abstract

• This work presents the sizing and the control scheme of a modular multilevel converter for grid-connected photovoltaic generation that is capable of extracting different powers from each one of the sub-inverters, and simultaneously manage reactive power injection to the grid. With the division of the entire PV array into several equal independent subarrays and then connecting each to a module of the multilevel converter, the disadvantage of partial shading and its consequent total loss of power are removed. Conversely, the PV subarrays can deliver different powers, due to transient cloud shading, differences in ambient temperature, and even due to unequal degradation of the PV panels in the long term. The approach used to accomplish a different power extraction capability in the converter modules is based on variating the modulation indexes. The principle of operation is exposed, and then a methodology to size the dc-link voltages, number of modules, and components of the converter, based on the total power and voltage of the system, is proposed. Based on this, a control scheme is also proposed accordingly. © 2019 IEEE.

authors

• Cárdenas Galindo Víctor Manuel
• Gonzalez-Garcia M.A.
• Miranda Vidales Homero
• Álvarez Salas Ricardo

publication date

• 2019-01-01

published in

• Proceedings of the International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems  Proceedings

keywords

• Independent power extraction; multilevel converter; PV power generation; reactive power Extraction; Photovoltaic cells; Power converters; Power electronics; Reactive power; Grid-connected photovoltaic; Modular multilevel converters; Multilevel converter; Photovoltaic generation; Power extraction; PV power generation; Reactive power injections; Total loss of power; Electric power system control

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1109/PEDS44367.2019.8998933

start page

end page

volume

• 2019-July