A Three-Phase Grid-Connected Inverter for Photovoltaic Applications Using Fuzzy MPPT

Jaime Alonso-Martnez, Santiago Arnaltes

Dpt. of Electrical Engineering, Univ. Carlos III de Madrid Avda. Universidad !, "#$%% &egan's (Madrid) *el+, - $%."-$$-$ - /a0+, - $%."-$- ! - 1alonsom2ing.3c m.es

Abstract 4 *5is paper presents a t5ree-p5ase grid-connected

inverter designed for a %!!67 p5otovoltaic po8er plant t5at feat3res a ma0im3m po8er point trac6ing (M99*) sc5eme :ased on f3zz; logic. *5e 85ole s;stem presented is sim3lated in Matla:. *5is f3zz; M99* s5o8s acc3rate and fast response, and is integrated in t5e inverter, so t5at a DC-DC converter is not needed. *5e inverter allo8s f3ll control of reactive po8er.

voltaic arra; 8it5 a pea6 po8er of %!!67 connected t5ro3g5 a DC :3s to a t5ree-p5ase inverter t5at is connec< ted to an ideal -!!= grid t5ro3g5 a simple filter, as s5o8n in /ig. ". *5e M99 trac6er is integrated in t5e inverter control (/ig. ), as t5ere is no DC-DC converter in t5e c5osen config< 3ration. *5e 85ole s;stem 8as sim3lated in Matla:-Sim3lin6. A. PV Array Simulation

ey!ords 4 95otovoltaic, Inverter, M99*, /3zz; logic, 9o8er electronics. "# Introduction
95otovoltaic s;stems are increasing in size as t5e; :e< come more afforda:le and s3pporting sc5emes start to in< cl3de larger installations. In a near f3t3re, p5otovoltaic s;stems of %!!67 pea6 po8er or more are going to :e ver; common, and it is e0pected t5at t5e; 8ill contri:3te 8it5 a significant s5are to po8er generation. In s3c5 a scenario, t5e contri:3tion to t5e grid sta:ilit; of 9= s;stems is li6el; to :ecome relevant>"?, as it 5as alread; 5appened 8it5 ot5er rene8a:le energies li6e 8ind po8er in some co3ntries. In Spain, for instance, 8ind farm operators are enco3raged to contri:3te to s;s< tem sta:ilit; :; means of a rem3neration for reactive po8er control. *5e re@3irements for ro:3st operation 3n< der grid fa3lts and pert3r:ances 5ave also increased. *5is co3ld :e applied to 9= s;stems once t5e; reac5 a certain amo3nt of installed po8er in a given region. 9roper integration of medi3m or large 9= s;stems in t5e grid ma; t5erefore re@3ire additional f3nctionalit; from t5e inverter, s3c5 as reactive po8er control. /3rt5ermore, t5e increase of average 9= s;stem size ma; lead to ne8 strategies li6e eliminating t5e DC-DC converter t5at is 3s3all; placed :et8een t5e 9= arra; and t5e inverter, and moving t5e M99* to t5e inverter, res3lting in increased simplicit;, overall efficienc; and a cost red3ction. *5ese t8o c5aracteristics are present in t5e t5ree-p5ase inverter t5at is presented 5ere, 8it5 t5e addition of a f3zz; M99* control t5at s5o8s e0cellent performance.

*5e 9= arra; is sim3lated 3sing a model of moderated comple0it; :ased on >%?. In t5is model, a 9= cell is rep< resented :; a c3rrent so3rce in parallel 8it5 a diode, and a series resistance as s5o8n in /ig. %. *5ere is no need for a more comple0 model 8it5 a second diode and A or a s53nt resistance. *5e p5oto c3rrent Iph depends on t5e ir< radiance G and t5e cell temperat3re Tc. *5e c3rrent Ic provided :; t5e cell can :e calc3lated as+ I c = I ph I D = I ph I ! e0p

e V IRs % nkT c

(%)

75ere t5e sat3ration c3rrent I0 is temperat3re dependent, e is t5e c5arge of an electron, k is BoltzmannCs gas con< stant and n is t5e idealising factor of t5e diode. *5e mod3le is an association of solar cells in parallel and series. E0tending t5e previo3s cell model to a mod3le, a similar e@3ation can :e fo3nd. B3t it is more 3sef3l to e0< press s3c5 an e@3ation in terms of t5e open circ3it voltage Voc and s5ort circ3it c3rrent Isc, as t5ese can :e es<

Ip5 E ID

DS

$# Proposed %yste& 'escription

*5e s;stem t5at 5as :een sim3lated consists of a p5oto<

*
/ig. %+ E@3ivalent circ3it of a 9= cell

PI
I% # $%c# $%c (a (" (c I &# I' # (a (" (c I' # I y# # I y# I c# I &# I" # Ia # Ia

Ban* Ban* +ontroller

In)erter

!PPT
$%c $%c Ip) Ip)

I"

Ic

/ig. "+ 9roposed control sc5eme

Ip)

$%c Ia (a

I"

("

Ic

(c

/ig. + 9roposed electrical sc5eme

timated from t5e open circ3it voltage and s5ort circ3it c3rrent in standard conditions t5at are 3s3all; provided :; mod3le man3fact3rers, and t5eir linear dependence on Tc and G respectivel;. *5e cell temperat3re Tc is estimated considering its linear dependence on G and t5e cell temperat3re in normal op< erating conditions t5at is provided :; t5e mod3le man3< fact3rer. *5e final model 3sed to determine t5e relations5ip of a mod3le c3rrent and voltage is s5o8n in e@3ation ("), 85ere m designs mod3le magnit3des. I m= I m sc % e0p

ic response of a F;ocera FC%.GEH-" mod3le :ased on t5e data provided :; t5e man3fact3rer. *5e 9= arra; is made of "! strings of I series connected mod3les eac5, connected in parallel. *5is gives a total pea6 po8er of aro3nd %!!67. All mod3les are con< sidered to :e identical, and to 8or6 in identical condi< tions of temperat3re and irradiance. B. Fu y !PPT

e V V oc I R s N snkT c

(")

*5e model parameters 8ere ad13sted to sim3late t5e stat<

150 Current(Ix10) P
max

/or a given set of operating conditions G and T o3r mod< 3le model s5o8s t5at t5e relations5ip :et8een voltage, c3rrent and po8er are f3nctions similar to t5e ones s5o8n in /ig. -. *5e voltage t5at corresponds to t5e mod< 3le ma0im3m po8er varies 8it5 temperat3re and irradi< ance variations, so a M99 trac6ing s;stem is needed to ens3re t5at 8e sta; as close as possi:le to t5e optim3m. Us3al M99* met5ods incl3de 9ert3r: and J:serve (9KJ) > ?, incremental cond3ctance >-?, f3zz; logic >I? and ot5er >.,G? met5ods.

100
M ux

Fuzzy Logic Controller

du Gain -K-

Nm od_s -K1 s Integrator 1 Udc*

Power (W)

50
Saturation DP du/dt Ppv Gain -K1/Nm od -K-

1 Ppv

0 0

10

15 20 Voltage (V)

25

30

Saturation1

DU du/dt

Udc Gain -K-

1/Nm od_s -K2 Udc

/ig. -+ Mod3le po8er and c3rrent vs. voltage for EL%!!!7Am" and *L"$#F

/ig. I+ /3zz; M99* diagram

press a set of semantic r3les t5at lead to ma0im3m po8er point trac6ing. *5e s5ape of t5e 9-= c3rve (/ig. -) ma6es s3ita:le a 5ill-clim:ing approac5 to searc5 t5e ma0im3m. *5e c5osen r3les are s5o8n in *a:le %. Us3all;, a large n3m:er of mem:ers5ip f3nctions are defined, s3c5 as negative-:ig, negative-medi3m,, negat< ive-small, etc. *5is is not necessar;, and it introd3ces an additional comple0it; to t5e controller t3ning, as t5e :o3ndaries :et8een seven or more mem:ers5ip f3nctions 5ave to :e defined, for eac5 varia:le. In t5is case 8e 5ave c5osen a set of t5ree mem:ers5ip f3nctions+ negative (MEE) positive (9JS) and zero (NEDJ). *5eir s5apes for all inp3t and o3tp3t varia:les are t5e same as s5o8n in /ig. .. *5e; are all normalised to >-% %? and >! %? so t5e c5aracteristics are controlled :; t5e inp3t and o3tp3t gains. *5is red3ces t3ning comple0it;. +. In)erter

/ig. .+ Mem:ers5ip f3nction plots for ,$%c ,Pp) and ,$%c#

Here a met5od :ased on a f3zz; controller is presented t5at differs from c3rrent ones, as it 5as :een designed to :e integrated in t5e inverter instead of a DC-DC convert< er, and 3ses a red3ced set of mem:ers5ip f3nctions (and t5erefore is simpler to fine-t3ne) 8it5o3t compromising performance. /3zz; logic controllers are s3ita:le for nonlinear pro:< lems 85ere t5e desired s;stem :e5avio3r in terms of in< p3t and o3tp3t varia:les can :e e0pressed as a set of se< mantic r3les. *5e; present a ro:3st performance and good response in nois; environments. Us3all; t5e M99* controls a DC-DC converter to main< tain a constant DC voltage at t5e o3tp3t of t5e generator. 7it5 an appropriate sizing of t5e 9= arra; t5e DC-DC converter can :e avoided d3e to t5e relativel; small c5anges in t5e optim3m voltage in operating conditions. *5is 8ill save one stage in t5e s;stem and t5erefore 8ill increase efficienc;. In t5e 3s3al config3ration 8it5 a DC-DC converter t5e M99* s;stem o3tp3ts a signal to c5ange t5e d3t; c;cle of t5e converter. In t5is case, t5e M99* 8ill o3tp3t a DC voltage reference $%c# to t5e inverter control. As inp3ts, t5e M99* 8ill need t5e DC :3s voltage $%c and t5e po8er delivered :; t5e 9= arra; Pp), 85ic5 is o:< tained as t5e prod3ct of $%c and t5e 9= arra; c3rrent. *5e increment of t5ese varia:les ,$%c and ,Pp) over a sample period are comp3ted, 85ic5 are going to :e t5e inp3ts of t5e f3zz; logic controller. *5e o3tp3t 8ill :e ,$%c# 85ic5 is t5en integrated to o:tain t5e desired reference $%c#. A gain is applied to all varia:les in order to fine t3ne t5e controller response. *5ese gains are separated in /ig. I in t8o gro3ps+ a first gro3p t5at :rings varia:le levels to a mod3le level (so t5at t5e M99* can :e t3ned for a single mod3le, and remain t3ned for different 9= arra; config3rations) and a second gro3p t5at controls t5e M99* d;namic response. *5ese inp3ts and o3tp3t 8ere c5osen as it is eas; to e0<
*a:le %+ /3zz; r3les
If Udc is ()G If Udc is ()G and Ppv is ()G t5en Udc* is P*% and Ppv is +),* t5en Udc* is +),* t5en Udc* is ()G t5en Udc* is +),*

*5e inverter control is :ased on a deco3pled control of t5e active and reactive po8er. *5e DC voltage is set :; a 9I controller t5at compares t5e act3al DC :3s voltage and t5e reference generated :; t5e M99*, and provides a I%# active c3rrent reference in a s;nc5rono3s reference frame attac5ed at grid voltage vector. *5e ot5er component of c3rrent vector represents t5e reactive c3rrent and it can :e fi0ed at t5e desired level for po8er factor or voltage control. B; appl;ing t5e in< verse 9ar6 transformation to d-@ c3rrent vector compon< ents, t5e desired Ia"c# p5ase c3rrent references are o:< tained. *5ese are passed to a :ang :ang controller, 85ic5 o3tp3ts t5e p3lses to drive t5e inverter s8itc5es. *5e o3t< p3t line voltage of t5e inverter is s5o8n in /ig. G.
In v e r t e r V o l t a g e s

1000

500 V o lt a g e ( V )

-5 0 0

-1 0 0 0 0 .5

0 .5 1

0 .5 2 T im e ( s )

0 .5 3

0 .5 4

/ig. G+ Inverter &ine =oltage. Jnl; one p5ase is s5o8n.

As t5ere is no DCADC converter :et8een t5e 9= generat< or and t5e inverter, t5e 9= arra; config3ration 5as to :e c5osen so t5at t5e o3tp3t voltage of t5e 9= generator s3its t5e inverterCs re@3irements. In t5is case a -!!= grid 5as :een c5osen, so t5e inverter 8ill need at least .!!= in t5e DC :3s in order to :e a:le to operate properl;. *5e lo8est DC voltage 8ill occ3r 8it5 5ig5 am:ient tem< perat3re and 5ig5 irradiance (:eca3se t5e irradiance in< creases t5e cell temperat3re, and t5is effect predominates over t5e increase of optimal voltage ca3sed :; an incre< ment of t5e irradiance at a constant cell temperat3re), so

If Udc is ()G and Ppv is P*% If Udc is +),* and Ppv is A(If Udc is P*% If Udc is P*% If Udc is P*%

and Ppv is ()G t5en Udc* is ()G and Ppv is +),* t5en Udc* is +),* and Ppv is P*% t5en Udc* is P*%

t5e minim3m n3m:er of series connected mod3les s5o3ld :e determined :; t5is 8orst case. As t5e 9= arra; model estimates cell temperat3re as a f3nction of irradiance and am:ient temperat3re, for t5e 8orst case an am:ient tem< perat3re of I!OC and an irradiance of GL%!!!7Am" 8ere c5osen. *5e 9= arra; 8as fo3nd to re@3ire I series con< nected mod3les per string. *5e optimal voltage for t5is config3ration s5o3ld sta; aro3nd G!!-#!!= most of t5e time, 8it5 some pea6s t5at co3ld reac5 a minim3m of .!!= and a ma0im3m of $!!= in ver; e0treme sit3ations. *5e onl; dra8:ac6 of s3c5 a voltage is a slig5t increase of t5e inverter price as 5ig5er rated voltage of DC lin6 capacitors and s8itc5es are re@3ired.

control po8er factor instantaneo3sl;, and 8it5 good ac< c3rac;. In /ig. %% are represented t5e grid c3rrents and voltages at 3nit; po8er factor, s5o8ing good performance.
300 200 E a (V) Ia (A) 100 0 -100 -200 -300 0.3 0.35 time (s) 0.4 0.45

.# %i&ulation ,esults
In /ig. # and /ig. $ t5e s;stem response to an irradiance step is s5o8n. In tL!."s t5e irradiance is c5anged from %I! to %!!! 7Am". It can :e seen t5at t5e s;stem trac6s t5e ne8 operating point ver; @3ic6l;, faster t5an most M99* strategies. It 5as to :e said t5at t5is is an e0treme c5ange in irradiation levels t5at is 3nli6el; to occ3r :3t s5o8s t5e good performance of t5e M99*.
1000 U (V)

/ig. %!+ Inverter response to a step in reactive po8er reference in tL!. Is. /or clarit;, onl; one p5ase is s5o8n.

/# Conclusion
An inverter for medi3m or large p5otovoltaic applica< tions 5as :een presented. *5e inverter feat3res deco3pled control of active and reactive po8er. It does not re@3ire an intermediate stage of DCADC control, as t5e optim3m DC voltage is set :; t5e inverter itself :; means of a f3zz; M99*. *5e sim3lation of t5e 85ole s;stem 5as :een done in Matla:-Sim3lin6 and it s5o8s an e0cellent performance of :ot5 inverter and M99*, 8it5 negligi:le fl3ct3ation of t5e DC :3s voltage, fast trac6ing of optim3m operating point, and almost instantaneo3s trac6ing of po8er factor reference.
Grid Currents

dc

800

dc

PV Power (x100 W)

600

400

200

PV Power

0 0

0.1

0.2 time (s)

0.3

0.4

0.5

300 200 E a (V) Ia (A) 100 0 -100 -200 -300 0.25 0.26 0.27 0.28 0.29 time (s) 0.3 0.31 0.32 0.33

/ig. #+ S;stem response to an irradiance step in tL!."s

*5e ma0im3m po8er point is trac6ed 8it5 e0cellent ac< c3rac; as can :e seen in /ig. $, 85ere t5e generated po8er is compared to t5e t5eoretical optim3m calc3lated from t5e 9= arra; model.
1 0.9 0.8 P/P max 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0 0.1 0.2 time (s) 0.3 0.4 0.5

/ig. %%+ Inverter :e5avio3r in operation at 3nit; po8er factor

,eferences
>%? Anca D. Hansen, 9o3l SPrensen, &ars H. Hansen and Hen< ri6 Bindner, QModels for a Stand-Alone 9= S;stemR, DisP-D-%"%$(EM) A SEC-D-%", "!!! >"? S3n *iam *an, Daniel S. Firsc5en, Mic5olas Jen6ins, QA Model of 9= Eeneration S3ita:le for Sta:ilit; Anal;sisR in IEEE *ransactions on Energ; Conversion, vol. %$, no. -, Decem:er "!!> ? H. Song1i and &. De5eng, QA ne8 met5od for optimal o3t< p3t of a solar cell arra;,R in 9roc. IEEE Int. S;mp. Ind3s< trial Electronics, %$$", vol.%, pp. -I.4-I$. >-? C. D. S3llivan and M. J. 9o8ers, QA 5ig5-efficienc; ma0< im3m po8er point trac6er for p5otovoltaic arra; in a solarpo8ered race ve5icle,R in 9roc. IEEE 9ESC, %$$ , pp.

/ig. $+ S;stem response to an irradiance step in tL!."s

In /ig. %! is s5o8n t5e s;stem response to a step in t5e reactive c3rrent reference. Jnl; one p5ase is s5o8n in or< der to clearl; see t5e reference step. Before tL!, Is voltage and c3rrent are in p5ase, 3ntil t5e step command is applied and c3rrent leads voltage after8ards. A great advantage of t5is inverter control sc5eme is t5e a:ilit; to

IG-4I#!. >I? M. 9atc5arapra6iti and S. 9remr3deepreec5ac5arn, QMa0< im3m po8er point trac6ing 3sing adaptive f3zz; logic control for grid-connected p5otovoltaic s;stemR, in IEEE 9o8er Engineering 7inter Meeting, "!!" >.? D. S5milovitz, QJn t5e control of p5otovoltaic ma0im3m po8er point trac6er via o3tp3t parametersRIEE 9roc.-Elec< tr. 9o8er Appl., =ol. %I", Mo. ", Marc5 "!!I >G? E. 7al6er, QEval3ating M99* converter topologies 3sing a MA*&AB 9= model,R J. Elect. Electron. Eng., vol. "%, no. %, pp. -$4I., "!!%.

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