Single-phase cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter with nonactive power compensation for grid-connected photovoltaic generators

This paper presents a single-phase cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter for a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system with nonactive power compensation. A generalized nonactive power theory is applied to generate the nonactive current reference. Within the inverter's capability, nonactive power required by the local load is provided to improve the grid power quality. To minimize harmonics and achieve zero error tracking, a hybrid controller composed of a proportional controller and a repetitive controller is applied to current control. A single-phase 11-level cascaded multilevel inverter is considered in both simulation and experimental tests. Each H-bridge is connected to a 195 W solar panel. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed ideas.

[1]  Leon M. Tolbert,et al.  A generalised instantaneous non-active power theory for STATCOM , 2007 .

[2]  Danwei Wang,et al.  Repetitive learning controller for CVCF PWM DC/AC converter , 2000, Proceedings of the 39th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (Cat. No.00CH37187).

[3]  Pablo Correa,et al.  Control of a Single-Phase Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter for Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.

[4]  Johann W. Kolar,et al.  A novel multicell DC-AC converter for applications in renewable energy systems , 2002, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron..

[5]  B. Kroposki,et al.  Distribution System Voltage Performance Analysis for High-Penetration PV , 2008, 2008 IEEE Energy 2030 Conference.

[6]  D. Biel,et al.  Energy-Sampled Data Modeling of a Cascade H-Bridge Multilevel Converter for Grid-connected PV Systems , 2006, 2006 IEEE International Power Electronics Congress.

[7]  Leon M. Tolbert,et al.  Multilevel converters as a utility interface for renewable energy systems , 2000, 2000 Power Engineering Society Summer Meeting (Cat. No.00CH37134).

[8]  Michael Chertkov,et al.  Distributed control of reactive power flow in a radial distribution circuit with high photovoltaic penetration , 2010, IEEE PES General Meeting.

[9]  Fang Zheng Peng,et al.  Multilevel inverters: a survey of topologies, controls, and applications , 2002, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron..

[10]  P.L. Chapman,et al.  Comparison of Photovoltaic Array Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion.

[11]  P. Jain,et al.  The Application of the Cascaded Multilevel Converters in Grid Connected Photovoltaic Systems , 2007, 2007 IEEE Canada Electrical Power Conference.

[12]  Leon M. Tolbert,et al.  11-Level cascaded H-bridge grid-tied inverter interface with solar panels , 2010, 2010 Twenty-Fifth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC).

[13]  M. E. Ropp,et al.  Comparative study of maximum power point tracking algorithms , 2003 .