*Article* **Multiport Isolated link with Current-Fed Z-Source Converters to Manage Power Imbalance in PV Applications**

#### **Jose M. Sandoval 1, Victor Cardenas 1,\*, Manuel A. Barrios 1, Mario Gonzalez Garcia 2 and Janeth Alcala 3**


Received: 29 December 2019; Accepted: 30 January 2020; Published: 6 February 2020

**Abstract:** In order to address power imbalance in large-scale PV systems, this paper presents a multiport isolated medium-frequency (MF) link to process different power levels from PV arrays, using current-fed Z-source inverters (CZSI) modules to drive the energy from the PV array to the MF link in a single power stage. The MF link provides the galvanic isolation required by many codes and standards to integrate a system to the grid. The multiport configuration of the MF link allows the system to process different power levels on each primary port and, being all ports magnetically coupled, provide balanced power levels on secondary ports which can be used for multilevel converters applications. Additionally, the current-fed version of the Z-source topology offers natural protection against short-circuit damage enhancing reliability of the system. The analysis of CZSI cells and the study of asymmetrical power levels transference, as well as simulation and experimental results are presented.

**Keywords:** photovoltaics; Z-source; current-fed; medium-frequency; power-imbalance
