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Parallel PV Configuration with Magnetic-Free Switched Capacitor Module-Level Converters for Partial Shading Conditions

Author

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  • Georgios Kampitsis

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Efstratios Batzelis

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Remco van Erp

    (Power and Wide-Band-Gap Electronics Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Elison Matioli

    (Power and Wide-Band-Gap Electronics Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract

In this paper, a module-level photovoltaic (PV) architecture in parallel configuration is introduced for maximum power extraction, under partial shading (PS) conditions. For the first time, a non-regulated switched capacitor (SC) nX converter is a used at the PV-side conversion stage, whose purpose is just to multiply the PV voltage by a fixed ratio and accordingly reduce the input current. All the control functions, including the maximum power point tracking, are transferred to the grid-side inverter. The voltage-multiplied PV modules (VMPVs) are connected in parallel to a common DC-bus, which offers expandability to the system and eliminates the PS issues of a typical string architecture. The advantage of the proposed approach is that the PV-side converter is relieved of bulky capacitors, filters, controllers and voltage/current sensors, allowing for a more compact and efficient conversion stage, compared to conventional per-module systems, such as microinverters. The proposed configuration was initially simulated in a 5 kW residential PV system and compared against conventional PV arrangements. For the experimental validation, a 10X Gallium Nitride (GaN) converter prototype was developed with a flat conversion efficiency of 96.3% throughout the power range. This is particularly advantageous, given the power production variability of PV generators. Subsequently, the VMPV architecture was tested on a two-module 500 W P prototype, exhibiting an excellent power extraction efficiency of over 99.7% under PS conditions and minimal DC-bus voltage variation of 3%, leading to a higher total system efficiency compared to most state-of-the-art configurations.

Suggested Citation

  • Georgios Kampitsis & Efstratios Batzelis & Remco van Erp & Elison Matioli, 2021. "Parallel PV Configuration with Magnetic-Free Switched Capacitor Module-Level Converters for Partial Shading Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:456-:d:481289
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Drif, M. & Pérez, P.J. & Aguilera, J. & Aguilar, J.D., 2008. "A new estimation method of irradiance on a partially shaded PV generator in grid-connected photovoltaic systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 2048-2056.
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