Original scientific paper
Performance Assessment of the Inverter-based Grid Connection of Photovoltaic Systems
Gianfranco Chicco
Roberto Napoli
Filippo Spertino
Abstract
The present trend towards extended adoption of energy production from renewable sources is leading to increased attention towards the diffusion of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. Different technologies are available for the connection of the PV systems to the grid through inverter-based Power Conditioning Units (PCUs). This paper presents the results of a comparative study referred to the characteristics of different types of PCUs, based on the experimental results obtained for a wide range of solar irradiance and operating conditions. The performance of the grid connection has been characterised by using a set of parameters, referred both to the DC and to the AC side of the inverter, such as the efficiency of the maximum power point tracking, the DC/AC efficiency, the power factor and the harmonic distortion of voltage and current at the interface with the grid. The PV systems have been further characterised by considering their ability of avoiding the undesired islanding operation through relatively fast detection of the islanding conditions and fast PV system shutdown. The results are discussed and compared to the specifications provided by the manufacturers and to the limits imposed by some standards.
Keywords
grid connection; harmonic distortion; inverter; islanding; maximum power point tracking; photovoltaic systems; power conditioning unit; power quality
Hrčak ID:
6826
URI
Publication date:
29.12.2004.
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