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Hybrid multilevel converters are contemplated in an attempt to optimize the performance of voltage source converters in terms of magnitude of semiconductor losses and converter footprint, and to achieve additional features such as dc short circuit proof, which is essential for a high integrity multiterminal HVDC grid. Therefore, this paper considers an emerging hybrid cascaded converter that offers the dc side short circuit proof feature at reduced loss and footprint compared to the existing multilevel and other hybrid converters. Its operating principle, modulation, and capacitor voltage balancing strategies are described in detail. Furthermore, hybrid converter scalability to high voltage applications is investigated. The validity of the modulation and capacitor voltage strategy presented are confirmed using simulation and experimentation. The hybrid cascaded converter is extendable to a large number of cells, making it applicable to high voltage applications, and operation is independent of modulation index and power factor. On these ground, the converter is expected to be applicable for both real and reactive power applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an isolated high-frequency (HF) multiport dc–dc converter for photovoltaics (PV) interfacing systems. In the proposed multiport converter, an HF transformer with multiple input windings and single output winding is utilized. Each input port is based on a proposed two-quadrant inverter topology, which connects a PV module to the HF transformer. The output port is tied to a dc bus using a rectifier. The proposed two-quadrant inverter topology prevents current flow from the ac side to the dc side. This action prevents circulating currents between different ports. Each two-quadrant inverter is controlled to harvest maximum power from its associated PV module. The analysis and operation scenarios of the proposed multiport converter are discussed. PSCAD/EMTDC software package is used to simulate the proposed PV interfacing system to investigate the operation of the proposed multiport converter topology and to examine the dynamic system behavior. In addition, an experimental prototype is developed to validate the operation scenarios of the proposed multiport dc–dc converter and to examine the performance of the presented PV interfacing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]