Design and Implementation of a Modified Cascaded Z-Source High Step-Up Boost Converter for Photovoltaic (PV) Applications
Navid Salehi, Guillermo Velasco-Quesada, and Herminio Martínez-García Electronic Engineering Department, Eastern Barcelona School of Engineering (EEBE), Technical University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC). Barcelona, Spain 2026-01-20

Abstract

To improve the voltage gain of step-up converters, the cascaded technique is considered as a possible solution in this paper. By considering the concept of cascading two Zsource networks in a conventional boost converter, the proposed
topology takes the advantages of both impedance source and cascaded converters. By applying some modifications, the
proposed converter provides high voltage gain while the voltage stress of the switch and diodes is still low.

Moreover, the low input current ripple of the converter makes it absolutely appropriate for photovoltaic applications in expanding the lifetime of PV panels. After analyzing the operation principles of the proposed converter, we present the simulation and experimental results of a 100 W prototype to verify the proposed converter performance.

Key words: High step-up converter, impedance source converter, Z-source converter, cascaded technique.

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