Power Converters For Photovoltaic Generation Systems In Smart Grid Applications

Alfio Consoli; Mario Cacciato; Vittorio Crisafulli

doi:10.18618/REP.2009.4.251257

Authors

Alfio Consoli DIEES, University of Catania, Italy Viale Andrea Doria, 6 95125 Catania, Italy
Mario Cacciato DIEES, University of Catania, Italy Viale Andrea Doria, 6 95125 Catania, Italy
Vittorio Crisafulli DIEES, University of Catania, Italy Viale Andrea Doria, 6 95125 Catania, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18618/REP.2009.4.251257

Keywords:

Converter Topologies, Grid-Connection, PV Panel Converters, PV String Conversion

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the power converters that are adopted in PhotoVoltaic generation systems in the power range till 20 kW. For this type of renewable energy applications a double trend can be identified according to power conversion systems below few kW and higher than 3-5 kW. The paper deeply analyses both converter configurations also taking into consideration the control aspects connected to the efficient and reliable connection to the grid of such systems. Some experimental results are presented dealing with two prototypes belonging to each of the identified classes of converters.

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Author Biographies

Alfio Consoli, DIEES, University of Catania, Italy Viale Andrea Doria, 6 95125 Catania, Italy

, after a period at Fiat in Torino, Italy, working at the R&D unit, has been a professor of Electrical Machines with the University of Catania since 1975, teaching in the areas of electrical machines, electrical drives and power electronics. Since 1980 he has been visiting the USA for research and teaching assignments. His research activities include energy conversion systems, electrical drives, robotics, and power electronics, having been performed in the frame of industry cooperation, national, and international research programs. He has authored or co-authored over 300 technical papers and holds four international patents. He is co-author and co-editor of the book "Modern Electric Drives" published by Kluwer in 2000. He is also the author of ‘Electrical Motors’ within the Italian National Encyclopedia ‘Treccani’. Among his international achievements, are two IEEE awards respectively for the best paper published in the IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, and for paper presented at the IEEE-IAS Annual Meeting. Prof. Consoli is the Past President of CMAE (Converters, Machines, and Electrical Drives) the Association of Italian Professors on Power Electronics. Since 1987 he has been responsible of the Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering and now is the Coordinator of the Ph.D. program in Energy at the Scuola Superiore of Catania. He is the Head of CePTIT, the ‘Center for Promotion and Transfer of Innovation Technology’ at the University of Catania, that he created in 1999. Dr. Consoli is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE IAS/PELS Societies. He is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics and a member of the Advisory Committee of the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) as the Chairman of the Motor Drives Committee. He is also a member of the Italian Electric Association (AEI) and a member of the Executive Committee and the International Steering Committee of the European Power Electronics Association (EPE).

Mario Cacciato, DIEES, University of Catania, Italy Viale Andrea Doria, 6 95125 Catania, Italy

received the degree in Electrical Engineering cum laude from the University of Catania, Italy, in 1996. In 2000 he received the PhD in Electronic Engineering from the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy. In 2000 he was with the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’ as an Assistant Professor. From 2004 he is with the Department of Electrical, Electronics and System Engineering of the University of Catania, where he is currently teaching Electrical Drives. The main scientific interests of Dr. Cacciato include power electronics, control of electric drives, electromagnetic compatibility, renewable energies and hydrogen applications. Dr. Cacciato is the author of more than 60 technical papers, published on journals and proceedings of international conferences. He has also participated to several research projects founded by Italian and foreigner agencies such as MIUR, CNR, ENEA, and the European Community. Dr. Cacciato is a member of the IEEE and AEIT, the Italian Electric Association. Within AEIT, he is presently a member of the scientific board of the Automation Group.

Vittorio Crisafulli, DIEES, University of Catania, Italy Viale Andrea Doria, 6 95125 Catania, Italy

received the MSc degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Catania in January 2007. Since June 2006 he has collaborating with STMicroelctronics, Catania site, and Dept. of Electrical, Electronics and Systems Engineering of the University of Catania. In January 2008 he was admitted to the International PhD on Energy of the Scuola Superiore - University of Catania. His main interests are in the following fields: industrial switch mode power supply, inverters for UPS, converter and control techniques for Photovoltaic Applications. He has co-authored of some National and International Paper in Power Electronics.

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