load or DC Nano grid.
Index Terms-- Distributed energy resources (DERs), Maximum
power point tracking (MPPT) and Perturb & observe (P&O).
I. INTRODUCTION
The development of renewable energy has been an
increasingly critical topic in the 21st century because of the growth
in global warming and other environmental issues. Today most of
the equipments are working on DC voltage supply. Normally, the
supply coming from power station to the homes, offices,
industries etc. in form of AC supply. So it is needed to convert
AC supply into DC supply to make useful for the equipments
which works on DC supply. Nowadays, energy generate in form
of clean, efficient, and environmentally friendly sources has
become one of the major challenges for engineers and scientists
[1]. Out of all the available renewable energy resources, solar
source attract more attention because they provide awesome
opportunity to generate electricity and free source [1] [2].
However, despite all the aforementioned advantages of solar
power system, they do not present desirable efficient [3]. The
efficiency of solar cells depends on many factors such as
temperature, insolation, spectral characteristics of sunlight, dirt,
shadow, and so on. In addressing the poor efficiency of PV
system some methods are proposed for improving an efficiency of
solar PV system among by implementing a new concept called
maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The DC/DC converter
is responsible for transferring maximum power from the solar PV
module to the load. A MPPT is used for extracting the maximum
power from the solar PV module and transferring that power to
the load [4]. Many MPPT techniques have been proposed in the
literature; examples are the P&O method [5], incremental
conductance (IncCon) method [6-7] and fuzzy logic method [6]
etc. When a solar PV module is used in a system, its operating
point is decided by the load to which it is connected. Since solar
radiation falling on a PV module varies throughout the day, the
operating points of module also change. The maximum power
produced by a solar cell change according to the solar radiation
and temperature. A PV module is a nonlinear generator. The
most widely used algorithm is the Perturb & Observe (P&O)
algorithm. The P&O algorithm perturbs the duty cycle which
controls the power converter, in this way it takes steps over the
P-V characteristic to find the MPP.
In addition, much research is focused on increasing the poor
efficiency of the power processing stage, as well as improving the
power yield of the overall system [8]. Recently, the concept of
cascaded DC/DC converter has become popular [9-10]. A low-
voltage DC Nano grid can be used to supply sensitive electronic
loads, since it combines the advantages of using a DC supply for
electronic loads and using local generation to supply sensitive
loads. Changes in insolation on panels due to fast climatic
changes such as cloudy weather and increase in ambient
temperature can reduce the photovoltaic (PV) array output.
II. NANO GRID
Nano grid is self-controlled entities and operated in either
grid-connected or island mode, which interconnect local DERs
and loads with local distribution systems [11]. The main
advantage of a DC Nano grid is that it provides a better
compliance with DC types of DERs and loads [12-13]. For
example, solar PV and battery storage would only utilize a
DC/DC conversion in DC Nano grid which provides a simpler
and cost efficient structure with a much easier control strategy.
The Nano grid concept illustrates these issues by associating a
variety of distributed energy sources and loads in a power
network capable of an islanding operation with the main grid [14].
The deployments of Nano grids are expected to impact the
economic, environmental electricity supply quality and reliability
aspects [15]. Nano grid refer to a small scale of the power
network, with voltage levels used on the distribution network
(20 kV) and power ratings ranging up to 1 MW [16]. Schematic
layout of DC Nano grid integrated with solar PV generation is
shows in fig. 1. This DC Nano grid integrated with solar PV
generation is making a combination of different type of solar PV
modules, MPPT algorithm, DC/DC converter and connected DC
loads like, mobile chargers, laptop chargers and battery energy
storage system.
 24 V DC bus bar
Vmpp =71.8 V
MPPT DC/DC DC/DC
(Using P & O buck boost buck
algorithm) converter converter
12 V DC

Poly crystalline solar PV module

Vmpp =35.9 V, Impp= 8.22 A Charging Battery
station for energy
mobiles storage
Vmpp =71.4 V (BES)
MPPT DC/DC
(using P & O buck boost
algorithm) converter

Mono crystalline solar PV module

Vmpp =35.7 V, Impp= 7.99 A
Impp =3.8 A
24 V DC
MPPT DC/DC
(using P & O buck boost
algorithm) converter
Charging Battery
station for energy
Thin film solar PV module mobiles storage
Vmpp =79.0 V, Impp= 1.9 A (BES)

Fig. 1. Schematic layout of DC Nano grid integrated with solar PV generation

III. SOLAR PV MODULES AND MPPT

Solar PV panels used in this study are a mono Where,
crystalline, poly crystalline and thin film. An equivalent Id = Diode current (A)
electrical circuit of solar cell is shown in Fig. 2. Iph =Photo current (A)
Is = Diode saturation current (A)
I q = Charge of electron (Coulomb)
R =Parallel resistor (Ohm)
Id Rs R =Series resistor (Ohm)
Rp k = Boltzmann's constant
Iph V T = Temperature (Kelvin)
A = Ideality factor of diode
V = Solar cell output voltage (V)
Fig. 2. Equivalent electrical circuit of solar cell Rating of solar PV modules is shown in Table 1. Two
panels of mono crystalline and poly crystalline are connected
(+s )
to series with each other for obtaining large output voltage.
Id = Is ( 1) (1) Two panels of thin film are connected to parallel with each
(+s ) (+s ) other for obtain large output current. Rating of all solar PV
I = Iph Is ( 1) (2) module at standard test condition.
R
 Table 1. Rating of solar PV modules
Solar PV DC/DC converters
DC load
Parameters Poly Mono Thin film module (Buck, Boost,
crystalline crystalline Buck- Boost, Cuk)
Vmpp 35.9 V 35.7 V 79.0 V Converter)
Impp 8.22 A 7.99 A 1.9 A
Wpp 295 W 285 W 150 W
Voc 44.6 V 44.1 V 110 V
Isc 8.73 A 8.60 A 2.10 A

Power delivered by a module depends on the load

connected to the module. MPPT is algorithm that included in I V
charge controllers used for extracting maximum available
power from PV module under certain conditions. The voltage
at which PV module can produce maximum power is called
maximum power point or peak power voltage. MPPT is
most effective under, cold weather, cloudy or hazy days.
There are large number of algorithms that are able to track
MPPs. Some of them are simple, such as those based on
voltage and current feedback, like (P&O) and incremental
conductance (IncCon) method. Some are more complicated,
such as they are also vary in complexity, sensors
requirement, speed of convergence, cost, range of operation,
popularity, ability to detect multiple local maxima, and their
applications [17-18]. Having a curious look at the
MPPT algorithm and duty cycle
recommended P&O method is the algorithms that were in the modification (PI controller)
center of consideration because of their simplicity and ease of
implementation [19]. Pictorial view of DC Nano grid with Fig. 3. Pictorial view of DC Nano grid with MPPT and PI controller
MPPT and PI controller is shown in fig. 3.
IV. DC/DC CONVERTER
Recently, the deployment of DC appliances is
exponentially increasing in all sectors like, industrial,
commercial and domestic customers. In addition, the solar PV
module generates DC power and therefore it can be directly
fed to DC load through DC/DC converter to minimize the
conversion losses and improve power quality and efficiency.
It is used for noise isolation, power bus regulation and current
boosting. Power electronic devices that are used whenever
change of DC electrical power from one voltage level to
another voltage level is needed on output side. Simulink
diagram of closed loop buck boost converter with PI
controller is shown in Fig. 4. Output voltage of buck boost
converter is define as below.
Fig. 4. Simulink diagram of closed loop buck boost converter with PI
Vin K
Vout = (1K)
(3) controller

Where,
Vout = output voltage of buck boost converter (V)
Vin = input voltage of buck boost converter (V)
K = duty cycle
When 0<K<0.5- converter operate in buck mode.
0.5<K<1- converter operate in boost mode.
0.5= k- converter operate in an ideal mode.
V. SIMULATION RESULTS
The Simulink model of a closed loop buck boost converter
for DC Nano grid integrated with mono crystalline solar PV
module is shown in Fig. 5. The mono crystalline solar PV
module is modelled using electrical characteristics for
provide the output current and voltage of the PV module.
Modeling a solar PV mono crystalline module using standard
equation of solar PV cell [10] in MATLAB/ Simulink.
Design a P & O algorithm in MATLAB function block using
C language. PWM signals are generate using combination of
output of MPPT duty cycle and output of PI controller.
 Fig. 5. Simulink modal of a closed loop buck boost converter for DC Nano grid integrated with monocrystalline solar PV module

I-V and P-V characteristic of mono crystalline solar

PV module is shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, respectively.

Fig. 8. DC 12 V output voltage of buck boost converter

Fig. 6. I-V Characteristic of mono crystalline 285 W solar PV module

Fig. 7. P-V Characteristic of mono crystalline 285 W solar PV module Fig. 9. DC 24 V output voltage of buck boost converter

Waveform of DC 12 V & 24 V output voltage of Without used of MPPT algorithm obtained output
buck boost converter is shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, voltage of buck boost converter like, DC 10 to 14.5 V for
respectively. This small level DC output voltage is 12 V and 22 to 30 V for 24 V, it is shown in Fig. 10 and
directly fed to DC equipments. Fig. 11 respectively.
 Fig. 13. DC 1.8 A output current of buck boost converter

Fig. 10. DC 12 V output voltage of buck boost converter

(Without MPPT)

Fig. 14. DC 39.95 V input voltage of buck boost converter

Waveform of output current and input voltage of

buck boost converter is shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14
respectively.

Fig. 11. DC 24 V output voltage of buck boost converter VI. CONCLUSION

(Without MPPT) This paper simulates the DC-DC converter for
Without used of PI controller obtained output application of DC Nano grid, at two voltage levels: 12 V
voltage of buck boost converter is 22.77 V. It is shown in & 24 V DC output voltages from buck boost converter.
Fig. 12. So it is not desired output voltage of buck boost This small level DC output voltage is used for small
converter. home appliances load. The constant DC output voltage is
obtained through two level using PI controller and MPPT
algorithm for track maximum power from solar PV
module. The simulation results demonstrate the buck-
book converter application for maintain constant voltage
at DC bus irrespective of variation of solar PV
generation. Also it improves the system efficiency by
reducing no. of conversions.
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