Patent ID: 8488351

Claim:
A non-isolated DC-DC converter for a solar power plant, having: a positive input terminal; a negative input terminal; a positive output terminal; and a negative output terminal, for converting an input DC voltage present between the positive input terminal and the negative input terminal into a converted DC voltage present between the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal, the non-isolated DC-DC converter comprising: a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a first diode, a second diode, a third diode, a first inductor and a first capacitor; wherein the first switch, the first inductor, and the second diode are connected in series between the positive input terminal and the positive output terminal such that the first inductor is connected between the first switch and an anode of the second diode, and a cathode of the second diode faces the positive output terminal, wherein the second switch and the third diode are connected in series between the negative input terminal and the negative output terminal such that a cathode of the third diode faces the second switch, and an anode of the third diode faces the negative output terminal, wherein a cathode of the first diode is connected between the first switch and the first inductor, and an anode of the first diode is connected between the second switch and the cathode of the third diode, wherein the third switch is connected between a point between the first inductor and the anode of the second diode, and a point between the second switch and the cathode of the third diode, wherein the first capacitor is connected between the cathode of the second diode and the anode of the third diode, wherein the non-isolated DC-DC converter further comprises control means for selectively controlling each of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch into a closed state or an open state, and, wherein the control means is configured for providing: a first switching stage where the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch are in a closed state; a second switching stage where the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch are in a open state; and a converting operation by alternating between the first switching stage and the second switching stage.