Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices

Volume 4 Issue 3

Simulation of Grid Integrated PV Array

Komal Suresh Kapurkar1, Chandraprakash S. Koravi2
1
Undergraduate Student, Department of Electrical Engineering, Government college of
Engineering, Karad, Maharashtra
2
Undergraduate Student, Department of Electrical Engineering, Government college of
Engineering, Karad, Maharashtra
Email: *[email protected]
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3566211

Abstract
This paper presents an easier approach for modelling a grid connected photovoltaic (PV)
system using MATLAB/Simulink. The proposed model consists of a PV array, Pulse With
Modulation generator, Inverter and an LC filter. Modelling of these components has been
described and demonstrated in detail. The impact of solar irradiance and temperature on the
overall power generation of a grid connected PV system has been studied. Control to
maintain constant voltage at the inverter output and for synchronization of the output
frequency with the electric utility grid, phase locked loop and regulators have been designed
and modelled. The simulation method is easier and can be implemented in practice to study
system performance for different conditions of temperature and solar irradiance levels.

Keywords: Inverter control, photovoltaic, phase locked loop, pulse width modulation, PV
array

INTRODUCTION converters to deliver power efficiently.

Most of the world’s energy is derived from This forms a photovoltaic system. There
fossil fuels mainly by burning of coal. But are various configurations of PV systems.
this traditional way of electricity Among these standalone and grid
generation is a challenging issue as it connected system configurations are the
contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. most important ones.
Besides, fossil fuels and all the non-
renewable resources to generate electricity A grid connected solar system has more
are also depleting with time and the advantages than a standalone PV system as
population is increasing. On the other in it electricity can be taken or send to the
hand, renewable energy resources offer electric grid depending upon the load
promising alternate solutions for these demand. It reduces bill cost as net
problems as they are believed to be electricity consumption can be reduced by
permanent and clean sources. Therefore, at sending extra electricity to the grid. They
present these issues are being handled by can also be installed without battery
adopting renewable resources which backup. Any photovoltaic system installed
includes Solar photovoltaic, wind, tidal, without battery backups produces more
wave and biomass as alternate sources to power as no storage losses are involved in
produce electricity. From past few the system. In this simulation, kW grid
decades, solar photovoltaic energy has connected to 0.2 KW PV system has been
turned into one of the important sources of modelled using MATLAB /Simulink. The
renewable energy as it requires less simulated system is composed of a solar
maintenance and is noise and pollution PV array, PWM generator, the PV array,
free. Solar PV panels are used with power an inverter to convert DC power into AC

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

power, an LC filter to filter current panel or PV module. These modules may be

harmonics from the inverter output current. connected in series or parallel to form PV
This paper elaborates each block and the arrays. PV array has been modelled
specifications which are predefined for considering single diode of PV cell. The basic
particular block. This will clear each structure showing PV cell and the equations
section of simulation in detail. used for modelling a solar cell have been
considered. These equations have been
METHDOLOGY modified based upon the number of solar
PV Array cells in PV panels and total number of these
A solar cell is the basic unit of a panels connected in series and parallel. The
photovoltaic (PV) system. When solar circuit diagram of a single non-ideal solar cell
cells are combined in series forms a PV is shown below.

Figure 1: Single diode model of PV cell.

From the Fig. 1, current equation can be resistance of a PV cell respectively, a is

written as: diode ideality factor, Vth is the thermal
voltage. It is given as:
Where, I is the current generated by a solar
cell, Ipv is the photon current, ID is the
diode current and Ish is the current flow
K is Boltzmann constant =1.38× (10) ^ (-
through shunt resistor Rp. For a solar cell:
23) J/K, T is the cell temperature, q is the
charge of an electron =1.6× (10) ^ (-19) C.
Knowing the total number of series
Equation (1) can now be written as: connected solar cells N that result in a solar
panel/module and from the numbers of
series Ns and parallel Np connected solar
panels, Current equation for a PV array is
given by:

Where, Io is the reverse saturation current,

Rs and Rp are the series and shunt

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

PV array technical details:

Figure 2: PV array parameters.

Inverter electrical power applications where high

A power inverter, or inverter, is a power currents and voltages are present (Fig. 2);
electronic device or circuitry that converts circuits that perform the same function for
direct current (DC) to alternating current electronic signals, which usually have very
(AC). The input voltage, output voltage low currents and voltages, are called
and frequency, and overall power handling oscillators. an electrical device which
depend on the design of the specific converts an alternating current into a direct
inverter. The inverter capacity largely one by allowing a current to flow through
depends on the capacity of circuit to be it in one direction only. In simulink model
driven. Static inverters do not consist of inverter used is made up of IGBTs. IGBT
moving parts in the conversion process. is used because it has capacity to sustain
Power inverters are mainly used in the overloads (Fig. 3).

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

Figure 3: Inverter.

Using Continuous Solver is default solver in the configure

When you are using a continuous solver in parameters section of the Powergui block
MATLAB, you can completely eliminate dialog box.
snubbers by selecting enable use of ideal
switching devices in the configure Filter
parameters section of the Powergui block There are mainly two types of filters as
dialog box. To disable snubbers in all shown in Fig. 4 namely:
power electronic devices, select Disable  Active
snubbers in switching devices.  Passive

Using Discrete Solver Passive filters consist of passive elements

When discrete mode is used, power like resistor, inductor and capacitor. These
electronic devices can be provided with no are widely used for frequency range from
snubbers. The bridge operates roughly 100Hz to 300Hz.
satisfactorily with purely resistive Active filters include op-amp circuits
snubbers when Tustin/Backward Euler along with resistors and capacitors for very
(TBE) discretization method is selected. It low frequencies.

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Volume 4 Issue 3

Figure 4: Connection of filter.

Three Phase V-I Measurement voltages and currents in a circuit as shown

The Three-Phase V-I measurement block is in Fig. 5. It can be seen that V and I both
used to measure instantaneous three-phase can be measured here (Fig. 6).

Figure 5: V-I measurement block.

Figure 6: V-I measurement parameters.

Phase Circuit Breaker

This block implements a three-phase the breaker operation as shown in Fig. 7.
circuit breaker. When the external Switching times can be set according to
switching time mode is selected, a the requirement. Initially it is kept open
Simulink logical signal is used to control and then closed and connected with grid.

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Volume 4 Issue 3

Figure 7: Breaker.

Grid Voltage Source line voltage of grid is 658.17 Volts. The

The RMS value of phase voltage of grid frequency of grid is set to standard
used in simulation is 380Volts. Thus, the frequency (Fig. 8).

Figure 8: Voltage source.

Phase Locked Loops phase of a sinusoidal three-phase signal.

The PLL stands for Phase Locked Loop For that it uses an internal frequency
(PLL). It is the closed-loop control system, oscillator circuitry. The Fig. 9 below
which keeps tracking the frequency and shows the internal stucture of the PLL.

Figure 9: Block diagram of PLL.

PWM Generator IGBTs) of three different converter types:

The PWM stands for Pulse Width single- phase half-bridge (1 arm), single-
Modulation (PWM). The number of methods phase full-bridge (2 arms), or three-phase
are involved in the PWM technique like sine bridge (3 arms). The reference is applied to
PWM, vector control etc. The block can the PWM generator to generate reference
control switching devices (FETs, GTOs, or pulses (Fig. 10).

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

Figure 10: PWM generator.

MATLAB Function
User can define his own function in function for three phase voltages and
MATLAB. Similarly, I have defined currents (Fig. 11).

Figure 11: MATLAB function.

Function [a,b,c] = Simulink model. PID controller gains are

ref_generation(X,ma,shift_k) tunable either manually or automatically.
a=(ma*(sin((X)+shift_k))); Automatic tuning requires Simulink
b= (ma*(sin((X)+shift_k-(2*pi/3)))); Control Design software (PID Tuner or
c= (ma*(sin((X)+shift_k+(2*pi/3)))); SISO Design Tool).

%ma is modulation index The PID controller can be used in systems

% x is wt rad/s where even small error is the critical
% shift_k is phase shift angle rad factor. It makes use of proportional,
integral and derivative controller. It can be
PI Controller tuned and accordingly error can be
Implement a continuous- or discrete-time completey eliminated [2]. A first-order
controller (PID, PI, PD, P, or I) in your pole filters the derivative action ( Fig. 12).

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

Figure 12: PI controller tuning.

Power Measurement also the the input quantities can be in the

It computes the three-phase instantaneous form of scalar, vector as well as matrix
active and reactive powers associated with form. Plus (+), minus (-), and spacer (|)
a periodic set of three-phase voltages and characters indicate the operations to be
currents. performed on the inputs.
Current flowing into an RL circuit will
produce positive active and reactive power Trigonometric Functions
whereas that flowing through RC will The Trigonometric Function block
produce negative active and reactive performs common trigonometric functions.
power. You can select one of the following
functions from the function parameter list.
Gain
This block multiplies the input by a Constant
specified constant value which is called This is like a gain block only. It acts as
gain. The input and the gain can each be multiplier.
specified as scalar, vector, or matrix
quantities. Scope
The simulink scope block displays signals
Sum in time domain with respect to simulation
The sum block carries out addition or time instead of frequency.
subtraction on its inputs. Here, in this case Signal may be continuous or discrete. It

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

can support any data type like a real, than one From block, but a From block is
complex, fixed-point, and enumerated data able to receive a signal from only one
types. Goto block.

Display Powergui
It displays the enumerated values. There are different types of solvers in
Simulink:
From  Continuous: This utilizes a variable-
The From block accepts a signal from a step solver from Simulink.
corresponding Goto block, then passes it
 Ideal switching continuous.
as output. Whatever is the data type of the
 Discretization of the electrical system
output will be the data type of input from
for a solution at fixed time steps.
the Goto block. This enables to tansfer a
signal from one block to another without  Phasor Solution: The powergui block
actually connecting them. also opens tools for steady-state and
simulation results analysis and for
Goto advanced parameter design.
The Goto block passes its input to its
corresponding From blocks. The input can You need the powergui block to simulate
be a real or complex valued signal or any Simulink model containing Simscape
vector of any data type. Whatever is the Power System Specialized Technology
data type of the output will be the data type blocks. In MATLAB the simulated model
of input from the Goto block. This block is is stored in the form of equivalent state
capable of passing its input signal to more space equations (Fig. 13).

SIMULATION

Figure 13: Simulation diagram of GRID integrated PV.

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RESULTS OF SIMULATION cases. Ir represents irradiance whereas Pref

Below plots shows the V-T and I-T curves represents reference input as shown in Fig.
for the PV and grid voltage for different 14,15,16,17,18.

When Ir = 1000w/m^2 & Pref = 10kw

Figure 14: Phase voltage and current waveforms (MATLAB results).

When Ir= 500w/m^2 & Pref=10kw

VPH

IPH

Figure 15: Phase voltage and current waveforms (MATLAB results).

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 Journals of Digital Integrated Circuits in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 3

When Ir=500 w/m^2 & Pref=5kw

VPH

IPH

Figure 16: Phase voltage and current waveforms (MATLAB results).

When Ir=1000 w/m^2 & Pref=5kw

Figure 17: Phase voltage and current waveforms showing harmonics.

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Volume 4 Issue 3

When Ir=1000 w/m^2 & Pref=5kw CB is closed.

Vgrid

Igrid

Figure 18: Phase voltage and current waveforms (MATLAB results).

Pros very negligible value. The more sinusoidal

The system can be simulated as microgrid output can be obtained using advanced
with standalone mode [1]. The harmonic filtering techniques and grid control
analysis can be studied. Grid integrated strategies. This system can be
mode can also be described in brief. implemented in actual practice.
CONCLUSION REFERENCES
In this way, I conclude that the detailed
1. Hassan Bevrani, Bruno Francois,
study of PV integration with grid can be
Toshifumi Ise (2017), “Microgrid
studied and effects can be analyzed on
connection with grid. Various mitigation Dynamics and Control”, John Wiley &
techniques can be implemented for Sons.
reduction of harmonics from inverter 2. SK Sahoo, AK Sinha, NK Kishore,
output current and hence the grid current “Control Techniques in AC, DC, and
can be regulated. However, grid voltage Hybrid AC-DC Microgrid: A Review”,
remains the same once the microgrid IEEE Journal of Emerging and
system here it is PV system connected to Selected Topics in Power Electronics,
main grid causes the grid current to fall to Volume 99, pp. 11.

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