Academic literature on the topic 'Transformerless PV inverter topology'

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the problem of the leakage currents in transformerless inverter topologies. It proposes a novel topology and how important the adopted control strategy on the power quality produced by the inverter. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents an investigation of a novel transformerless inverter topology. It adopted a control strategy in which the DC source is disconnected from the inverter when the zero vectors of the control are applied. By using such control strategy, the electrical efficiency of the whole system was improved and the leakage current was significantly reduced. Findings – The paper provides a solution to minimize the leakage current in transformerless inverter topologies. Besides, the problem of zero-crossing distortions was totally eliminated. Research limitations/implications – Because of the high conversion ratio of the boost converter, the efficiency of the whole system needs to be enhanced. Practical implications – The paper includes the experimental results of the proposed topology which are in good match with the simulation results. Originality/value – This paper identifies a need to study the leakage current phenomena in transformerless inverter topologies.

Due to their small size, minimum cost, and great efficiency, photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected transformerless inverters have been developed and become famous around the world in distributed PV generators systems. One of the most efficient topologies of the transformerless inverter family is H5 topology. This inverter extracts a discontinuous current from the PV panel, which conflicts with the operation at maximum power point tracking (MPPT) conditions while the utilization factor of the PV degrades. This paper proposes improved H5 topology featuring a boost converter inserted in the middle between the PV panels and the H5 inverter. The design of the boost converter is planned to operate at continuous conduction mode to guarantee MPPT conditions of the PV. A new and simple off line MPPT algorithm is introduced and performance factors like efficiency and utilization factors of the proposed and convention H5 topology are compared. The simulation results indicate that the proposed system provides a preferable utilization factor and a simpler MPPT algorithm.

The pervasion of transformerless grid connected photovoltaic (PV) inverters has triggered the concerns of many researchers since it can induce power quality problems. In these types of applications, the generation of common mode (CM) leakage current is one of the major factors that affects the reliability of the overall design. In single-phase systems, the concept of the common ground between the PV negative terminal and the neutral point of the grid is the only topology that “totally” cancels this CM noise. However, none of the existing three-phase inverter techniques is able to totally remove it. Therefore, this paper proposes a three-phase PV inverter based on the concept applied in the single-phase system in order to achieve, for the first time, a zero CM noise in three-phase grid-connected PV applications. The proposed inverter is simulated with a PV array, appropriate modulation technique, corresponding inverter controller, and a three-phase Y-connected alternating current (AC) grid voltage. The simulation of the overall system is done using Matlab/Simulink software. As compared with results of existing three-phase topologies, this is the only three-phase transformerless PV inverter technique that offers generation of multilevel output, total elimination of leakage current flow, simple inverter structure, and uncomplicated modulation technique.

DC to AC inverters are the well-known and improved in various kinds photovoltaic (PV) and gird tied systems. However, these inverters are require interfacing transformers to be synchronized with the grid-connected system. Therefore, the system is bulky and not economy. The transformerless inverter (TLI) topologies and its grid interface techniques are increasingly engrossed for the benefit of high efficiency, reliability, and low cost. The main concern in the TL inverters is common mode voltage (CMV), which causes the switching-frequency leakage current, grid interface concerns and exaggerates the EMI problems. The single-phase inverter two-level topologies are well developed with additional switches and components for eliminating the CMV. Multilevel inverters (MLIs) based grid connected transformerless inverter topology is being researched to avail additional benefits from MLI, even through that are trust topologies presented in the literature. With the above aim, this paper has proposed three -phase three-level T type NP-MLI (TNP-MLI) topology with transformerless PV grid connected proficiency. The CM leakage current should handle over mitigating CMV through removing unwanted switching events in the inverter pulse width modulation (PWM). This paper is proposes PV connected T type NP-MLI interface with three-phase grid connected system with the help of improved space vector modulation (SVM) technique to mitigate the CM leakage current to overcome the above said requests on the PV tied TL grid connected system. This proposed the SVM technique to mitigate the CM leakage current by selecting only mediums, and zero vectors with suitable current control method in order to maintain the inverter current and grid interface requirements. The proposed PV tied TNP-MLI offering higher efficiency, lower breakdown voltage on the devices, smaller THD of output voltage, good reliability, and long life span. The paper also investigated the CM leakage currents envisage and behavior for the three-phase MLI through the inverter switching function, which is not discussed before. The proposed SVM on TL-TNP-MLI offers the reliable PV grid interface with very low switching-frequency leakage current (200mA) for all the PV and inverter operation conditions. The feasibility and effectiveness of the TLI and its control strategy is confirmed through the MATLAB/Simulink simulation model directly as compared with 2kW roof top PV plant connected TL-TNP-MLI experimentation, showing good accordance with theoretical investigation. The simulation and experimental results are demonstrated and presented in the good stability of steady state and dynamics performances. The proposed inverter reduces the cost of grid interface transformer, harmonics filter, and CMV suppressions choke.

Experiments confirmed that Transformerless Inverters (TIs) deliver more reliability and higher energy efficiency. Nonetheless, one of the shortcomings of TIs is the leakage current that occurs between the photovoltaic (PV) string terminals and the ground. Such a drawback is justified by the non-galvanic isolation caused by the transformer being omitted. As such, this study is intended to develop a novel TI inverter topology for solar PV systems. The latter is meant to remove the leakage current and enhance the operating system of the entire PV conversion as well. Added to its null zero-crossing distortion and capability regarding energy efficiency, the developed TI, being validated by simulation and experiment, eradicated the leakage current.

Low power grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) generation systems increasingly use transformerless inverters. The elimination of the transformer allows smaller, lighter and cheaper systems, and improves the total efficiency. However, a leakage current may appear, flowing from the grid to the PV panels through the existing parasitic capacitance between them, since there is no galvanic isolation. As a result, electromagnetic interferences and security issues arise. This paper presents a novel transformerless single-phase Current Source Inverter (CSI) topology with a reduced inductor, compared to conventional CSIs. This topology directly connects the neutral line of the grid to the negative terminal of the PV system, referred as common mode configuration, eliminating this way, theoretically, the possibility of any leakage current through this terminal. The switches control is based on a hysteresis current controller together with a combinational logic circuitry and it is implemented in a digital platform based on National Instruments Technology. Results that validate the proposal, based on both simulations and tests of a low voltage low power prototype, are presented.

At present, renewable energies represent 25% of the global power generation capacity. The increase in clean energy facilities is mainly due to the high levels of pollution generated by the burning of fossil fuels to satisfy the growing electricity demand. The global capacity of generating electricity from solar energy has experienced a significant increase, reaching 505 GW in 2018. Today, multilevel inverters are used in PV systems to convert direct current into alternating current. However, the use of multilevel inverters in renewable energies applications presents different challenges; for example, grid-connected systems use a transformer to avoid the presence of leakage currents. The grid-connected systems must meet at least two international standards analyzed in this work: VDE 0126-1-1 and VDE-AR-N 4105, which establish a maximum leakage current of 300 mA and harmonic distortion maximum of 5%. Previously, DC/AC converters have been studied in different industrial applications. The state-of-the-art presented in the work is due to the growing need for a greater use of clean energy and the use of inverters as an interface between these technologies and the grid. Also, the paper presents a comparative analysis of the main multilevel inverter voltage-source topologies used in transformerless PV systems. In each scheme, the advantages and disadvantages are presented, as well as the main challenges. In addition, current trends in grid-connected systems using these schemes are discussed. Finally, a comparative table based on input voltage, switching frequency, output levels, control strategy used, efficiency, and leakage current is shown.

Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems are now a common part of the modern power network. A recent development in the topology of these systems is the use of transformerless inverters. Although they are compact, cheap, and efficient, transformerless inverters suffer from chronic leakage current. Various researches have been directed toward evolving their performance and diminishing leakage current. This paper introduces the application of a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm to govern and improve the performance of a grid-tied neutral-point-clamped (NPC) 3-φ transformerless inverter powered by a PV panel. The transformerless inverter was linked to the grid via an inductor/capacitor (LC) filter. The filter elements, as well as the internal impedance of the grid, were considered in the system model. The discrete model of the proposed system was determined, and the algorithm of the MPC controller was established. Matlab’s simulations for the proposed system, controlled by the MPC and the ordinary proportional–integral (PI) current controller with sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM), were carried out. The simulation results showed that the MPC controller had the best performance for earth leakage current, total harmonic distortion (THD), and the grid current spectrum. Also, the efficiency of the system using the MPC was improved compared to that using a PI current controller with SPW modulation.

Transformerless photovoltaic (PV) power system is very promising due to its low cost, small size, and high efficiency. One of its most important issues is how to prevent the common mode leakage current. In order to solve the problem, a new inverter is proposed in this paper. The system common mode model is established, and the four operation modes of the inverter are analyzed. It reveals that the common mode voltage can be kept constant, and consequently the leakage current can be suppressed. Finally, the experimental tests are conducted. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed solution.