Renewable energy sources like wind, sun, and hydro are seen as a reliable alternative to the traditional energy sources such as oil, natural gas, or coal. Distributed power generation systems (DPGSs) based on renewable energy sources experience a large development worldwide, with Germany, Denmark, Japan, and USA as leaders in the development in this field. Due to the increasing number of DPGSs connected to the utility network, new and stricter standards in respect to power quality, safe running, and islanding protection are issued. As a consequence, the control of distributed generation systems should be improved to meet the requirements for grid interconnection. This paper gives an overview of the structures for the DPGS based on fuel cell, photovoltaic, and wind turbines. In addition, control structures of the grid-side converter are presented, and the possibility of compensation for low-order harmonics is also discussed. Moreover, control strategies when running on grid faults are treated. This paper ends up with an overview of synchronization methods and a discussion about their importance in the control

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Overview of Control and Grid Synchronization for Distributed Power Generation Systems

Solid-state switch-mode rectification converters have reached a matured level for improving power quality in terms of power-factor correction (PFC), reduced total harmonic distortion at input AC mains and precisely regulated DC output in buck, boost, buck-boost and multilevel modes with unidirectional and bidirectional power flow. This paper deals with a comprehensive review of improved power quality converters (IPQCs) configurations, control approaches, design features, selection of components, other related considerations, and their suitability and selection for specific applications. It is targeted to provide a wide spectrum on the status of IPQC technology to researchers, designers and application engineers working on switched-mode AC-DC converters. A classified list of more than 450 research publications on the state of art of IPQC is also given for a quick reference.

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A review of single-phase improved power quality AC-DC converters

This paper presents an overview of single-phase inverters developed for small distributed power generators. The functions of inverters in distributed power generation (DG) systems include dc-ac conversion, output power quality assurance, various protection mechanisms, and system controls. Unique requirements for small distributed power generation systems include low cost, high efficiency and tolerance for an extremely wide range of input voltage variations. These requirements have driven the inverter development toward simpler topologies and structures, lower component counts, and tighter modular design. Both single-stage and multiple-stage inverters have been developed for power conversion in DG systems. Single-stage inverters offer simple structure and low cost, but suffer from a limited range of input voltage variations and are often characterized by compromised system performance. On the other hand, multiple-stage inverters accept a wide range of input voltage variations, but suffer from high cost, complicated structure and low efficiency. Various circuit topologies are presented, compared, and evaluated against the requirements of power decoupling and dual-grounding, the capabilities for grid-connected or/and stand-alone operations, and specific DG applications in this paper, along with the identification of recent development trends of single-phase inverters for distributed power generators.

Topologies of single-phase inverters for small distributed power generators: an overview

This paper proposes a new voltage source inverter (VSI) referred to as a boost inverter or boost DC-AC converter. The main attribute of the new inverter topology is the fact that it generates an AC output voltage larger than the DC input one, depending on the instantaneous duty cycle. This property is not found in the classical VSI, which produces an AC output instantaneous voltage always lower than the DC input one. For the purpose of optimizing the boost inverter dynamics, while ensuring correct operation in any working condition, a sliding mode controller is proposed. The main advantage of the sliding mode control over the classical control schemes is its robustness for plant parameter variations, which leads to invariant dynamics and steady-state response in the ideal case. Operation, analysis, control strategy, and experimental results are included in this paper. The new inverter is intended to be used in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and AC driver systems design whenever an AC voltage larger than the DC link voltage is needed, with no need of a second power conversion stage.

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A boost DC-AC converter: analysis, design, and experimentation

This paper proposes a high performance, single-stage inverter topology for grid connected PV systems. The proposed configuration can not only boost the usually low photovoltaic (PV) array voltage, but can also convert the solar dc power into high quality ac power for feeding into the grid, while tracking the maximum power from the PV array. Total harmonic distortion of the current, fed into the grid, is restricted as per the IEEE-519 standard. The proposed topology has several desirable features such as better utilization of the PV array, higher efficiency, low cost and compact size. Further, due to the very nature of the proposed topology, the PV array appears as a floating source to the grid, thereby enhancing the overall safety of the system. A survey of the existing topologies, suitable for single-stage, grid connected PV applications, is carried out and a detailed comparison with the proposed topology is presented. A complete steady-state analysis, including the design procedure and expressions for peak device stresses, is included. Necessary condition on the modulation index "M" for sinusoidal pulsewidth modulated control of the proposed inverter topology has also been derived for discontinuous conduction mode operation. All the analytical, simulation and experimental results are presented.

A Single-Stage Grid Connected Inverter Topology for Solar PV Systems With Maximum Power Point Tracking

This paper proposes a new voltage source inverter referred to as a boost inverter or boost DC-AC converter The main attribute of the new inverter topology is the fact that it generates an AC output voltage larger than the DC input one, depending on the instantaneous duty-cycle This property is not found in the classical voltage source inverter which produces an AC output instantaneous voltage always lower than the DC input voltage Operation, analysis, modulation, control strategy and experimental results are included in this paper The new inverter is intended to be used in UPS design, whenever an AC voltage larger than the DC link voltage is needed, with no need of a second power conversion stage

A boost DC-AC converter: operation, analysis, control and experimentation

This paper presents a simplified sinusoidal uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. The proposed scheme includes features such as high power factor, low total harmonic distortion and good dynamic response at the AC output voltage. In addition, the scheme has the desirable characteristics, of high efficiency, simple circuit and low cost compared with a traditional standalone multiple stages UPS with power factor correction. The paper also presents the circuit operation, the analysis and, experimental results of the proposed UPS scheme. The proposed UPS approach is a good solution in low. power applications (/spl les/500 W).

A novel uninterruptible power supply system with active power factor correction

The sliding mode control theory is applied to a sinusoidal output voltage boost inverter with linear load. The boost inverter is intended to be used in UPS design, whenever an AC voltage larger than the DC link voltage is needed, with no need of a second power conversion stage. Operation, control strategy, simulation and experimental results are included in this paper.

Sliding mode controller for the boost inverter

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze a four quadrant DC to AC switched mode inverter, using a buck-boost DC to DC converter. The buck-boost inverter is intended to be used in UPS design, whenever an AC voltage larger than DC link voltage is needed, with no need of a second power conversion stage. Operation, control strategy, simulation results are included in this paper.

R. Caceres

Papers

A boost DC-AC converter: analysis, design, and experimentation

A boost DC-AC converter: operation, analysis, control and experimentation

A novel uninterruptible power supply system with active power factor correction

Sliding mode controller for the boost inverter

A buck-boost DC-AC converter: operation, analysis, and control