A New Solar EIiergy Conversion Scheme Implemented Using Grid-Tied Single Phase Inverter

Saad Mekhilef, N.A.Rahim, and A.M.Omar

Power Electronics Research Laboratory Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fax: (603) 75953 16, E-mail: saad@,fkuin.edu.my -

Abstract
A new utility-connected photovoltaic inverter is presented in this paper. Simulation and implementation of the new solar energy conversion scheme has been demonstrated The solar energy conversion unit consists of an array of solar panels, DC-DC converter singlephase inverter, and ac mains power source. The inverter converts DC power generated by the photovoltaic cells into AC power, and provides it to the load connected to the utility line, when the photovoltaic power is greater than the load; the excess power is fed to the utility line through a reverse power jlow. With this new approach we can reduce the use of the power from the grid and even make a contribution to the mains supply. Simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the design.
To harvest the vast solar energy, it would be desirable if the energy conversion units are simple, reliable, and of low cost and high efficiency. High efficiency can be achieved by the use of all the power generated for the unit and even contribute to the gird while the energy is not used. Photovoltaics are one of the fastest growing solar energy technologies. Photovoltaic devices, commonly called solar cells or modules, use semiconductor material to directly convert sunlight into electricity. Solar cells have no moving parts power is produced when sunlight strikes the semiconductor material and creates an electric current [3]. Solar cells are used to power remote residences, satellites, highway signs, water pumps, communication stations, navigation buoys, streetlights and calculators. In the last seven years, photovoltaic sales have nearly tripled. More than 125 megawatts of modules were manufactured worldwide in 1997 [4-51.

Keywords
Photovoltaic power generation, photovoltaic, solar energy, inverter utility-interactive

2. I-V Curves
1. Introduction
Each day more solar energy falls to the Earth than the total amount of energy the planet's 5.9 billion inhabitants would consume in 27 years. While it's neither possible nor necessary to use but a small portion of this energy, we've hardly begun to tap the potential of solar energy [l]. Only in the last few decades when growing energy demands, increasing environmental problems and declining fossil fuel resources made us look to alternative energy options have we focused our attention on truly exploiting this tremendous resource. With the cost of the solar cells decreasing, the conversion of the solar energy to electric energy is increasingly becoming economically viable. This is particular true in a tropical country like Malaysia where there is abundant solar energy available through out the Year 121. The most comprehensive test of a PV array is the measurement of the I-V curve. This curve shows the behavior of the PV system under all load conditions from open circuit to short circuit. I-V curves can be taken of any portion of an array provided there is electrical access, an I-V curve of the entire array will give the peak power rating of the array. The I-V curve is simply a plot of array current versus voltage. Figure 1 illustrates the usefulness of an I-V curve. Only the short circuit current or open circuit voltage was measured.
A curve is generated by connecting the array to a variable load. As the resistance is varied from zero to infinity, current and voltage data pairs are recorded and plotted to produce I-V curve.

0-7803-6355-8/00/$10.0002000 IEEE

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I-V Curve

proposed scheme it is seen that the utility input current has a sinusoidal shape, and the firing pulses to fire the thyristors at position (0') whereas figure 4 shows the input utility current and the output current of the inverter. Figure 4 shows the photovoltaic system that provides the active power to utility and load, it can be seen from the current waveforms the contribution of the photovoltaic system to the utility. And in figure 6 presents the current waveform and bridge voltage on the DC side.

Voltage(V)

Figure 1 I-V Curve

3. Circuit Configuration
The system circuit diagram of the solar energy conversion is shown in Figure 2. The system is designed at 150W using 2 solar panels connected is series. The output voltage across the 2 solar panels is between 30 44V. The system will be disabled if the voltage drops below 20V. The panel voltage is converted to a higher voltage through a set-up chopper. An inverter consisting of thyristors is then used to convert the DC voltage at the output of the chopper to the load and than to the mains supply.

Figure 3 Utility current and firing pulses

Figure 4 Utility input current and out put current of the inverter

Figure 2 Single-phase grid-tied inverter with DC-DC converter

4. Simulation Results
In order to verify the feasibility and performance of this method of power conversion and confirm key predicted waveforms First, a simulation of the configuration proposed is performed. The major parameters used in the simulation are as follows: phase voltage =220V, photovoltaic output voltage 44V, DC side capacitor 2000pF, inductor L=SOmH. Figure 3 shows the simulation results for the

Figure 5 Load current, utility current and output of the inverter current

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Figure 6 Current and bridge voltage on the DC side Figure 8 utility AC current and inverter output current

4. Experimental results
To verify the performance of the proposed scheme, a prototype was developed and tested in a single-phase power system connected with 120V. The major parameters used in the experiments are as follow: photovoltaic output voltage 44V, DC side capacitor 1100pF; inductor L = 50mH. Figure 6 shows the current on the primary side and secondary of the transformer (DC-DC), where figure 7 and 13 show the utility voltage, DC voltage and the firing pulses, whereas figure 8 and 9 show the utility AC line current and the inverter output current. Figure 10 shows the current and the bridge voltage on the DC side of the inverter. Figure 11 and 12 show the experimental results for the photovoltaic system that provides the active power to utility and load. It is seen that the utility input current waveform is close to a sinusoidal waveform and the waveform is coincided with the simulation result as shown in figure 4. The simulation and experimental results demonstrates that the proposed photovoltaic system successhlly accomplishes the active power generation to the utility and load. Figure 9 Utility AC current and inverter output current in expanding scale

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Figure 10 Current and bridge voltage on the DC side

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Figure 7 AC current, firing pulses, and DC photovoltaic

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changing energy needs. Solar energy technologies have made huge technological and cost improvements, but except for certain niche markets such as remote power applications are still more expensive than traditional energy sources. Researchers continue to develop technologies that will make solar energy technologies particularly power generating technologies costcompetitive with fossil fuels. The most cost-effective way to reduce your utility bills is to reduce your usage by installing more efficient lights and appliances, and improving the insulation level of your home or business. Figure 11 Load current and utility current

6. Conclusion
A simple photovoltaic system for interconnection to the utility power system is developed. Through the simulation and experimental results, the validity of the developed photovoltaic system can be verified. Further, adoption of a simple control strategy should make the inverter more reliable. The cost of this inverter will also be relatively low as minimum number of power devices is used to execute this configuration. It is also evident from the simulation result, that the harmonic distortion of the output inverter current waveform at different solar panel voltages levels can be maintained within the specified regulation limits of the utility. All the above advantages have made the inverter configuration highly suitable for grid connected photovoltaic application.

Figure 12 Load current, utility current and output of the inverter current
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7 References .
1. 0. Wasynczuk, "Modelling and dynamic performance of a line-commutatedphotovoltaic inverter system" IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, Vol. 4 No. 3, September 1989
2. Clinton Slabbert, M. Malengret "Grid connectedsolar a" water pump for rural m s

ISIE'98 International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 1 pp 31-34, 1989

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Figure 13 Firing pulses, utility current and output of the inverter current

3. S. Kim, G. Yoo, J. Song, "A bifunctional utility connected photovoltaic system with power factor correction and U.P.S facility" 25m PVSC, May 13-17,1996;Washington D.C.
4. S. Nonoka, "A utility-connected residential PV system

5. Analysis
Solar energy technologies offer a clean, renewable and domestic energy source. Power generating systems also are modular, meaning they can be constructed to meet any size requirement and are easily enlarged to meet

adapted a novel single-phase composite PWM voltage source inverter" First WCPEC; December 5-9,1994, Hawwaii.
5. Emil S. "Inverters for utility interactive photovoltaic power

plants" Electrotechnical Conference, 1989. Proceedings. 'Integrating Research, Industry and Education in Energy and Communication Engineering', MELECON '89

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