A grid-tied PV-fuel cell multilevel inverter under PQ open-loop control scheme

Abstract

Power generating entities’ connection to utility grids requires power converters to achieve high efficiency and low injected current harmonic distortion. The control of the power converter plays a crucial role in the grid-tied power converter’s performance. Various control techniques for grid-tied inverters ranging from classical to intelligent are introduced in several exist. Evaluating the current state and trend in grid-tied power inverters and related control methods, research shows that most works in this area focus on grid integration using the close-loop and other advanced control approaches. This is because these control methods are preferred since they provide adequate performance in case of uncertainties in the system. This investigation can aprove that PQ open-loop control technique can operate sufficiently and cost-effectively in grid-tied renewable and alternative power systems under normal operating conditions. Hence, this paper aims to assess the performance of a centralized single-stage grid-tied three-level diode clamped inverter connected to a PV-Fuel cell unit. An active and reactive power open-loop control scheme is employed to operate the inverter and achieves a current harmonic distortion below 5%. The system comprises a 150 kW/700 V PV, a 150 kW/1400 V fuel cell, a 265 kW multilevel inverter operating at a rated voltage of 415 V, and an LCL filter. Two operating scenarios are adopted to investigate the system’s responses further. In the first scenario, a local load of 509.2 kW is supplied from the PV-fuel cell inverter. The load also receives the grid’s power to meet the demand as the PV-fuel cell inverter provides only 265 kW. Whereas in the other scenario, the PV-fuel cell unit provides power to supply a local load while transporting the surplus to the grid. The results reveal the developed model’s good performance with a current harmonic distortion of 0.33%.