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a b s t r a c tGrid-tied inverters are the key components of distributed generation system because of their function as an effective interface between renewable energy sources and utility. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the use of transformerless inverter for low-voltage single-phase grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system due to higher efficiency, lower cost, smaller size and weight when compared to the ones with transformer. However, the leakage current issues of transformerless inverter, which depends on the topology structure and modulation scheme, have to be addressed very carefully. This review focuses on the transformerless topologies, which are classified into three basic groups based on the decoupling method and leakage current characteristics. Different topologies under the three classes are presented, compared and evaluated based on leakage current, component ratings, advantages, and disadvantages. An examination of demand for the inverter, the utility grid, and the PV module are presented. A performance comparison in MATLAB/Simulink environment is done among different topologies. Also an analysis has been presented to select a better topology. Finally, based on the analysis and simulation results, a comparison table has been presented. Furthermore, some important experimental parameters have been summarized.

A miniaturized antenna employing a negative index metamaterial with modified split-ring resonator (SRR) and capacitance-loaded strip (CLS) unit cells is presented for Ultra wideband (UWB) microwave imaging applications. Four left-handed (LH) metamaterial (MTM) unit cells are located along one axis of the antenna as the radiating element. Each left-handed metamaterial unit cell combines a modified split-ring resonator (SRR) with a capacitance-loaded strip (CLS) to obtain a design architecture that simultaneously exhibits both negative permittivity and negative permeability, which ensures a stable negative refractive index to improve the antenna performance for microwave imaging. The antenna structure, with dimension of 16 × 21 × 1.6 mm3, is printed on a low dielectric FR4 material with a slotted ground plane and a microstrip feed. The measured reflection coefficient demonstrates that this antenna attains 114.5% bandwidth covering the frequency band of 3.4–12.5 GHz for a voltage standing wave ratio of less than 2 with a maximum gain of 5.16 dBi at 10.15 GHz. There is a stable harmony between the simulated and measured results that indicate improved nearly omni-directional radiation characteristics within the operational frequency band. The stable surface current distribution, negative refractive index characteristic, considerable gain and radiation properties make this proposed negative index metamaterial antenna optimal for UWB microwave imaging applications.

There has been an increasing interest in transformerless inverter for grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) system because of the benefits of lower cost, smaller volume as well as higher efficiency compared with the ones with transformer. However, one of the technical challenges of the transformerless inverter is the safety issue of leakage current which needs to be addressed carefully. In addition, according to the international regulations, transformerless inverter should be capable of handling a certain amount of reactive power. In this study, a new H6-type transformerless inverter for grid-tied PV system is proposed that can eliminate the threat of leakage current. The proposed topology has also the capability to inject reactive power into the utility grid. Three-level output voltage employing unipolar sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation can be achieved with the proposed topology. The proposed topology structure and detail operation principle with reactive power control are investigated. The relationship among the existing topologies and their reactive power control capability are also discussed. The proposed topology is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink software to initially verify the accuracy of theoretical explanations. Finally, a universal prototype rated 1 kW has been built and tested. The experimental results validate the theoretical analysis and simulation results.

This paper presents a negative index metamaterial incorporated UWB antenna with an integration of complementary SRR (split-ring resonator) and CLS (capacitive loaded strip) unit cells for microwave imaging sensor applications. This metamaterial UWB antenna sensor consists of four unit cells along one axis, where each unit cell incorporates a complementary SRR and CLS pair. This integration enables a design layout that allows both a negative value of permittivity and a negative value of permeability simultaneous, resulting in a durable negative index to enhance the antenna sensor performance for microwave imaging sensor applications. The proposed MTM antenna sensor was designed and fabricated on an FR4 substrate having a thickness of 1.6 mm and a dielectric constant of 4.6. The electrical dimensions of this antenna sensor are 0.20 λ × 0.29 λ at a lower frequency of 3.1 GHz. This antenna sensor achieves a 131.5% bandwidth (VSWR < 2) covering the frequency bands from 3.1 GHz to more than 15 GHz with a maximum gain of 6.57 dBi. High fidelity factor and gain, smooth surface-current distribution and nearly omni-directional radiation patterns with low cross-polarization confirm that the proposed negative index UWB antenna is a promising entrant in the field of microwave imaging sensors.

A compact antenna is proposed using planar-patterned metamaterial structures for ultra-wideband applications. This antenna consists of four metamaterial unit cells that simultaneously show both negative permeability and negative permittivity on the triangular patch and three rectangular slots on the partial ground plane fed with a microstrip line. It has a wide bandwidth from 3.07 to 19.91 GHz for voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) <2 and an average gain of 5.62 dBi with a peak of 8.57 dBi because of using planar-patterned metamaterial structures. Good agreement between computations and experiments is realised convincing that the antenna can operate over a wide bandwidth with planar-patterned metamaterial structures and compact size (0.28λ × 0.19λ × 0.02λ).Introduction: In the field of short-distance wireless communication, a new opportunity has been introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the announcement of the 3.1-10.6 GHz frequency band for unlicensed radio communication. The metamaterial microstrip antenna is considered a promising field of research because of its favourable features such as miniaturisation, multi-band operation, controllable radiation properties, low spectral power density, high data transmission rate, and low cost. Depending on these advantages, metamaterial antennas are applied for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. However, several perspectives of metamaterial UWB antennas such as relatively complicated structures, low gain, limited capability of pulse handling, and low efficiency need to be improved. Some novel structures of metamaterials such as split-ring resonator (SRRs) [1], complementary SRR (CSRR) [2], transmission line (TL)-based structure [3], planar pattern [4,5], and artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) [6] are emerging for improving the performance of metamaterial antennas. For antenna miniaturisation, the CSRR structure was modelled as an LC circuit using metamaterial characteristics [2]. The electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure has been employed for developing the impedance matching and for achieving a wide bandwidth. The TL-based metamaterials structure is used in [3] for obtaining a wide bandwidth characteristic. Planar-pattern structures in [4,5] and AMC in [6] are proposed to attain broadband and improved gain. These above antennas do not cover the FCC-approved UWB range except those provided in [5,6]. In this Letter, we propose a compact UWB antenna employing planar-patterned metamaterial structures. The metamaterial unit cell is made of two capacitance-loaded strips (CLSs), a split ring, and a gapless ring. However, the four unit cells form a planar-pattern structure. It provides the impedance bandwidth from 3.07 to 19.91 GHz with favourable radiation performances, high gain, efficiency, and good capability of pulse handling. The antenna formation is smooth with simple design and comfortable fabrication.

The dual-band operation of a microstrip patch antenna on a Duroid 5870 substrate for Ku- and K-bands is presented. The fabrication of the proposed antenna is performed with slots and a Duroid 5870 dielectric substrate and is excited by a 50 Ω microstrip transmission line. A high-frequency structural simulator (HFSS) is used which is based on the finite element method (FEM) in this research. The measured impedance bandwidth (2 : 1 VSWR) achieved is 1.07 GHz (15.93 GHz–14.86 GHz) on the lower band and 0.94 GHz (20.67–19.73 GHz) on the upper band. A stable omnidirectional radiation pattern is observed in the operating frequency band. The proposed prototype antenna behavior is discussed in terms of the comparisons of the measured and simulated results.

The design of a compact metamaterial ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna with a goal towards application in microwave imaging systems for detecting unwanted cells in human tissue, such as in cases of breast cancer, heart failure and brain stroke detection is proposed. This proposed UWB antenna is made of four metamaterial unit cells, where each cell is an integration of a modified split ring resonator (SRR), capacitive loaded strip (CLS) and wire, to attain a design layout that simultaneously exhibits both a negative magnetic permeability and a negative electrical permittivity. This design results in an astonishing negative refractive index that enables amplification of the radiated power of this reported antenna, and therefore, high antenna performance. A low-cost FR4 substrate material is used to design and print this reported antenna, and has the following characteristics: thickness of 1.6 mm, relative permeability of one, relative permittivity of 4.60 and loss tangent of 0.02. The overall antenna size is 19.36 mm × 27.72 mm × 1.6 mm where the electrical dimension is 0.20 λ × 0.28 λ × 0.016 λ at the 3.05 GHz lower frequency band. Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) measurements have illustrated that this antenna exhibits an impedance bandwidth from 3.05 GHz to more than 15 GHz for VSWR < 2 with an average gain of 4.38 dBi throughout the operating frequency band. The simulations (both HFSS and computer simulation technology (CST)) and the measurements are in high agreement. A high correlation factor and the capability of detecting tumour simulants confirm that this reported UWB antenna can be used as an imaging sensor.