A Novel Topology and Control Strategy For Maximum Power Point Trackers and Multi-String Grid-Connected PV Inverters
A Novel Topology and Control Strategy For Maximum Power Point Trackers and Multi-String Grid-Connected PV Inverters
A Novel Topology and Control Strategy For Maximum Power Point Trackers and Multi-String Grid-Connected PV Inverters
I. I NTRODUCTION
Grid-connected PV systems consist of two major parts:
PV arrays to convert irradiation to electrical energy, and (a) (b)
a converter to feed the energy into the grid. The PV cell
configurations fall into four groups, [1]: centralized, string, Fig. 1. (a) PV systems categorized by different PV cell configurations and
inverter types, (b) Multi-string converter configurations.
multi-string and AC-module and AC-cell technologies, see Fig.
1(a). All approaches have advantages and disadvantages [1],
[2]; and will compromise various attributes such as harmonic
rejection capability, simplicity, efficiency, flexibility, reliability, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for all strings which
safety, modularity and cost. The centralized topology is the might be installed in different sizes and orientations. This also
best for high power applications because the input power increases the overall efficiency under special circumstances
level can be increased and it only utilizes one inverter which like partial shadowing. Therefore, the topology offers the
increases the conversion efficiency. However, the technology flexibility to optimize the number of strings and converters
suffers from severe limitations. Since there are significant for the specific application power level to increase the overall
amount of high voltage DC wiring between PV modules efficiency and to reduce the losses.
and the inverter the system design demands expensive DC Since the PV array characteristic is highly nonlinear, the
switches and special isolations, safety and protection circuits. maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of PV arrays becomes
Due to a centralized MPPT, partial shading or any mismatch rather challenging. The MPPT systems usually consists of two
between the PV modules cause significant drop in the output parts; an MPP tracker hardware, and an algorithm. The MPP
power generation. For medium power applications, the most tracker alters the input resistance of the converter seen from
suitable configuration seems to be the string or multi-string the output terminal of the PV cells that results in a change of
technologies, [3], where one or more strings of PV cells are the operating point. MPPT algorithms [4] calculate the best
connected to a single inverter, Fig. 1(b). Unlike the centralized operating point available based on the current irradiation and
configuration, this type of configuration enables independent temperature of the PV cells and provide the reference point
(a)
i pv
2 f d C1
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Fig. 4. The proposed grid-connected inverter with MPP tracker.
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Pin 1 Pin2 1 Pin 1
peak + +
V grid ( peak 2
V grid ) 2 LA
i Ldc
iL
discussed in Section II-A. As a matter of fact, the oscillation from ILA min to ILA max :
induced in the inductor current is inevitable because, the input
1 1 4 Pin
power generation is kept constant by the MPP tracker circuit LA IL2 A max LA IL2 A min = (Pin po (t))dt =
but the output power oscillates at a twice grid frequency (will 2 2
4
be proved in the next section) and thus, the power oscillation (3)
Pin IL min + ILA max
has to be supplied from an energy storage component like the IL A = , I LA = A (4)
2LAI LA 2
inductors of the MPP tracker circuits. Therefore, the PWM
technique must be modified to generate a pure sinusoidal Since the inductor current is equal to its dc value at t=0, using
waveform based on the oscillatory input current source. To a similar procedure described above the inductor current as a
do this, first the inductor current is formulated. Then, the function of t can be derived as follows:
reference signal to the PWM modulator is modified so that 2 1
it regulates and controls the dc component of the inductor iLA (t) = I LA + Vo Io sin 2t (5)
2LA
current, iL , and prevents the double frequency harmonic
component of i L from appearing in the output ac current. The control concept of the inductor dc component using the
modulation index can be explained as follows. By reducing
the modulation index the output current reduces temporarily.
Consequently, the output power decreases and the difference
A. Inductor DC Current Regulation energy will be stored in the inductor which in turn increases
its dc value. As a result, the output current increases up to
Assume that the converter is lossless (P in = Poavg ) and the point that the average power injected into the grid equals
the output filter energy storage is negligible. Also, at this the input power. To reduce the conduction losses, the inductor
stage assume that there is only one PV string connected to dc current can be simply minimized by the modulation index.
the circuit. Therefore, the only energy storage component is Equations (4) and (5) show that the oscillation of the inductor
LA . As discussed in Section II, the MPP tracker circuit will current depends on the input power, the inductor value, and the
extract constant power from the PV modules. Assuming that inductor dc current. Thus, as the inductor dc current decreases,
the inverter generates a current in phase with the grid voltage, IL increases, which eventually results in a discontinuous
the output power can be derived as follows: mode of operation where the output current becomes distorted.
To avoid this mode of operation, the minimum of the inductor
current should be higher than the maximum output current
io (t) = Io sin(t), vo (t) = Vo sin(t)
because the output converter is a voltage boost or step down
1 current source inverter. Thus, the following inequality has to
po (t) = Vo Io (1 cos(2t))
2 be satisfied: 2Pin
ILdc IL Io = (6)
2
Vo
1 1
Pin = Poavg = po (t)dt = Vo Io (2) Pin 2
Pin Pin
2 0 2 ILdc + + (7)
Vo Vo2 2L
At t = 4
, we have po (t) = Pin , and if t ( 4
, 4 ),
the input power will be greater than the output power. There- Fig. 6 shows the case when the reference current is too low
fore, for this period of time the inductor L A will be charged and the grid current is distorted. Since the minimum possible
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TABLE I
inductor current is desired, the equality is used in the controller
S IMULATION PARAMETERS
loop to generate a reference signal for the inductor dc current,
as shown in Fig. 5. To form the feedback loop, first the dc Parameters Values
inductor value is measured and then the error signal is fed CP V 1 , CP V 2 20 F
into a PI controller. The output of the PI controller adjusts the Cf 2F
amplitude of the output current reference signal. LA ,LB 2000 H
When there is more than one string connected to the circuit, Lf 1000H
the output power equals to the sum of the input powers. Thus, CSI fs 10 KHz
the output current can be decomposed into two components First stage fsmax 20 KHz
corresponding to each string (i o (t) = io1 (t) + io2 (t)). How- Grid voltage 110 V
ever, the charging and discharging of each inductor solely Grid frequency 60 Hz
depends on the difference between the power generated by PV String MPP 1.1KW
a string and the power injected to the system from that string.
Therefore, (2),(4) and (5) hold true for all string number output voltage of the pv cells are decreased from 150V to
j, if io , po , Pin and LA are substituted by i oj , poj , Pinj and 80V, which is less than the grid voltage. At t=0.4 (Sec) both
LX . If the inequality (6) is satisfied for each string for any strings are exposed to full irradiance and it can be seen that
condition, the sum of the inductors currents will be larger after any change, the controller stabilizes the output current
than the maximum output current. As a result, the control fast enough. However, the maximum input power extraction
strategy shown in Fig. 5 regulates the dc inductor current of is almost instantaneous which is because of the MPP tracker
all strings. One of the advantages of the proposed multi-string circuit and its fast dynamic response.
topology is that the output power oscillation is not supplied
only by one inductor; in fact all strings contribute to the V. C ONCLUSION
power oscillation. As a result, with more strings, the current This paper introduces a new two stage grid-connected
oscillation on each inductor is reduced and smaller inductors photovoltaic converter topology and control strategy. It is
can be used. Moreover, because of smaller oscillations, (5) shown that the first stage performs both Maximum Power
results in smaller dc reference for inductors currents which Point Tracking (MPPT) and decoupling for each string in-
in turn reduces the conduction losses. dependently using a minimum number of components with
optimized values. The second stage is a current source inverter
B. Harmonic Cancelation Method employing a modified modulation technique that injects a
As shown in (5), the inductor current oscillates around current with low total harmonic distortion into the grid. The
a dc value at twice the grid frequency. Conventional PWM simulation results verify and validates the performance of the
techniques assume a constant dc input current and thus, any system.
harmonic of the input source will be reflected to the modulated
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Fig. 6. The effect of different sections of the proposed controller on the output grid current.
Fig. 7. Different waveforms of the proposed converter for various irradiation and pv voltage levels.
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