Simulation-Based Analysis of a Stand-Alone PV System Integrating Cúk Converter and Single-Phase SPWM Inverter
Mayuri Sunhare1, Mayank Sunhare2, Chandrakant Sharma3
1Mayuri Sunhare, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Shri G.S. Institute of Technology and Science, Indore (M.P.), India.
2Mayank Sunhare, Research and Development Engineer, Scientech Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Indore (M.P.), India.
3Dr. Chandrakant Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Ujjain Engineering College, Ujjain (M.P), India.
Manuscript received on 01 July 2025 | First Revised Manuscript received on 06 July 2025 | Second Revised Manuscript received on 11 July 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 July 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 July 2025 | PP: 7-13 | Volume-13 Issue-8, July 2025 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijese.H261313080725 | DOI: 10.35940/ijese.H2613.13080725
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: This paper presents a simulation-based analysis of a standalone 1 kW photovoltaic (PV) energy system that integrates a Cuk DC–DC converter and a single-phase SPWM inverter for delivering high-quality AC output to residential and rural loads. The main objective is to enhance the efficiency and power quality of PV-based standalone systems through an optimized power conversion and control approach. To achieve this, the proposed system incorporates a Cúk converter configured with a digital Perturb and Observe (P&O) Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. This algorithm continuously adjusts the duty cycle of the converter to extract maximum available energy under varying solar irradiance and temperature conditions. The Cúk converter boosts the unregulated PV voltage to a constant 380 V DC, where a lithium-ion battery is connected to buffer surplus energy and ensure uninterrupted power during periods of low insolation. The regulated DC output feeds a single-phase full-bridge inverter employing sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (SPWM) with a unipolar switching strategy. This inverter generates a 230 V RMS, 50 Hz output with reduced harmonic content. An LC filter at the inverter output suppresses high-frequency switching harmonics, improving voltage waveform quality. The entire system is modelled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink R2024b. Simulation results confirm that the proposed architecture maintains a stable DC-link voltage and produces a clean AC output. Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) values are observed to be 0.73% for voltage and 0.71% for current, validating compliance with IEEE Std. 519. This research highlights the effectiveness of combining Cúk converters with MPPT and SPWM-based inverters for standalone PV applications. The approach not only ensures efficient power conversion and low harmonic distortion but also demonstrates robustness under dynamic environmental conditions. The system is well-suited for off-grid and remote electrification scenarios where clean and reliable power is essential.
Keywords: Standalone PV System, Cúk Converter, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Perturb and Observe (P&O), SPWM Inverter, Unipolar PWM, LC Filter, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Battery Energy Storage, MATLAB/Simulink.
Scope of the Article: Electrical and Electronics