Photovoltaic Systems Engineering

(Winter 2017)

Dr. Walid Atef Omran

Today’s Lecture
 Grid Connected PV Systems

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Grid Connected PV Systems

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Grid-Connected PV Systems
 PV Systems can be connected to the grid in order to sell power to the
electric network.

 These systems can be installed on the rooftops of houses and the facades
of buildings in the form of PV farms.

 The components of grid-connected PV systems are similar to the stand-

alone systems (except that batteries are not necessary).

 The inverter is a very important component as it interfaces the PV

system with the grid.

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Grid-Connected PV Systems

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Grid-Connected PV Systems
 The ac output of a grid-connected PV system is fed into the main
electrical distribution panel of the facility.

 It can provide power to the facility and put the excess power back onto
the grid.

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Topologies of Grid Connected PV Systems

Topologies of Grid-Connected PV Systems

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Topologies of Grid Connected PV Systems

 Centralized topology:
Configuration: a single inverter is connected to the PV array

Advantages: 1) low cost, and 2) ease of maintenance

Disadvantages: 1) low reliability (the failure of the inverter will stop the
PV system from operating), and 2) power loss in the cases of modules
mismatch and/or partial shading (due to the use of one inverter for
tracking the maximum power point)

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Topologies of Grid Connected PV Systems

 Master-slave topology:
Configuration: a number of parallel inverters are connected to the array

Advantages: 1) higher reliability as compared to centralized topology,

and 2) higher operating efficiency (if the inverters are designed to
operate according to the irradiance level to ensure high loading of the
inverter)

Disadvantages: 1) higher cost than centralized topology, and 2) power

loss due to module mismatch and partial shading

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Topologies of Grid Connected PV Systems

 String topology:
Configuration: each string is connected to one inverter

Advantages: 1) high reliability, 2) the losses due to partial shading are

reduced (each string can operate at its own maximum power point), and
3) increased flexibility in the design of the PV system (new strings can
be easily added to the system to increase its power rating)

Disadvantages: 1) increased cost (due to the increase in the number of

inverters)

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Topologies of Grid Connected PV Systems

 Multi-String topology:
Configuration: every string is connected to a DC chopper for tracking
the maximum power point and voltage amplification. All the DC
Choppers are then connected to a single inverter via a DC bus.

Advantages: 1) increases the energy output due to separate tracking of

the MPP while using a central inverter for reduced cost, 2) might not
need a transformer at the AC side.

Disadvantages: 1) lower reliability as compared to string topology, and

2) additional losses due to the DC chopper

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Topologies of Grid Connected PV Systems

 Modular topology:
Also called "AC modules", because an inverter is embedded in each
module.

Advantages: 1) reduction of losses due to partial shading, 2) better

monitoring for module failure, and 3) flexibility of array design.

Disadvantages: 1) suitable for low power ratings (up to 500W), 2) high

cost, and 3) the lifetime of the inverter is reduced (installed in the open
air with the PV module)

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Capacity Factor of PV Systems
 The capacity factor CF is a dimensionless quantity between 0 and 1 that
relates the actual annual energy output of the PV system to the annual
energy output if the PV system were to deliver rated power for the
whole year.

𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡−𝑎𝑣 × 8760

𝐶𝐹 = =
𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 × ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑟 × 8760

 The capacity factor for PV systems range from 0.15 to 0.35 depending
on the location and topology of the PV system.

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The Grid-Tied Inverter
 The grid-tied inverter has to perform the following tasks:

 Ensure the operation at the grid frequency

 Condition the output voltage and current (sinusoidal waveform)

 Control the power injected into the grid

 Islanding detection and protection

 Perform maximum power point tracking (if no DC chopper is used)

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The Grid-Tied Inverter
 Similar to the stand-alone inverter, the efficiency of the grid-tied
inverter depends on the loading condition.

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The Grid-Tied Inverter
 Grid-tied inverters can be defined by several efficiencies:
- Peak efficiency: is calculated as the AC output to the DC input when the
inverter is operating at its rated capacity.

- European Efficiency: is a weighted efficiency to reflect the efficiency of

the inverter at different operating outputs:
ηEU = 0.03η5% + 0.06η10% + 0.13η20% + 0.10η30% + 0.48η50% + 0.20η100%
(Don’t memorize)
- California Energy Commission efficiency (CEC): is another weighted
efficiency similar to the European efficiency:
ηCEC = 0.04η10% + 0.05η20% + 0.12η30%+0.21η50% + 0.53η75% + 0.05η100%
(Don’t memorize)
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