Current limiting algorithm for three-phase grid-connected inverters

Abstract

Grid-connected inverters are commonly used in systems of renewable energy to convert this energy source into AC power with parameters suitable for connection to the grid. In the normal operating conditions, the grid-connected inverters mainly generate active power to the grid. However, when a voltage sag or voltage imbalance occurs, the grid voltage imbalance in the conventional control methods causes negative sequence components and increases the output current magnitude of inverters. The increase of current can damage power semiconductor devices. This paper presents a strategy to limit the current magnitude of inverters under unbalanced grid voltage conditions. In this strategy, a multiple-complex-coefficient filter is used to eliminate the negative sequence voltage components. This method does not require any additional hardware. A three-phase gridconnected photovoltaic inverter system using a solar array of 20 kWp is also used for the survey. The effectiveness has been validated when comparing the simulation results on Matlab/Simulink of the proposed method with those of the conventional method.

Keywords

• current limitation
• negative sequences
• reactive power compensation
• three-phase grid-connected inverters
• unbalanced voltages