• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.319-328
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• 2016

This paper proposes a simplified SVPWM for three level inverters in transformerless photovoltaic (PV) systems. With the proposed SVPWM the three level space vector (SV) diagram is divided into only six sectors as in conventional two level SV diagram in such a way that only seven SVs are used among all the available SVs of three level inverter. The main features of the proposed SVPWM are that it is simple to implement, less switching losses as compared to conventional SVPWM and most importantly it eliminates the leakage currents in transformerless PV systems. Detailed theoretical analysis of the proposed SVPWM are presented and verified by numerical simulations and experimental results.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.256-267
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• 2015

Grid-connected transformerless photovoltaic (PV) inverters (TPVIs) are increasingly dominating the market due to their higher efficiency, lower cost, lighter weight, and reduced size when compared to their transformer based counterparts. However, due to the lack of galvanic isolation in the low voltage grid interconnections of these inverters, the PV systems become vulnerable to leakage currents flowing through the grounded star point of the distribution transformer, the earth, and the distributed parasitic capacitance of the PV modules. These leakage currents are prohibitive, since they constitute an issue for safety, reliability, protection coordination, electromagnetic compatibility, and module lifetime. This paper investigates a wide range of multi-kW range power rating TPVI topologies and classifies them in terms of their leakage current attributes. This systematic classification places most topologies under a small number of classes with basic leakage current attributes. Thus, understanding and evaluating these topologies becomes an easy task. In addition, based on these observations, new topologies with reduced leakage current characteristics are proposed in this paper. Furthermore, the important efficiency and cost determining characteristics of converters are studied to allow design engineers to include cost and efficiency as deciding factors in selecting a converter topology for PV applications.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1217-1226
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• 2015

In a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system, the traditional Z-source inverter uses a low frequency transformer to ensure galvanic isolation between the grid and the PV system. In order to combine the advantages of both Z-source inverters and transformerless PV inverters, this paper presents a modified single-phase transformerless Z-source PV grid-connected inverter and a corresponding PWM strategy to eliminate the ground leakage current. By utilizing two reversed-biased diodes, the path for the leakage current is blocked during the shoot-through state. Meanwhile, by turning off an additional switch, the PV array is decoupled from the grid during the freewheeling state. In this paper, the operation principle, PWM strategy and common-mode (CM) characteristic of the modified transformerless Z-source inverter are illustrated. Furthermore, the influence of the junction capacitances of the power switches is analyzed in detail. The total losses of the main electrical components are evaluated and compared. Finally, a theoretical analysis is presented and corroborated by experimental results from a 1-kW laboratory prototype.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.920-928
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• 2015

Transformerless solar inverters have a higher efficiency than those with an isolation link. However, they suffer from a leakage current issue. This paper proposes a family of single phase six-switch transformerless inverter topologies with an ac bypass circuit to solve the leakage current problem. These circuits embed two unidirectional freewheeling current units into the midpoint of a full bridge inverter, to obtain a freewheeling current path, which separates the solar panel from the grid in the freewheeling state. The freewheeling current path contains significantly fewer devices and poor performance body diodes are not involved, leading to a higher efficiency. Meanwhile, it is not necessary to add a voltage balancing control method when compared with the half bridge inverter. Simulation and experiments are provided to validate the proposed topologies.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2014

This paper describes an optimal configuration for multi-central inverters in a medium-voltage (MV) grid, which is suitable for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants. We theoretically analyze a proposed common-mode equivalent model for problems associated with multi-central transformerless-type three-phase full bridge(3-FB) PV inverters employing two-winding MV transformers. We propose a synchronized PWM control strategy to effectively reduce the common-mode voltages that may simultaneously occur. In addition, we propose that the existing 3-FB topology may also have the configuration of a multi-central inverter with a two-winding MV transformer by making a simple circuit modification. Simulation and experimental results of three 350kW PV inverters in a multi-central configuration verify the effectiveness of the proposed synchronization control strategy. The modified transformerless-type 3-FB topology for a multi-central PV inverter configuration is verified using an experimental prototype of a 100kW PV inverter.

• Journal of international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.354-359
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• 2012

A transformerless converter suitable for multiphase drive application is presented in this paper. The topology employs a cascaded H-bridge rectifier as the interface between the grid and multi inverters which drive the multiphase motor. Compared with the conventional structure, the new topology eliminates the input transformer and also has the advantages such as four quadrant operation, simple configuration, low cost, high efficiency, and so on. The control strategies for the grid-side cascade H-bridge rectifier and the motor-side inverter are studied accordingly. Based on the multi-rotational reference frame, modular control scheme is developed to regulate the multiphase drive system. Simulation results show the proper operation of the proposed topology and the corresponding control strategy.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1329-1337
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• 2015

By placing distributed generation power sources beside a big nonlinear load, these sources can be used as a power quality enhancer, while injecting some active power to the network. In this paper, a new scheme to use the distributed generation power source in both operation modes is presented. In this scheme, a fuzzy controller is added to adjust the optimal set point of inverter between compensating mode and maximum active power injection mode, which works based on the harmonic content of the nonlinear load. As the high order current harmonics can be easily rejected using passive filters, the DG is used to compensate the low order harmonics of the load current. Multilevel transformerless cascade inverters are preferred in such utilization, as they have more flexibility in current/voltage waveform. The proposed scheme is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK to evaluate the circuit performance. Then, a 1kw single phase prototype of the circuit is used for experimental evaluation of the paper. Both simulative and experimental results prove that such a circuit can inject a well-controlled current with desired harmonics and THD, while having a smaller switching frequency and better efficiency, related to previous 3-phase inverter schemes in the literature.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.190-194
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• 2017

Present-day solar panels incorporate inverters as their core components. Switching devices driven by specialized power controllers are operated in a transformerless inverter topology. However, some challenges associated with this configuration include the absence of isolation, causing leakage currents to flow through various components toward ground. This inevitably causes power losses, often being also the primary reason for the power inverters' analog equipment failure. In this paper, various aspects of the leakage currents are studied using different circuit analysis methods. The primary objective is to convert the leakage current energy into a usable DC voltage source. The research is focused on harvesting the leakage currents for producing circa 1.1 V, derived from recently developed rectifier circuits, and driving a $200{\Omega}$ load with a power in the milliwatt range. Even though the output voltage level is low, the harvested power could be used for charging small batteries or capacitors, even driving light loads.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.437-442
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• 2001

Recently, transformerless inverters have been studied to reduce sizes and costs of utility-connected PV systems. This paper presents a transformerless PV inverter using a two-phase boost converter of reduced ripples in input current and output voltage, low voltage stress of semiconductor device and reduced size of input reactor. And new PWM method is introduced, whose on-off time is calculated from simultaneous equation induced by fourier series. To verify a validity of the proposed transformerless inverter, computer simulation has been carried out.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Power Electronics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2018

Previous single-phase transformerless inverters used active bypass switching circuits that need auxiliary power switches to minimize ground leakage current. However, switching and gate driving losses are increased due to the use of additional power switches. To cope with this drawback, this work proposes a transformerless inverter using a passive bypass filter without any auxiliary power switch. The operation and control of the proposed inverter are described. The ground leakage current characteristics are analyzed for the proposed inverter with the passive bypass filter. The experimental results of the proposed inverter for a 1.0kW prototype system are presented.