Single-stage grid tied converter to improve solar PV array performance and power quality in microgeneration-consumers units

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to present the combination of the renewable energy generation and power conditioners benefits in microgeneration systems. This is done through a Voltage Source Converter (VSC) used to maximize the efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) solar array and, at the same time, filtering the harmonic currents of non-linear loads present in consumer units equipped with distributed microgeneration. In this way, the VSC is used to implement the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm and act as a Shunt Active Filter (SAF), forming a so-called PV-SAF system. The main strategy of the proposed system is to maximize the operating range of the DC bus voltage to perform current harmonic filtering and enable maximum power tracking satisfactorily using the p-v curve over a wide operating range. The proposed PV-SAF system uses a three-phase single-stage topology and can track the maximum power point (MPP) even in partial shading condition (PSC). The PSIM software is used to perform the simulations of the proposed PV-SAF system, the simulation results validate the control strategy that is capable of performing the reactive power compensation, current harmonics filtering and active power management produced by a PV array.