Understanding the operation of a Z-source inverter for photovoltaic application with a design example

Traditional voltage source inverter (VSI) and current source inverter (CSI) technology has advanced to the new Z-source inverter (ZSI) with a built-in impedance network, with modification to the traditional pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. Modified PWM signal accommodates the shoot-through (ST) signal (which would destroy the traditional inverters) in order to buck or boost the DC input voltage from a value between zero and infinity. The unique impedance network of passive elements, which gives a single-stage conversion, needs to be understood in detail in order to design a ZSI. The study compares traditional inverters against the ZSI and discusses the detailed operation modes involved. Circuit calculations, self-boost phenomenon, ST, inductor and capacitor design calculations, boost control methods and device selection procedures are discussed. Photovoltaic source (PV) being one of the most promising DC sources of the future, a design example involving PV and all the circuit calculations along with matching simulation results, are provided in this study.

[1]  Fang Zheng Peng.  Z-source inverter , 2002 .

[2]  J. Rabkowski.  The bidirectional Z-source inverter for energy storage application , 2007, 2007 European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[3]  Kaushik Rajashekara,et al.  Power conversion and control strategies for fuel cell vehicles , 2003, IECON'03. 29th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IEEE Cat. No.03CH37468).

[4]  Bin Wu,et al.  Space Vector Modulation for High Power Five Level Current Source Inverters , 2006 .

[5]  F.Z. Peng,et al.  $Z$-Source Inverter for Residential Photovoltaic Systems , 2006, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[6]  F.Z. Peng,et al.  Maximum boost control of the Z-source inverter , 2004, 2004 IEEE 35th Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37551).

[7]  H. Van der Broeck,et al.  Harmonics in DC to AC converters of single phase uninterruptible power supplies , 1995, Proceedings of INTELEC 95. 17th International Telecommunications Energy Conference.

[8]  B. Justus Rabi,et al.  Harmonics Study and Comparison of Z-source Inverter with Traditional Inverters , 2005 .

[9]  M. Liserre,et al.  MPPT algorithm for voltage controlled PV inverters , 2008, 2008 11th International Conference on Optimization of Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

[10]  F.Z. Peng,et al.  Z-source inverter for adjustable speed drives , 2003, IEEE Power Electronics Letters.

[11]  Hong-Hee Lee,et al.  Algorithms for controlling both the DC boost and AC output voltage of the Z-source inverter , 2005, 31st Annual Conference of IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 2005. IECON 2005..

[12]  Shahrokh Farhangi,et al.  Comparison of z-source and boost-buck inverter topologies as a single phase transformer-less photovoltaic grid-connected power conditioner , 2006 .

[13]  F.Z. Peng.  Z-source inverter for motor drives , 2004, 2004 IEEE 35th Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (IEEE Cat. No.04CH37551).