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International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems (IJPEDS)
Vol. 14, No. 4, December 2023, pp. 2362~2371
ISSN: 2088-8694, DOI: 10.11591/ijpeds.v14.i4.pp2362-2371 2362
Journal homepage: http://ijpeds.iaescore.com
An experimental investigation design of a bidirectional DC-DC
buck-boost converter for PV battery charger system
Boualam Benlahbib1, Abdeldjalil Dahbi2,3, Bennaceur Fares4, Abelkader Lakhdari1,
Noureddine Bouarroudj1, Saad Mekhilef5, Thameur Abdelkrim1
1Unite de Recherche Appliquee en Energies Renouvelables (URAER), Centre de Developpement des Energies Renouvelables,
Ghardaïa, Algeria
2Unite de Recherche en Energie Renouvelables en Milieu Saharien, Centre de Developpement des Energies Renouvelables,
Adrar, Algeria
3Département d’Électronique et des Télécommunications, Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, Ouargla, Algérie
4Laboratory of Sustainable Development and Computing, Department of Electrical Engineering, Adrar University, Adrar, Algeria
5School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Article Info
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received Mar 7, 2023
Revised Apr 19, 2023
Accepted May 3, 2023
The aim of this paper is to present a bidirectional DC-DC buck-boost
converter design that is specifically intended for use with storage batteries in
a PV system. The primary purpose of the batteries is to mitigate the
unpredictable and intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. To achieve
this, a DC-DC converter is used in buck mode during daylight hours to charge
the batteries with power derived from the PV system. If the photovoltaic
energy source is unavailable, the batteries can discharge to power the DC load
through the converter in boost mode. Therefore, the bi-directional DC/DC
converter, which has a high-power capacity, manages the power storage
system. To this end, the paper describes the design and implementation of
both the power circuit board and drive circuit board of the buck-boost
converter, taking into account the rated current, voltage, and power. Finally,
the effectiveness and efficiency of the designed converter are verified through
experimental tests carried out in both charge and discharge modes, with results
demonstrating the validity and efficiency of the converter.
Keywords:
Bidirectional DC/DC converter
Boost mode
Buck mode
DC link
PV array
Storage battery
This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.
Corresponding Author:
Boualam Benlahbib
Unité de Recherche Appliquée en Energies Renouvelables (URAER)
Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables
CDER,47133, Ghardaïa, Alegria
Email: bouallam30@gmail.com
1. INTRODUCTION
Among renewable resources, wind and solar energy are the most widely used. According to the
'Renewables Global Status Report (2022) (REN21),' wind energy will be the primary source of new power
generation capacity in the United States, Europe, and China in 2023. As of now, 845 GW of wind power
capacity has been installed worldwide, as shown in Figure 1. Due to its reliability and advantages, many
corporations and private companies are transitioning to this type of power source. Nevertheless, wind potential
is limited to specific regions, which is where the photovoltaic system comes in to address this issue [1]. Solar
photovoltaic systems have emerged as the primary source of clean energy in markets like Japan, India, China,
and the United States. In 2021, the global solar PV capacity increased by about 175 GW, resulting in a total
global capacity of 942 GW [1].
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Figure 1. Solar photovoltaics and wind energy annual capacity and globally installed, 2011-2021 [1]
The design of energy production systems has shifted towards a smart and microgrid architecture, which
necessitates the integration of renewable energy sources. However, the intermittency issue of renewable energy
sources requires the use of a storage system. To facilitate the transfer of energy between the storage system and
the main microgrid, a bidirectional DC-DC buck-boost converter must be integrated [2], [3]. These converters are
highly suitable for use in a variety of applications, such as DC power supply systems, electric vehicle systems,
motor drive systems, aerospace power systems, solar power systems, and wind energy systems [4]–[6].
Numerous buck-boost converter topologies have been proposed in the literature [7], including the
four-switch non-inverting converter. This type of converter is based on four switches and has both advantages
and disadvantages [8]. Ioinovici [9] explained the potential input voltage range of the design is advantageous
for battery applications. This topology enables stable mode switching between boost and buck operations. The
word [10] employed a four-switch topology for a power system composed of photovoltaic panels capable of
discharging and charging up to 20 kW. They achieved 97% efficiency with their 5 kw prototype and concluded
that the structure is suitable for a power system.
The result [11], a different topology was introduced that only requires two switches and a single
conductor, as shown in Figure 2. The purpose of this topology was to illustrate how it could be used in a PV
system that needs to manage battery charging and discharging through an energy management strategy. The
researchers used synchronous switching, which resulted in higher conversion efficiency. Another study [12]
demonstrated that the same topology could function as a buck converter with non-synchronous switching, by
setting Q2 to be blocking and monitoring Q1 in the same way as a basic buck converter [13]. In this case, Q1
is set to conduct in boost mode, even though Q2 is switched based on the way a boost converter is controlled.
By incorporating this bidirectional buck-boost converter into a battery charging circuit, a 96% efficiency was
achieved. After evaluating various topologies, the researchers chose the bidirectional buck-boost converter
with two switches due to its ease of implementation and design.
The main focus of this paper is to provide a comprehensive account of the development and practical
implementation of an inexpensive and uncomplicated DC-DC bidirectional buck-boost converter. This
converter is particularly suitable for academic institutions and laboratory settings, as it is tailored to the needs
of students and researchers. Additionally, numerous experiments have been conducted to showcase the
significance of this converter in hybrid energy production systems.
The paper's organization is as follows: i) In section 2, the studied system is described; ii) Section 3
discusses the various operation modes of DC-DC buck-boost converters; iii) Section 4 provides an in-depth
explanation of the power and driver circuits' design, along with the software utilized for designing and printing
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the circuit boards (PCB); iv) The experimental findings of the designed circuits are presented in section 5; and
v) Lastly, section 6 summarizes the key points and offers conclusions.
L
C
S1
D2
S2
D1
+
-
Q1
Q2
Figure 2. Bidirectional buck-boost converter with two-switch
2. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE STUDIED SYSTEM
Figure 3 illustrates the DC-DC bidirectional converter utilized in the microgrid system under
investigation. The system comprises a photovoltaic generator (PVG), which is linked to the DC bus via a DC-
DC boost converter Figure 3(a). The converter operates optimally, allowing the GPV to track the maximum
power point (MPPT) [13], [14]. Additionally, a storage battery is connected to the DC bus through a
bidirectional Buck-Boost converter Figure 3(b). The entire system provides power to a resistive DC
load Figure 3(c).
DC
Load
(a) (c)
(b)
Buck-Boost
DC/DC
Batteries
Boost converter
DC/DC
PVG
DC-Bus
Figure 3. Photovoltaic system with storage batteries, (a) PV-Generator, (b) storage subsystem,
and (c) DC-load
3. DC-DC BUCK-BOOST CONVERTER OPERATION MODES
The GPV’s converter facilitates the transfer of power in a single direction from sources to the DC bus.
However, when it comes to charging and discharging the battery, a reversible converter is required [15], [16].
A bidirectional buck-boost converter, as shown in Figure 4, can achieve power reversibility through its switches
which are designed to transfer current efficiently in both directions. This results in two distinct operation
modes, as described in references [17], [18].
3.1. Buck mode (charging mode)
While charging the battery, the bidirectional converter functions as a Buck converter. In this mode,
switch S1 and diode D1 are turned on, while switch S2 and diode D2 are turned off, as depicted in Figure 4(a).
As the cycle progresses, the inductor current diminishes, and the energy stored in inductor L is utilized to
charge the battery, as explained in reference [19], [10]. Moreover, whenever there is a surplus of renewable
energy production, the bidirectional converter transfers the extra power from the DC bus to the battery.
(a)
(c)
(b)
Batteries
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3.2. Boost (discharging) mode
During battery discharge, the bidirectional converter operates as a boost converter. This means that
switch S2 and diode D2 are turned on, while switch S1 and diode D1 are both turned off, as shown in
Figure 4(b). The converter's role in this mode is to transfer energy from the battery to the DC bus. However,
in situations where the renewable energy production falls short, the bidirectional converter regulates the power
flow and maintains the DC bus voltage in both charge and discharge modes [4], [20], [21].
(a)
(b)
Figure 4. Describes the configuration of a bidirectional DC/DC converter in two modes:
(a) discharging mode and (b) charging mode
4. DC-DC BUCK-BOOST CONVERTER CIRCUIT DESIGN
Zed two separate circuit boards, each serving a specific purpose. One circuit board was dedicated to
the power circuit, responsible for handling the electrical power conversion and distribution. The power circuit
board was designed to efficiently manage the input power, regulate voltage levels, and ensure proper current
flow. The second circuit board was specifically designed for the drive circuit. This board focused on controlling
the switching operations and managing the overall functionality of the converter. It incorporated components
and circuitry to enable precise control of the power flow, timing of switching transitions, and protection
mechanisms. Now, let's delve into the specifications of each circuit board to provide a more detailed
understanding of their capabilities and features.
4.1. A driver circuit board
The driver circuit board depicted in Figure 5 is designed around the IR211 driver, which receives
control signals from the microcontroller's outputs, such as Pic or Arduino. These control signals are analog and
have voltage levels ranging from 0 to 5 volts, with sufficient current levels to power the MOSFETs. However,
it is important to note that the low voltage of the gate must be isolated from the high voltage applied to the
collector, which requires a signal conditioning mechanism [21], [22].
Figure 5. Converter driver card typically, the signal conditioning circuit consists of two stages
4.1.1. HCPL-3120 optocoupler
The initial step towards achieving galvanic isolation between the driver circuit board's two sides (the
microcontroller and power circuit board), is illustrated in Figure 6. The HCPL-3120 comprises a GaAsP LED
that is optically linked to a power output stage integrated circuit, making it beneficial for motor drive
Lbat
Cbat
Vbat
S1
D2
S2
D1
Vdc-bus
+
-
Lbat
Cbat
Vbat
D2
S2
D1
Vdc-bus
S1
+
-
Lbat
Cbat
Vbat
S1
D2
D1
Vdc-bus
S2
+
-
Discharging Charging
(A) (B)
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applications that involve driving MOSFETs and IGBTs. The output stage's broad functional voltage range
offers the necessary drive voltages for the gate-controlled devices. With the optocoupler's current and voltage
output, IGBTs rated up to 1200 V/100 A can be directly driven. If the IGBTs have higher ratings, the HCPL-
3120 can be used to supply a separate power stage that controls the IGBT gate [4], [23].
4.1.2. IR2111 driver
In the second stage, depicted in Figure 7, an IR2111 driver is utilized, which possesses high voltage
and high frequency for the power supply, making it suitable for driving power MOSFETs and IGBTs. The
reference dependency between the high and low side output channels is taken into account in the half-bridge
design. The use of HVIC technology proprietary to the device and a CMOS latch allows for a robust monolithic
structure. The logic input operates with standard CMOS outputs, while output drivers employ a high pulse
current buffer stage to minimize conductive cross-conduction. Internal dead time is set to prevent output Half-
Bridge from switching. The floating channel has the ability to supply power to a high-side configuration N-
MOSFET or power IGBT channel that operates up to 600 volts.
Figure 6. Functional diagram of HCPL 3120 optocoupler
Figure 7. IR2111 driver
4.2. Converter power circuit board design
As shown in Figure 8, the power circuit portion of the Buck-Boost converter has been implemented.
The key components are listed: i) a MOSFET transistor, ii) an input and output capacitors, iii) an inductor,
iv) a heat sink and v) connection cables. The main components of the power circuit board were selected
according to the following procedures.
4.3. Inductance choice
When designing a DC/DC converter, it is crucial to take into account the inductor design because it is
often tailored to meet specific requirements based on frequency, voltage, and current [8], [16]. To select an
appropriate inductor with a desired inductance L for a back mode converter (1) or boost mode converter (2),
the following equations can be utilized.
(1)
(2)
Where Vout is the voltage at the output, is the maximum voltage at the input, is the rated current at
the output, is the maximum current ripple and
is the switching frequency. The inductance with the
highest value was chosen.
4.4. Capacitor output selection
A low equivalent series resistance (ESR) capacitor is the best practice to reduce the output voltage
ripple [11]. As a result, the peak-to-peak resistance of the ripple voltage
and , so
the need for ESR is (13).
(3)
Using the typical ESR capacitor value relationship.
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, it can be
(4)
4.5. Power switch selection
The converter's maximum input voltage is 48 V. As a result, The IRFP260N can function as the
primary circuit-switching device [24], [25]. The threshold voltage is 200 V, whereas, the threshold current is
50 A. The resistance is 4 mΩ, which is extremely short.
4.6. PCB design
The PCB design was created using EASYEDA software. Figure 9 illustrates the specific segments of
the footprints and traces that make up the essential bidirectional DC/DC converter's components. Consequently,
the power circuit PCB board and the driver PCB board were created using EASYEDA software, as depicted in
Figures 10 and 11 respectively. The illustration presented Figure 12 shows the complete design of the DC-DC
bidirectional buck-boost, comprising both the driver and power circuit boards, which are divided into two parts.
Figure 8. Converter power circuit board
Figure 9. Easy EDA PCB designer software
Figure 10. Power circuit board PCB
Figure 11. Driver circuit board PCB
Figure 12. Bidirectional DC-DC buck-boost converter
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1. Experimental test bench exhibition
The photovoltaic conversion chain experimental setup illustrated in Figure 13 was divided into two
parts. The first part, a continuous DC current section, includes a DC-DC Boost converter, which efficiently
harvests power from the photovoltaic generator. The storage component comprises a bidirectional DC-DC
Buck-Boost converter and a gel battery to regulate the DC bus voltage and ensure power balance between the
source and load sides. The second part is the alternative current (AC) section, which features a 1.5 KVA
Input-
Capacitor
Output-
Capacitor
MOSFET-
IRFP260N
Inductance 0.25mH
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inverter based on IGBT modules controlled by the PWM technique. Real-time regulation loops are
implemented using the DSP cards TMS320F28377S and TMS320F28335. This complete conversion chain is
suitable for various photovoltaic applications, such as water pumping, charging solar batteries, and supplying
electricity to three-phase engines in remote locations, as demonstrated in the experimental test bench of the
photovoltaic conversion system shown in Figure 13.
Note: The PV system examined in this study consisted of several components, namely the PV panel, Boost,
buck-Boost battery, and DC load.
DC Side AC Side
Current and
voltage sensors Boost
converter
Buck-Boost
converter
Battery
DC-AC
Inverter Oscilloscope
DSP card
Résistive
Load
(a)
(b)
Figure 13. Buck boost converter test bench: (a) PV array-l’URAER-ghardaïa and
(b) experimental test bench of the photovoltaic conversion system
5.2. Experiment results and discussion
Initially, the bidirectional DC-DC buck-boost converter is tested to verify the regulation of the DC
bus voltage. This test involves assessing the performance of the converter at different voltage set points.
Subsequently, the converter is employed to administer the storage system, allowing the batteries to be charged
or discharged depending on the amount of photovoltaic power available and the load requirements. Figures 14,
15, and 16 display the results that were obtained.
- The waveform of the control signals generated by the control board is presented in Figure 14. The signals
generated for both IGBTs are complementary to prevent any potential short circuits.
- In Figure 15, the waveform of the DC bus voltage during the transition phase is illustrated. It is evident that
the measured voltage tracks the reference voltage accurately and rapidly when the reference voltage
changes. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the regulation system developed and emphasizes the
significance of the transformer's buck-boost operation.
Figure 14. The shape of the control signals
Figure 15. DC bus voltage regulation
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Figure 16 illustrates the waveforms of PV’s power, current and voltage, DC link voltage and battery
current while operating in the charging and discharging modes. The plot demonstrates that the required power
exceeds the generated power during the time interval of [19.5-28.7s]. As a result, the battery discharges to
compensate for the power deficit, which is made possible by the boost operation mode of the implemented
buck-boost converter.
During the time intervals of t[15-19.5s] and [28.7-33], the power produced by the PV generator is
greater than the power needed by the load. As a result, the buck-boost converter functions in a buck mode,
which enables it to store the excess power in the battery. The successful implementation of the system indicates
that the control is valid and efficient. It ensures that the power demand for charging and discharging is met
even when there are fluctuations in weather conditions, while also following the battery charging procedure.
This demonstrates that the system is able to provide sufficient power and maintain consistency.
T(s) T(s)
DC-link-voltage(v)
I-bat(A)
V-PV(v) I-PV(v) P-PV(v)
Changing instan t
Battery d ischarg ing
mode
Battery
chargin g
mode
Figure 16. Battery current while charging and discharging
6. CONCLUSION
To address the unpredictable and intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, energy storage
technology is crucial. Therefore, a buck-boost bidirectional converter has been designed and implemented in a
dual battery application to facilitate the energy storage process. The driver and power converter boards have
been designed to handle current and voltage stress on both sides, and the appropriate software has been utilized
to create these boards. To evaluate the converter's capabilities in a microgrid, an experimental test was
conducted. The buck-boost converter was used to regulate the DC bus voltage and charge/discharge the battery
using dual control. The experimental results demonstrate that the converter design is capable of bidirectional
energy transfer.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors greatly acknowledge the assistance and support of the Algerian Ministry of Higher
Education and Scientific Research.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS
Boualam Benlahbib is a senior research fellow at Algeria's Applied Research Unit
on Renewable Energies (URAER). In 2009, he earned a B.Eng. in electromechanical systems
from the University of Badji Mokhtar in Annaba, Algeria, and a Magister in electromechanical
systems from the Polytechnic Military School, Bordj Elbahri (EMP) in Algiers, Algeria. In 2019,
he received a Ph.D. in electronic instrumentation from the University of Science and Technology
Houari Boumediene USTHB in Algiers, Algeria. Then, in 2020, the Habilitation (HDR) in
Electrical Engineering from the University of Ouargla in Algeria. Renewable energy systems,
electric machine controls, microgrids, energy management systems, wind energy, photovoltaic
systems, motor drives, smart control systems, and power electronics are among his research
interests. He can be contacted at email: bouallam30@gmail.com.
Abdeldjalil Dahbi is currently a Senior Researcher at the Research Unit in
Renewable Energies in the Saharan Medium (URER-MS) in Adrar, Algeria. He received his
engineering in Electromechanical engineering from the University of Bourdj Bou Arreeidj in
2009. He received another diploma of technical English from Setif university in 2011. He
received the Magister degree in Electrical Engineering (Electric controls) from the University of
Setif in 2012. He has also another diploma in energetic physics in 2015 from the University of
Adrar. He received his doctorate degree in Electric Controls from the University of Batna in
2018; then the Habilitation (HDR) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Adrar in
2020. He taught and supervised a lot of students in different fields. His main research interests
are: renewable energy systems, electric machine controls, wind energy conversion systems,
photovoltaic systems, smart control systems, remote control, meteorology, and IoT. He has many
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst ISSN: 2088-8694
An experimental investigation design of a bidirectional DC-DC buck-boost … (Boualam Benlahbib)
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national and international patents; furthermore, he realized many prototypes in different
domains. He is a head of a research project and the author of several papers which were presented
and published in national and international conferences, and books too. He is a reviewer in many
international conferences and high-quality journals (IEEE and Elsevier). He can be contacted at
email: Dahbi_j@yahoo.fr.
Bennaceur Fares is currently a Ph.D. student at the electronic and
telecommunications department, of Kasdi Merbah Ouargla University. He received a
baccalaureate certificate in 2016, then a bachelor's degree in electronics from Ouargla University
in 2019. He received a master's degree in embedded systems in 2021. In 2022, he won the
doctoral competition in electronics specialization in Ouargla, Algeria. His current research
interests include renewable energy systems, electric machine controls, microgrids, energy
management systems, wind energy, photovoltaic systems, motor drives, smart control systems,
and power electronics. He can be contacted at email: fareschab2017@gmail.com.
Abdelkader Lakhdari is a fellow researcher at the applied research unit in renewable
energy, Algeria. He received the B.Eng. degree in Electronics from University of Mohammed
Boudiaf, M’sila, Algeria, in 2009, Magister degree in Electronics from University of Ferhat Abbas-
Setif, Algeria, in 2012 and Ph.D. Degrees in Electronics from the same University in 2020. His
research interests include renewable energy, power quality and power system reliability. He can be
contacted at email: lakhdari_abdelkader@hotmail.com.
Noureddine Bouarroudj was born in Cheria, Tebessa, Algeria, in 1983. He
received his Engineer degree in Automatic control from University of Tebessa, Algeria, in 2008
and his MSc, and Ph.D degrees in Electrical Engineering (automatic control) from Ecole
Nationale Polytechnique (ENP), Algeria, respectively in 2011, and 2017. He is currently a
Researcher at Unité de Recherche Appliquée en Energies Renouvelables/CDER, Ghardaia,
Algeria. His research interests include fractional-order control, sliding mode control, renewable
energy systems and their controls and control optimization. He can be contacted at email:
autonour@gmail.com.
Saad Mekhilef received the B.Eng. degree in electrical engineering from the
University of Setif, Setif, Algeria, in 1995, and the master’s degree in engineering science and
the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, in 1998 and 2003, respectively. He is currently a Distinguished Professor with the
School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of
Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, and an Honorary Professor with the Department of
Electrical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has authored or co-
authored more than 500 publications in academic journals and proceedings and 5 books with
more than 32 000 citations. His current research interests include power converter topologies,
the control of power converters, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. He can be contacted
at email: saad@um.edu.my.
Thameur Abdelkrim was born in 1978 in Algiers, Algeria. He obtained Engineer
degree in Electrical Engineering in 2001 from University of Boumerdes in Algeria. He obtained
respectively Magister, PhD and the Authorization to Supervise Research (ASR) degrees in
Algiers, Algeria from Polytechnic Military School in 2004, Polytechnic National School in 2010
and University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene in 2012. In 2005, he joined the
Applied Research Unit on Renewable Energies in Ghardaïa, Algeria. He is Research Director in
Electrical Engineering and research team leader in mini solar power plants division. His research
interests are in power electronics, electrical drives and renewable energies. He can be contacted
at email: tameur3@gmail.com.
