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Photovoltaic Generation System (PVGS) - Average


Description

The photovoltaic generation system (PVGS) is shown in the figure below. The PVGS features a PV array that is connected to an inverter via a boost DC-DC converter. The PV array model contains many types of modules predefined from the database of the California Energy Commission (CEC) . More than 21,000 modules from leading manufacturers are listed in this database which includes the manufacturer's specifications measured for standard test conditions (STC). meaning Irradiance of 1000 W/m2 and 25° C.

The boost converter controls the PV array in two modes of operation: maximum power point tracking (MPPT); and curtailment. In mode 1 the boost converter duty cycle is calculated by a perturb-and-observe (P&O) MPPT algorithm to ensure maximum power extraction from the array for a given solar irradiation. In curtailment mode the duty cycle of the boost converter is controlled to follow the active power reference.

Both the DC-DC converter and the three phase AC interface converter are average models. The inverter’s function is to maintain and regulate the DC link voltage and the reactive power at their respective commanded values at the point of common coupling (PCC). A RL choke filter is used to connect the inverter to the grid. The choke filter must be designed to limit the total harmonic distortion of the PVGS current injected into the grid at the point of common coupling (PCC).

The PVGS must be connected to an external step up transformer to the grid. It is recommended to use a star-delta transformer with a base power of 1.2 times the nominal power of the PVGS. The model is not compatible with load flow. 

PVGS components schematic

Mask and Parameters

System Parameters

 

Name

Description

Unit

Name

Description

Unit

Nominal Power - Sg

Nominal power of the PVGS

VA

Nominal Voltage - Vp

Nominal AC voltage of the PVGS

V

Nominal Frequency - f

Nominal frequency of the PVGS

Hz

Nominal DC Link Voltage - Vdc

Nominal DC voltage maintained at the DC link capacitor.

V

DC link Capacitor - Cdc

DC link capacitor

F

Filter Resistance – Rgs

Filter resistance at the AC side.

Filter Inductance – Lgs

Filter inductance at the AC side

H

Switching frequency - Fsw

Switching frequency of the PWM that control the gating pulse signals of the inverter (for average inverter models, this number is only used to design the measurement filters in the control blocks).

Hz

Control Loops Parameters

Name

Description

Unit

Name

Description

Unit

Active Power Regulator**

KpP

Proportional gain PI controller for active power regulator.

-

KiP

Integral gain PI controller for active power regulator.

-

Reactive Power Regulator

KpQ

Proportional gain PI controller for reactive power regulator.

-

KiQ

Integral gain PI controller for reactive power regulator.

-

Current Regulator

KpI

Proportional gain PI controller for current regulator.

-

KiI

Integral gain PI controller for current regulator.

-

VDC Regulator

KpVDC

Proportional gain VDC Regulator

-

KiVDC

Integral gain of VDC Regulator

-

Current Limit

CL

Current Limit

pu

**D_low and D_up can be modified from the Boost Converter panel .

  • Cell: single unit of the photovoltaic semiconductor that converts the solar irradiance into electricity.

  • Module: it’s a group of cells connected in series and parallel to achieve a desired voltage and current.

The PV_Array panel is shown below. This panel contains all the parameters to tune the technology and desired output power from the PV. The panel was implemented from a MATLAB/Simulink example model available online .

PV Array Parameters

Name

Description

Unit

Name

Description

Unit

Nser

Number of PV modules connected in series.

-

Npar

Number of PV modules connected in parallel.

-

Ncell

Number of cells per module.

-

Vmp

Voltage at maximum power point for one module at nominal irradiance (1000 W/m2 ) and temperature (25 °C).

V

Imp

Current at maximum power point for one module at nominal irradiance (1000 W/m2 ) and temperature (25 °C).

A

Pmax

Maximum power 

W

Voc

Open circuit voltage for one module.

V

Isc

Short circuit current for one module.

A

Beta

Temperature coefficient at Voc

%/°C

Alpha

Temperature coefficient at Isc

%/°C

IL

Light generated current

A

I0

Diode saturation current

A

Diode ideality factor

Ideality factor of the diode.

-

Rsh

Shunt resistance

Rs

Series resistance

PV array Database Parameters

Below figure shows the Database tab of PV model. This tab lets you choose a PV from the database of the California Energy Commission (CEC). Once the selected module, the user must click Load parameters to load the model with the respective parameter values.

Boost Converter Parameters

The boost converter control parameters contain the RLC parameters together with the duty-cycle control, this duty-cycle depends on the active power regulator.

Name

Description

Unit

Name

Description

Unit

Cpv

Boost converter DC/DC link Capacitance

F

Rpv

Boost converter DC/DC link parasitic resistance

Ω

Lpv

Boost converter DC/DC link inductance

H

D_low

Minimum duty-cycle value

-

D_up

Maximum duty-cycle value

-

delD

Duty change per time step. Increment value used to increase/decrease the duty cycle per time step. Increasing the duty cycle means decreasing the voltage reference.

-

Ports, Inputs, Outputs and Signals Available for Monitoring

Ports

Name

Description

Name

Description

PCC

Network connection; supports 3-phase connection

Inputs

Name

Description

Units

Name

Description

Units

Temperature

Temperature of the PV cell

°C

Irradiance

Sun irradiance over the PV  

W/m2

Pref

Active power reference. This signal is followed if the curtailment is on and the irradiance is higher in pu than Pref.

pu

Qref

Reactive power reference.

pu

Curtailment

1- Curtailment is on, 0 curtailment is off. The PV works in MPPT mode when the curtailment is off, or when the irradiance in pu is lower than the reference active power.

-

reset

Block enabled. 1- Enable, 0- Disable.

-

Outputs

None

Sensors

Name

Description

Units

Name

Description

Units

Temperature

Temperature of the PV cell

°C

Irradiance

Sun irradiance over the PV  

W/m2

Pref

Active power reference. This signal is followed if the curtailment is on and the irradiance is higher in pu than Pref.

pu

Qref

Reactive power reference.

pu

Curtailment

1- Curtailment is on, 0 curtailment is off. The PV works in MPPT mode when the curtailment is off, or when the irradiance in pu is lower than the reference active power.

-

reset

Block enabled. 1- Enable, 0- Disable.

-

Iabc0, Iabc1, Iabc2

Three-phase current through the choke filter.

A

Vdc

DC link voltage measured at the terminals of the DC capacitor

V

P

Active power absorbed/delivered by the PVGS

pu

Q

Reactive power absorbed/delivered by the PVGS

pu

V_PV

DC output voltage produced by the PV array

V

I_PV

DC output current produced by the PV array

A

dcycle

Duty cycle control of the boost converter.

-

Modeling Details

I-V Curve Characteristics

The active power regulator is a PI controller. In order to have an active power measured equal to the active power reference, it adjusts the duty-cycle of the boost converter.  The diagram is shown below. The parameters D_up and D_low are located in the Boost Converter panel.

Active power regulator

The reactive power regulator diagram is presented below. This controller aims to minimize the error between the reactive power measured and the reactive power reference. It outputs the reference current in the q-axis. The reference current in the d-axis is controlled by the VDC regulator, the diagram is displayed in Figure 4. This regulator minimizes the error between the DC link voltage measured and the DC link voltage reference. Both regulators are PI controllers and produce the d and q axis current references for the current regulator. The output of both regulators is limited to respect the maximum current rating of the system. 

Reactive power regulator
DC link voltage regulator

The PV generation system performs the control of its output currents in the dq reference frame. The structure of current regulator is shown in Figure 5. Idq and Vdq are the grid currents and voltages, respectively, in the dq reference frame at the transformer secondary while Vdqi are the inverter output voltages. The d axis current corresponds to the active power and the q axis current corresponds to the reactive power. 

Current regulator

References

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