Study of a synchronization system for distributed inverters conceived for FPGA devices

Abstract

In a multiple parallel-connected inverters system, limiting the circulating current phenomenon is mandatory since it may influence efficiency and reliability. In this paper, a new control method aimed at this purpose and conceived to be implemented on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device is presented. Each of the inverters, connected in parallel, is conceived to be equipped with an FPGA that controls the Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) waveform without intercommunication with the others. The hardware implemented is the same for every inverter; therefore, the addition of a new module does not require redesign, enhancing system modularity. The system has been simulated in a Simulink environment. To study its behavior and to improve the control method, simulations with two parallel-connected inverters have been firstly conducted, then additional simulations have been performed with increasing complexity to demonstrate the quality of the algorithm. The results prove the ability of the method proposed to limit the circulating currents to negligible values.