High‐Efficiency Cascaded Step‐Up DC–DC Converter With Passive Clamping and Voltage Multiplication

This article presents a novel hybrid coupled‐inductor (CI) cascaded high step‐up (HCICHSU) DC–DC converter tailored for renewable energy systems. The proposed converter achieves ultrahigh voltage gain, low voltage stress on semiconductor devices, and continuous input current by combining buck–boost and boost topologies within a hybrid cascaded structure. The topology targets large conversion at a moderate duty cycle while keeping device stresses low and maintaining a smooth input current. Continuous‐conduction operation is analyzed, and expressions for voltage gain, device stresses, and component sizing are derived. A loss model and sensitivity discussion identify dominant loss mechanisms at high conversion ratios. For control, a small‐signal model is developed, and the inherent right‐half‐plane zero (RHPZ) is handled using a Type‐III compensator. Experimental verification uses a 160 W prototype stepping 24 to 200 V. The converter reaches 94.4% efficiency at full load and limits drain‐to‐source peak voltages to about 48 and 60 V for the two main switches, confirming effective leakage‐energy recovery and stress reduction in practice. Measured waveforms show stable regulation and consistent currents.