Mission profile based multi-disciplinary analysis of power modules in single-phase transformerless photovoltaic inverters

Yongheng Yang, Huai Wang, Frede Blaabjerg, Ke Ma

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    72 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The popularity of transformerless photovoltaic (PV) inverters in Europe proves that these topologies can achieve higher efficiency (e.g., ≥ 98% has been reported). Along with the advanced power electronics technology and the booming development of PV power systems, a long service time (e.g. 25 years) has been set as a main target and an emerging demand from the customers, which imposes a new challenge on grid-connected transformerless inverters. In order to reduce maintenance cost, it is essential to predict the lifetime of the transformerless PV inverter and its components based on the mission profiles - solar irradiance and ambient temperature. In this paper, a mission profile based analysis approach is proposed and it is demonstrated by three main single-phase transformerless PV inverters - Full-Bridge (FB) with bipolar modulation scheme, the FB inverter with DC bypass (FB-DCBP) topology and the FB inverter with AC bypass leg (highly efficient and reliable inverter concept, HERIC inverter). Since the thermal stress is one of the most critical factors that induce failures, the junction temperatures on the power devices of the three topologies are analyzed and compared by considering the mission profiles. The lifetimes of these topologies are discussed according to the thermal performance and the power losses on the switching devices are also compared.

    Original languageBritish English
    Title of host publication2013 15th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications, EPE 2013
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2013
    Event2013 15th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications, EPE 2013 - Lille, France
    Duration: 2 Sep 20136 Sep 2013

    Publication series

    Name2013 15th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications, EPE 2013

    Conference

    Conference2013 15th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications, EPE 2013
    Country/TerritoryFrance
    CityLille
    Period2/09/136/09/13

    Keywords

    • Mission profile
    • Photovoltaic
    • Reliability
    • Single phase system
    • Thermal stress
    • Voltage source converter

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