Classification of Three-Phase Grid-Tied Microinverters in Photovoltaic Applications

Ahmed Shawky, Mahrous Ahmed, Mohamed Orabi and Abdelali El Aroudi
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Ahmed Shawky: Aswan Power Electronics Applications Research Center (APEARC), Aswan University, Aswan 81542, Egypt
Mahrous Ahmed: Aswan Power Electronics Applications Research Center (APEARC), Aswan University, Aswan 81542, Egypt
Mohamed Orabi: Aswan Power Electronics Applications Research Center (APEARC), Aswan University, Aswan 81542, Egypt
Abdelali El Aroudi: Department of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Automatic Control, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-39

Abstract: Microinverters are an essential part of the photovoltaic (PV) industry with significant exponential prevalence in new PV module architectures. However, electrolyte capacitors used to decouple double line frequency make the single-phase microinverters topologies the slightest unit in this promising industry. Three-phase microinverter topologies are the new trend in this industry because they do not have double-line frequency problems and they do not need the use of electrolyte capacitors. Moreover, these topologies can provide additional features such as four-wire operation. This paper presents a detailed discussion of the strong points of three-phase microinverters compared to single-phase counterparts. The developed topologies of three-phase microinverters are presented and evaluated based on a new classification based on the simplest topologies among dozens of existing inverters. Moreover, the paper considers the required standardized features of PV, grid, and the microinverter topology. These features have been classified as mandatory and essential. Examples of the considered features for classifications are Distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (DMPPT), voltage boosting gain, and four-wire operation. The developed classification is used to identify the merits and demerits of the classified inverter topologies. Finally, a recommendation is given based on the classified features, chosen inverter topologies, and associated features.

Keywords: photovoltaic; solar energy; microinverter; inverters; grid-connected; three-phase (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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