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MEE 1038 - Solar Photovoltaic Systems Design: Inverter For PV Applications

1. Inverters convert DC power from solar panels into AC power that can be used or fed into the electric grid. They are selected based on their output waveform, power capacity, efficiency, and harmonic distortion. 2. There are different types of inverters including stand-alone, grid-tie, and bimodal inverters. Grid-tie inverters come in central, string, and module integrated varieties. 3. Important factors in inverter selection are efficiency curves, surge capacity to meet load requirements, and harmonic distortion levels which cannot exceed what loads can tolerate without overheating.

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111 views26 pages

MEE 1038 - Solar Photovoltaic Systems Design: Inverter For PV Applications

1. Inverters convert DC power from solar panels into AC power that can be used or fed into the electric grid. They are selected based on their output waveform, power capacity, efficiency, and harmonic distortion. 2. There are different types of inverters including stand-alone, grid-tie, and bimodal inverters. Grid-tie inverters come in central, string, and module integrated varieties. 3. Important factors in inverter selection are efficiency curves, surge capacity to meet load requirements, and harmonic distortion levels which cannot exceed what loads can tolerate without overheating.

Uploaded by

gaurav
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MEE 1038 – Solar Photovoltaic

Systems Design

INVERTER for PV
applications
Inverter
• Converts DC input into AC output
• Select an inverter that allows higher input voltages
– to reduce I2R losses (between battery bank & inverter)
• Inverter selection is based on:
– Type of output waveform
• square, sine, modified sine, PWM
– Rated power output (capacity)
– Surge capacity
• 150% and higher for a shorter duration
– Efficiency
• <83% (low), 83-91% (optimal, medium cost), >91% (costlier)
– Harmonic distortion
• Should be low to avoid heating
Inverters
Block diagram :

Low voltage DC High voltage AC

• Types of Inverter output waveforms:


➢ square wave
➢ modified square/sine wave
➢ pure sine wave
➢ Pulsed width modulation
• Accomplished in two steps:
➢ Low voltage DC to high voltage DC (using a chopper circuit)
➢ High Voltage DC to AC
Type of inverter outputs

Modified sine wave – Cheaper , but output may damage laptop


and computer loads, digital clocks.
Pure sine wave - Costlier, can operate even for sensitive
loads.
fast, quiet and low harmonic distortion.
PWM (Pulse Width Modulated)
Inverters
• Variation of duty cycle in PWM provide DC
voltage across load in a specific pattern as a
AC signal. (high efficiency of 96%)
Type of inverters

• Stand alone inverter


• Grid/ Utility interactive inverters
• Bimodal inverter
Stand alone inverter (50W to 50kW)
Bimodal type inverters
(700W to 500kW)

Acts as Stand-alone and also as Grid-tie inverter


Grid/
Utility
inverter
Grid inverters
Types:
➢ Central inverters
➢ String inverters
➢ Module integrated inverters
Central inverters
➢ Central inverter combines dozens
of strings into one input and one
MPP tracker
➢ Parallel strings connected to a
single inverter – limits MPPT’s
efficiency
➢ Lower (Rs.)/Watt cost
➢ Used in PV plants >100 kWp to
MW range
➢ Power losses in strings due to
module mismatch and common
MPPT
➢ Losses in string diodes
➢ Reliability of system depends on
one inverter
String Inverters
➢ DC from each string is
connected into an inverter
➢ Any problem with one
panel of a string affects
the output of a string
➢ Separate MPPT for each
string, so better yield
➢ Higher reliability than
central inverter
➢ Lower initial cost per peak
Watt price
Module integrated inverters (AC Modules)
➢ Each module has its own inverter fixed on its back
➢ No module mismatch losses
➢ Maximum power production since each module has its own MPPT
➢ Low overall efficiency
➢ High installation, maintenance and performance monitoring cost (30%
more than central inverters)
➢ Eliminate DC wiring, high Voltage DC switch boxes & protection circuits,
housing facilities
➢ Used where the array sizes are small (residential markets)
➢ Different individual module orientations possible
Central (3.5 kW) & Micro Inverter (210 W)
Multi string inverters
➢ Each string has an
independent DC-DC
converter
➢ Common in use
➢ Relatively high efficient
➢ No string losses
= ➢ Single MPP tracking

=
Voltage Levels of Electrical Grid
What is grid synchronization?
Checks!!!!
Voltage ?
Frequency?
Phase?
Requirements of Grid Inverter
1. Voltage disturbances:
Voltage at inverter output < 5% of the voltage at the
point of utility connection

Disconnection time
10 cycles if the utility voltage either drops below 50% of
its nominal value or increases above 110% of its nominal
value.

If the utility line voltage is between 50% and 92% of its


nominal value, the inverter should shut down within two
seconds.
2. Frequency disturbances:
If, at 50 Hz systems, the line frequency falls below
49.5 Hz or goes above 50.2 Hz, the inverter should
be disconnected, within 5 cycles.
3. Power factor :
The power factor should not be lower than 0.85
4. Other concerns :
➢ DC current injection < 0.5%
➢ Islanding protection
➢ Reconnecting and restoration after failure
➢ Grounding and surge protection

Ref: Chapter 3: Solar Electric power generation, Photovoltaic Energy sytems; Stefan Krauter
• Since maximum efficiency may be achieved near rated output,
it is important to consider the efficiency vs. output power
curve for the inverter when selecting the inverter
• Certain loads have significant starting currents, so
it is important to provide adequate surge current
capacity in the inverter to meet the load surge
requirements
• Other loads will either overheat or introduce
unwanted noise if the harmonic distortion of their
power supply is not below a specific level
Inverter Types

Cost Lowest Costlier Costlier Costliest


than than
square Modified
wave sine wave
• Square wave inverter is the least expensive and is
relatively efficient, but has limitations on its
applications. It has the best surge capacity but the
highest harmonic distortion
• The modified sine inverter is more complicated,
but still relatively efficient
• The pulse width modulated (PWM) inverter has
higher cost, high efficiency and minimal distortion
• The pure sine inverter has the least distortion, but
costlier
• PWM inverters are particularly useful when used
as AC motor controllers since the speed of an AC
motor can be controlled by adjustment of the
frequency of the motor excitation
• For a number of applications, a square wave is
inadequate for meeting the harmonic distortion
requirements of the load, resulting in overheat of
some motors or fluorescent ballasts.
• Square wave harmonics can also introduce noise
into a system. Thus, before selecting an inverter, it
is important to verify that the proposed load will
operate with square wave excitation
• If square wave excitation is not suitable for a load,
it is possible that a modified sine wave will work

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