ADVANCEMENTS IN INVERTER

TECHNOLOGY

P. BHANU TEJA
B100338EE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CALICUT

CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION

2. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND ON INVERTERS

3. OVER VIEW OF ADVANCED INVERTER FUNCTIONS.

4. IMPACTS AND CHALLENGES OF ADVANCED INVERTERS
ADOPTION

5. ADVANCEMENTS IN PV INVERTER

6. SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN APPLICATION

7. MARKET

8. CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
Inverters are power electronics-based devices which
convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).

This function is fundamental to the integration of power

from many sources into the distribution system.

Widely used in photovoltaic, wind turbine generators

and energy storage resources.
 In these applications, inverters convert a generated or
stored DC to a precisely modulated and grid synchronized
AC waveform.

Beyond this fundamental purpose, there exist a range of

complementary, technologically viable, and demonstrated
functions that an inverter may be designed to provide.

As DER (Distribution Energy Resources) become

incorporated onto the grid at higher penetration levels,
advances in inverter functionalities represent a significant
opportunity to improve the stability, reliability, and
efficiency of the electric power distribution system.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND ON INVERTERS
Standard Inverter Key Concepts:

Fundamentally, an inverter is a device which converts

a direct current (DC) input to an alternating current
(AC) output.

Inverters are used in a range of applications, including

consumer power electronics, electric vehicles, and
photovoltaic and energy storage interconnections to
power distribution systems at the primary (4 kV, 13.8
kV, 27 kV, and 33 kV) and secondary (120/240 V,
120/208 V, 240/480 V) levels.
 In distribution applications, these devices produce a
sinusoidal waveform of the appropriate frequency.
Inverters may be
1. Stand alone(off-grid): supply generated or stored power
solely to connected loads.
2. Grid tie : allow generated or stored power to be supplied
to a utilitys distribution network when not needed by the
load.
Standard Inverter Functionalities:

1.Power Transfer Optimization:

Inverters are designed to optimize transfer of power from
DER to load, often through a technique called Maximum
Power Point Tracking (MPPT).
Based on computation of the ideal equivalent resistance
from measurements of current, voltage, and the respective
rates of change.

2.Voltage Conversion:
In order to supply power to a load or to the distribution grid,
power generated by a distributed energy resource usually
must be delivered at a different voltage.
3.Grid Synchronization
A central component of an inverters efficacy is the ability
to construct an output AC waveform that is synchronized
with the utility distribution system.

4.Disconnection
When fault conditions are present, a grid-tied inverter is
required to disconnect from the distribution system at the
point of common coupling (PCC).

5.Storage Interfacing
An inverter may enable the integration of a battery or
other energy storage device with a distributed generator.
6.Anti-islanding protection:

Normally, grid-tied inverters will shut off if they do not detect

the presence of the utility grid.

There are load circuits in the electrical system that happen

to resonate at the frequency of the utility grid.

The inverter may be fooled into thinking that the grid is still
active even after it had been shut down. This is called
islanding.

An inverter designed for grid-tie operation will have anti-

islanding protection built in; it will inject small pulses that
are slightly out of phase with the AC electrical system in
order to cancel any stray resonances that may be present
when the grid shuts down.
 OVERVIEW OF ADVANCED INVERTER
FUNCTIONS
Advanced Inverter Key Concepts
An advanced inverter has the capacity
1. To supply or absorb reactive power
2. To control and modulate frequency and voltage, and
3. Voltage and frequency ride-through.

Capacitors could be installed to either supply or absorb reactive

power. Practical limitations include:
1. Limited variability of reactive power that can be supplied or
absorbed dependent on the ability to switch on/off various
combinations of capacitors at a location.

2. Reactive power supplied or absorbed by capacitors will greatly

change with minor changes in voltage level.

As a flexible source and sink of both active and reactive

power, advanced inverters provide an opportunity for the
extensive control that enables safety and reliability in DER
applications.
ADVANCED INVERTER FUNCTIONALITIES
1.Reactive Power Control:

Definition:
The presence of inductive loads results in a phase
difference between voltage and current waveforms, causing
losses which reduce the efficiency of real power
distribution.

Less efficient power distribution requires greater

current, which magnifies the impact of line losses.
Implementation:

The supply of reactive power via capacitors will cause the

phase of the current to lead that of the voltage, while the
opposite may be achieved when an inductive load
absorbs reactive power.

Integrated thyristor-switched capacitors and

capacitors, functioning together as a Flexible AC
Transmission System (FACTS), Solid-state- and power
electronics-based compensators, allow increasingly rapid
and exact provision of reactive power.

Advanced inverters, combined with existing FACTS

infrastructure and control Systems.
 A capability curve prescribes the output reactive power, which
is diminished at lower voltage levels and at higher output
active power.

These inverters control power factor according to the

characteristic capability curve in order to match the mix of
resistive and inductive loads on the circuit.

Impacts:
significant potential to increase efficiency and flexibility of
power distribution.
providing sufficient resolution in controlling reactive power.
precise modulation of reactive power supplied to the conductor
and load.
2.Voltage and Frequency Ride-Through

Definition:

Ride-through may be defined as the ability of an electronic

device to respond appropriately to a temporary fault in the
distribution line to which the device is connected.

Standard inverters are required to identify a typical fault and

disconnect from the circuit when a fault is detected.

This course of action will inhibit the DERs operation and

prevent it from functioning under the restored normal
conditions.
Implementation:

Ride-through capabilities are tied to measurements of

the distribution systems AC frequency and voltage.

Ride-through functionality is highly dependent on

monitoring, processing, and algorithmic response.

The controlling algorithm will implement a response,

such as an increase in power in response to a low
voltage.
 If the condition persists and the inverter fails to reach
sufficient parameters within the IEEE 1547 disconnection
time frame, the disconnection will take place as with the
standard inverter, ceasing all ride-through responses.

Sags and swells in voltage levels can be remedied by the

injection of reactive power into the line.

Disadvantage: In non-utility scale DER applications such as

residential and small commercial, if ride-through is permitted
by standards to prolong the presence of a fault, people will
use a fault circuit to greater risk of damage or injury.
IMPACTS & CHALLENGES OF ADVANCED
INVERTERS ADOPTION
Impacts:
1) reactive power control increases efficiency of power
distribution by reducing line losses.

2) The voltage and frequency ride-through functionalities

provide dynamic grid support in the presence of a
fault along the interconnected line.

3) Avoiding unnecessary disconnection, especially of

large distributed energy resources, could improve grid
reliability.
Challenges:

1. There is ongoing work to develop interoperability

standards for DER devices including inverters and
inverter controllers.

Therefore, limitations are there to how much these

advanced functionalities can be used autonomously
without adversely impacting the grid or other
customers equipment

2. Different safety requirements and standards are to be

implemented for residential and small commercial
applications.
3. EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute)
conducted a study, indicating that over 69% of
downtime events are caused by the PV inverters.

The main contributors to these failures were

software bugs and material failures, which indicates
a need for significant refining of the inverter
technologies being deployed.
ADVANCEMENTS IN PV INVERTER
Over the last 40 years, solar panels are connected together
into strings and the DC power is wired to a large inverter in a
central location called string inverter.

In 1990s, Micro inverter technology came into existence, in

which inverter installed behind each solar module. All the
inverters connected through busbar.
STRING INVERTER MICRO INVERTER

PROS: CONS:
lower initial cost per peak cost more per peak
watt price. watt.
easier to install, maintain.
difficult to install,
maintain.
CONS:
problems with one panel
PROS:
are felt across the entire
string. one panel wont impact

difficult to fix.
other.
easy to fix.
takes more space.
takes less space.
SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN APPLICATION
1. In Air conditioner,
Compressor motor is driven by inverter to control its speed.
Inverter technology provides a more precise room temperature
without the temperature fluctuations.
 A microwave inverter is a system used in microwave
powering which uses inverter power supply as
opposed to traditional magnetic coils or transformers.
It is more efficient and powerful.

Other applications include

welding, HVDC, UPS, LCD screen, Electric
tasers, Hybrid vehicles etc.
MARKET
Enphase is one of leading suppliers of micro inverters.

World leading central inverters suppliers are

Ingeteam, ABB, SMA, Eltek, Sungrow etc.

In India, research and development of inverter businesses are

Sukhila Power Electronics, APLAB, APD Global, laito infotech etc.
CONCLUSION
Advanced inverter functionalities may lend significant
improvement to the stability, reliability, and efficiency, of the
electric power distribution system.

Distribution automation systems implemented by utilities

will be central to the integration of these functionalities,
which require protection, control, and communication to
reach full efficacy.

Standards for interoperability and performance are being

revised to consider safe and reliable augmentation of
inverter functionality to support increased penetration of
DER.