Optimal LCL-filter design method for grid-connected renewable energy sources

Abstract This paper presents a design method based on the extended harmonic domain modeling for L and LCL passive filters of active-front-end PWM two-level voltage source converters for grid-connected renewable energy sources. The proposed design method is tested under several operating scenarios, such as high and low power levels and switching frequencies. Also, a dedicated graphical user interface (GUI) with five other design methods is provided to ease the evaluation of the proposed design method. The GUI also computes the power quality indexes and the steady-state waveforms for each design methodology. In addition to this, an in-depth overview of filtering technologies and applications is presented to identify the primary practical use of passive filtering and to justify the use of LCL filter in grid-connected systems. The obtained results show that the proposed design method leads to the smallest passive filter parameters, and it is the only method that fulfills all the imposed power quality requirements as well as power specifications.