An Efficient Solar Inverter with VAR Compensation and Bidirectional Metering Action

Abstract

In a photovoltaic system connected to the grid, the main aim is to design an efficient solar inverter whose efficiency is greater than 90% and also to control the power that the inverter injects into the grid with bi-directional metering action. The efficiency of the overall PV system depends upon the efficiency by which the direct current of solar module is converted into the alternating current (i.e. Inverter efficiency). The basic requirement in order to interface the solar module to the grid with increased efficiency includes: Maximum power point, high power factor, low THD of current injected to the grid. In this project an algorithm for Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is used to find maximum power point of the solar. The output voltage and current from MPPT is given to the DC-DC boost converter. This boosted voltage is fed to the HERIC inverter in order to convert DC voltage into AC voltage. The advantage of the proposed HERIC inverter is its efficiency (>92%).