Grid-Connected Inverter for a PV-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station to Enhance the Stability of a Microgrid

Yohan Jang, Zhuoya Sun, Sanghyuk Ji, Chaeeun Lee, Daeung Jeong, Seunghoon Choung and Sungwoo Bae
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Yohan Jang: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Zhuoya Sun: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Sanghyuk Ji: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Chaeeun Lee: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Daeung Jeong: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Seunghoon Choung: Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Yonam Institute of Technology, Jinju 52821, Korea
Sungwoo Bae: Department of Electrical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: This study proposes a grid-connected inverter for photovoltaic (PV)-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The significant function of the proposed inverter is to enhance the stability of a microgrid. The proposed inverter can stabilize its grid voltage and frequency by supplying or absorbing active or reactive power to or from a microgrid using EVs and PV generation. Moreover, the proposed inverter can automatically detect an abnormal condition of the grid, such as a blackout, and operate in the islanding mode, which can provide continuous power to local loads using EV vehicle-to-grid service and PV generation. These inverter functions can satisfy the requirements of the grid codes, such as IEEE Standard 1547–2018 and UL 1741 SA. In addition, the proposed inverter can not only enhance the microgrid stability but also charge EVs in an appropriate mode according to the condition of the PV array and EVs. The proposed inverter was verified through experimental results with four scenarios in a lab-scale testbed. These four scenarios include grid normal conditions, grid voltage fluctuations, grid frequency fluctuations, and a power blackout. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed inverter could enhance the microgrid stability against grid abnormal conditions, fluctuations of grid frequency and voltage, and charge EVs in an appropriate mode.

Keywords: electric vehicle charging station; inverter; microgrid; photovoltaics; renewable energy source; vehicle-to-grid (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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