Enhancing micro-inverter energy capture with sub-module differential power processing

Shibin Qin, Andrew J. Morrison, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Differential power processing (DPP) is a power electronics system architecture that configures DC-DC converters in parallel with the PV string to improve its power yield. The parallel nature of the DPP architecture brings a number of benefits such as low converter power rating and low power losses, all of which make DPP especially suitable for sub-module level maximum power point tracking (MPPT). Meanwhile, micro-inverters typically perform only module level MPPT and do not address power losses due to uncompensated sub-module mis-match. In this paper, we introduce DPP converters into a micro-inverter system to improve its energy capture by recovering power losses due to sub-module mismatch. We present a small-footprint DPP converter design together with a control scheme such that the DPP converters can work with commercial micro-inverters and can be seamlessly integrated into the existing micro-inverter design. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution, a hardware prototype was built and tested with an off-the-shelf commercial micro-inverter to prove the concept. The improvement in energy capture with DPP converters was experimentally verified.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAPEC 2014 - 29th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages621-628
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9781479923250
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Externally publishedYes
Event29th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2014 - Fort Worth, TX, United States
Duration: Mar 16 2014Mar 20 2014

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC

Other

Other29th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityFort Worth, TX
Period3/16/143/20/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Enhancing micro-inverter energy capture with sub-module differential power processing'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this