Dual-function PV-ECS integrated to 3P4W distribution grid using 3M-PLL control for active power transfer and power quality improvement

Abstract

This study proposes a single-stage solar photovoltaic energy conversion system (PV-ECS) integrated to a threephase four-wire (3P4W) distribution grid with dual-function capabilities, i.e. active power transfer and power quality (PQ) enhancement at the point of interaction (PoI). The PV-ECS system comprises of a solar photovoltaic array and a voltage source inverter (VSI), supplying active power (during daytime) to the distribution grid and connected single-phase and three-phase loads. Apart from transfer of power, the system also improves the PQ at the PoI by compensating reactive power and neutral current, attenuating harmonics, correcting power factor and balancing grid currents. During night, the VSI acts as a shunt active power filter mitigating PQ issues, thereby increasing the device utilisation factor. A three-phase magnitude-phase locked loop (3M-PLL) method is utilised to extract and estimate fundamental term of load currents and an incremental conductance algorithm is applied for maximum power point tracking. To demonstrate its effectiveness, the system is modelled and its performance is simulated on MATLAB and experiments are performed on a developed prototype in the laboratory.