Capacitorless DC/DC regulator as a candidate topology for photovoltaic solar

Linear-assisted DC/DC regulators (or linear-switching hybrid DC/DC regulators) consist of a linear voltage regulator (classic NPN/nMOS topologies or PNP/pMOS low-dropout structures) connected in parallel with a switching DC/DC converter. This chapter describes the analysis and implementation of a hybrid DC/DC power regulator. The proposed topology consists of a series linear voltage regulator in parallel with a switching step-down converter. This topology sees a small ripple in the output voltage, a fast response to load variations, and high efficiency at high load current conditions. It is a good candidate for energy processing in photovoltaic solar facilities. In order to control these hybrid structures, different strategies exist that allow the fixing of the switching frequency as a function of some parameters of the linear regulator. In hybrid structures, there is not a classical feedback loop, as found in DC/DC converters, but they are still feedback systems. Therefore, small-signal analysis is important in ensuring the stability of the implemented power supply system. From the proposed analysis, we can deduce the critical components causing instability in the hybrid regulator and also understand how to improve the final design.

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