High efficiency inverters for grid connection of small photovoltaic power plants
IRD A/S has developed and tested a new high efficient grid connected DC/AC inverter concept for household, small scale photovoltaic power supplies for households etc. The inverter concept has been developed for the power range 1-10 kW with high efficiency in a wide power range and with very low power losses.
History: In the EFP-94 project 'Switch Mode Inverter for Fuel and Solar Cell Power Plants', it was established that it was possible to construct inverters in a new concept with an, up to now unseen, high efficiency. During the development it was realized that the inverter concept was not directly suitable for smaller photovoltaic power plants. Project: This project will, on the basis of the EFP-94 project, develop, construct and test a DC to AC inverter for smaller photovoltaic power plants, less than 10kW. The inverter will be suited to photovoltaic cell characteristics in order to achieve high efficiency in the wide operating range of the photovoltaic cells. Based on the formerly achieved results the efficiency is expected to be more than 98%. The inverter will be constructed for grid connection (230 Vrms), and the sinewave will be based on additive pulse switching, controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor will be used for supervision, control and communication, which via a modem will make it possible to extract data and control the inverter from a PC connection to the grid
The inverter technology has been developed in a modular and an all digitalized design consisting of power switch, digital signal processor (DSP) and software. The project has focussed on a low cost design and constuction which can be produced in large scale for less than 130 Euro/kW. Furhtermore the inverter is designed so any numbers of inverters can be added to the grid independently. The inverter is supplied with a control-, safety- and data collection system which can be coupled to a PC serial interphase either directly or via the grid or telephone communications system. The inverter has been designed, constructed and built in 3 kW units which have been tested in the laboratory and in test installations. The specified data as follows have all been approved by the tests
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Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
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Contact
Kullinggade 31
DK-5700 Svendborg, Denmark
Gammeljord Nielsen, Peter Lundsgaard, Jørgen S., 62800008, irdapost4.tele.dk
Øvr. Partnere: Silcon Power Electronics A/S; Powertronics (ZW)
