A Multilevel Inverter for Photovoltaic Systems With Fuzzy Logic Control
TL;DR: The proposed single-phase H-bridge multilevel converter for PV systems governed by a new integrated fuzzy logic controller (FLC)/modulator offers improved performance over two-level inverters, particularly at low-medium power.
Abstract: Converters for photovoltaic (PV) systems usually consist of two stages: a dc/dc booster and a pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverter. This cascade of converters presents efficiency issues, interactions between its stages, and problems with the maximum power point tracking. Therefore, only part of the produced electrical energy is utilized. In this paper, the authors propose a single-phase H-bridge multilevel converter for PV systems governed by a new integrated fuzzy logic controller (FLC)/modulator. The novelties of the proposed system are the use of a fully FLC (not requiring any optimal PWM switching-angle generator and proportional-integral controller) and the use of an H-bridge power-sharing algorithm. Most of the required signal processing is performed by a mixed-mode field-programmable gate array, resulting in a fully integrated System-on-Chip controller. The general architecture of the system and its main performance in a large spectrum of practical situations are presented and discussed. The proposed system offers improved performance over two-level inverters, particularly at low-medium power.
Citations
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TL;DR: The generation mechanism of leakage current is investigated and the concepts of dc-based and ac-based decoupling networks are proposed to not only cover the published symmetrical inductor-based topologies but also offer an innovative strategy to derive advanced inverters.
Abstract: Single-phase voltage source transformerless inverters have been developed for many years and have been successful commercial applications in the distributed photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected systems. Moreover, many advanced industrial topologies and recent innovations have been published in the last few years. The objective of this paper is to classify and review these recent contributions to establish the present state of the art and trends of the transformerless inverters. This can provide a comprehensive and insightful overview of this technology. First, the generation mechanism of leakage current is investigated to divide the transformerless inverters into asymmetrical inductor-based and symmetrical inductor-based groups. Then, the concepts of dc-based and ac-based decoupling networks are proposed to not only cover the published symmetrical inductor-based topologies but also offer an innovative strategy to derive advanced inverters. Furthermore, the transformation principle between the dc-based and ac-based topologies is explored to make a clear picture on the general law and framework for the recent advances and future trend in this area. Finally, a family of clamped highly efficient and reliable inverter concept transformerless inverters is derived and tested to offer some excellent candidates for next-generation high-efficiency and cost-effective PV grid-tie inverters.
553 citations
TL;DR: A deterministic particle swarm optimization to improve the maximum power point tracking capability for photovoltaic system under partial shading condition by removing the random number in the accelerations factor of the conventional PSO velocity equation is proposed.
Abstract: This paper proposes a deterministic particle swarm optimization to improve the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) capability for photovoltaic system under partial shading condition. The main idea is to remove the random number in the accelerations factor of the conventional PSO velocity equation. Additionally, the maximum change in velocity is restricted to a particular value, which is determined based on the critical study of P-V characteristics during partial shading. Advantages of the method include: 1) consistent solution is achieved despite a small number of particles, 2) only one parameter, i.e., the inertia weight, needs to be tuned, and 3) the MPPT structure is much simpler compared to the conventional PSO. To evaluate the idea, the algorithm is implemented on a buck-boost converter and compared to the conventional hill climbing (HC) MPPT method. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the HC method in terms of global peak tracking speed and accuracy under various partial shading conditions. Furthermore, it is tested using the measured data of a tropical cloudy day, which includes rapid movement of the passing clouds and partial shading. Despite the wide fluctuations in array power, the average efficiency for the 10-h test profile reaches 99.5%.
521 citations
Cites methods from "A Multilevel Inverter for Photovolt..."
...They will be used later in the implementation stage of the proposed MPPT method....
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TL;DR: In this article, the main design objective of photovoltaic (PV) systems has been, for a long time, to extract the maximum power from the PV array and inject it into the ac grid.
Abstract: The main design objective of photovoltaic (PV) systems has been, for a long time, to extract the maximum power from the PV array and inject it into the ac grid. Therefore, the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of a uniformly irradiated PV array and the maximization of the conversion efficiency have been the main design issues. However, when the PV plant is connected to the grid, special attention has to be paid to the reliability of the system, the power quality, and the implementation of protection and grid synchronization functions. Modern power plants are required to maximize their energy production, requiring suitable control strategies to solve the problems related to the partial shading phenomena and different orientation of the PV modules toward the sun. Moreover, the new policy concerning the injection of reactive power into the grid makes the development of suitable topologies and control algorithms mandatory. A general view of actual solutions for applications of the PV energy systems is presented. This article covers several important issues, including the most reliable models used for simulation, which are useful in the design of control systems, and the MPPT function, particularly in distributed applications. The main topologies used in the PV power processing system and, finally, grid connection aspects are discussed, with emphasis on synchronization, protections, and integration.
406 citations
TL;DR: A new topology with a reversing-voltage component is proposed to improve the multilevel performance by compensating the disadvantages mentioned and the overall cost and complexity are greatly reduced particularly for higher output voltage levels.
Abstract: Multilevel inverters have been widely accepted for high-power high-voltage applications. Their performance is highly superior to that of conventional two-level inverters due to reduced harmonic distortion, lower electromagnetic interference, and higher dc link voltages. However, it has some disadvantages such as increased number of components, complex pulsewidth modulation control method, and voltage-balancing problem. In this paper, a new topology with a reversing-voltage component is proposed to improve the multilevel performance by compensating the disadvantages mentioned. This topology requires fewer components compared to existing inverters (particularly in higher levels) and requires fewer carrier signals and gate drives. Therefore, the overall cost and complexity are greatly reduced particularly for higher output voltage levels. Finally, a prototype of the seven-level proposed topology is built and tested to show the performance of the inverter by experimental results.
397 citations
TL;DR: This paper proposes a single-phase seven-level inverter for grid-connected photovoltaic systems, with a novel pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) control scheme, which was verified through simulation and implemented in a prototype.
Abstract: This paper proposes a single-phase seven-level inverter for grid-connected photovoltaic systems, with a novel pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) control scheme. Three reference signals that are identical to each other with an offset that is equivalent to the amplitude of the triangular carrier signal were used to generate the PWM signals. The inverter is capable of producing seven levels of output-voltage levels (Vdc, 2Vdc/3, Vdc/3, 0, -Vdc, -2Vdc/3, -Vdc/3) from the dc supply voltage. A digital proportional-integral current-control algorithm was implemented in a TMS320F2812 DSP to keep the current injected into the grid sinusoidal. The proposed system was verified through simulation and implemented in a prototype.
392 citations
Cites background from "A Multilevel Inverter for Photovolt..."
...Common ones are diode-clamped [5]– [10], flying capacitor or multicell [11]–[17], cascaded H-bridge [18]–[24], and modified H-bridge multilevel [25]–[29]....
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References
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TL;DR: The most important topologies like diode-clamped inverter (neutral-point clamped), capacitor-Clamped (flying capacitor), and cascaded multicell with separate DC sources are presented and the circuit topology options are presented.
Abstract: Multilevel inverter technology has emerged recently as a very important alternative in the area of high-power medium-voltage energy control. This paper presents the most important topologies like diode-clamped inverter (neutral-point clamped), capacitor-clamped (flying capacitor), and cascaded multicell with separate DC sources. Emerging topologies like asymmetric hybrid cells and soft-switched multilevel inverters are also discussed. This paper also presents the most relevant control and modulation methods developed for this family of converters: multilevel sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation, multilevel selective harmonic elimination, and space-vector modulation. Special attention is dedicated to the latest and more relevant applications of these converters such as laminators, conveyor belts, and unified power-flow controllers. The need of an active front end at the input side for those inverters supplying regenerative loads is also discussed, and the circuit topology options are also presented. Finally, the peripherally developing areas such as high-voltage high-power devices and optical sensors and other opportunities for future development are addressed.
6,472 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on inverter technologies for connecting photovoltaic (PV) modules to a single-phase grid and categorize the inverters into four classifications: 1) the number of power processing stages in cascade; 2) the type of power decoupling between the PV module(s) and the single phase grid; 3) whether they utilizes a transformer (either line or high frequency) or not; and 4) the kind of grid-connected power stage.
Abstract: This review focuses on inverter technologies for connecting photovoltaic (PV) modules to a single-phase grid. The inverters are categorized into four classifications: 1) the number of power processing stages in cascade; 2) the type of power decoupling between the PV module(s) and the single-phase grid; 3) whether they utilizes a transformer (either line or high frequency) or not; and 4) the type of grid-connected power stage. Various inverter topologies are presented, compared, and evaluated against demands, lifetime, component ratings, and cost. Finally, some of the topologies are pointed out as the best candidates for either single PV module or multiple PV module applications.
3,530 citations
"A Multilevel Inverter for Photovolt..." refers background in this paper
...Therefore, recently, they have been proposed in the field of renewable energies, including photovoltaic (PV) generators [8]–[20]....
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08 Oct 1995
TL;DR: This paper presents three multilevel voltage source converters: (1) diode-clamp, (2) flying-capacitors, and (3) cascaded-inverters with separate DC sources.
Abstract: Multilevel voltage source converters are emerging as a new breed of power converter options for high-power applications. The multilevel voltage source converters typically synthesize the staircase voltage wave from several levels of DC capacitor voltages. One of the major limitations of the multilevel converters is the voltage unbalance between different levels. The techniques to balance the voltage between different levels normally involve voltage clamping or capacitor charge control. There are several ways of implementing voltage balance in multilevel converters. Without considering the traditional magnetic coupled converters, this paper presents three recently developed multilevel voltage source converters: (1) diode-clamp, (2) flying-capacitors, and (3) cascaded-inverters with separate DC sources. The operating principle, features, constraints, and potential applications of these converters are discussed.
3,232 citations
"A Multilevel Inverter for Photovolt..." refers background in this paper
...In their early stage, they were employed mainly in high-voltage high-power industrial and traction applications because they distribute the applied voltage among a number of cascaded power devices, thus overcoming their voltage limits and allowing the elimination of output transformers in medium–high voltage systems [2]–[7]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the most relevant characteristics of multilevel converters, to motivate possible solutions, and to show that energy companies have to bet on these converters as a good solution compared with classic two-level converters.
Abstract: This work is devoted to review and analyze the most relevant characteristics of multilevel converters, to motivate possible solutions, and to show that we are in a decisive instant in which energy companies have to bet on these converters as a good solution compared with classic two-level converters. This article presents a brief overview of the actual applications of multilevel converters and provides an introduction of the modeling techniques and the most common modulation strategies. It also addresses the operational and technological issues.
1,847 citations
"A Multilevel Inverter for Photovolt..." refers background in this paper
...Among them, pulsewidth modulated (PWM) multilevel inverters (MLIs) are gaining both popularity and applications, becoming an effective alternative to current inverter topologies [1]....
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...Since their output voltage is a modulated staircase, they outperform two-level PWM inverters in terms of total harmonic distortion (THD), without the use of bulky expensive and dissipative passive filters....
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...In the authors’ knowledge, until now, only a group of researchers previously addressed the use of FL in the field of multilevel converters, proposing a controller combining optimal PWM switching-angle generator and PI controller [30], [31]; nobody proposed a pure FLC....
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...The proposed system offers several advantages over the common dc/dc converter plus PWM inverter in addition to the better THD summarized in Table IV....
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...MLI performance was compared with that of a standard PWM converter, consisting of a dc/dc booster and a twolevel PI-controlled inverter....
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TL;DR: Simulation and experimental results show the superiority of the back-to-back diode-clamped converter over two-level pulsewidth-modulation-based drives.
Abstract: This paper presents transformerless multilevel power converters as an application for high-power and/or high-voltage electric motor drives. Multilevel converters: (1) can generate near-sinusoidal voltages with only fundamental frequency switching; (2) have almost no electromagnetic interference or common-mode voltage; and (3) are suitable for large voltampere-rated motor drives and high voltages. The cascade inverter is a natural fit for large automotive all-electric drives because it uses several levels of DC voltage sources, which would be available from batteries or fuel cells. The back-to-back diode-clamped converter is ideal where a source of AC voltage is available, such as in a hybrid electric vehicle. Simulation and experimental results show the superiority of these two converters over two-level pulsewidth-modulation-based drives.
1,398 citations