The concept of the AC photovoltaic modulea photovoltaic module with an integral dc to ac inverterwas conceived 2 0 years ago at Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, but is only now reaching commercial realization. Advances in power electronics, integrated circuits, microprocessors and communications were needed before AC photovoltaic modules could become a reality.Advanced Energy Systems and Solarex (the largest US-owned PV manufacturer) are now bringing the first commercial AC PV module to market. This is a 240 Watt peak large-area (6'3" x 3'8") PV module with an integral 240 Watt inverter (4 Amps, 60 V dc input to 120V ac, 60 Hz, 2A output).The AC Module concept has many advantages over central inverter systemsthe main ones being a low minimum system size (and hence a low barrier to market entry) and the ability to site individual modules without concern for shading and orientation.We believe that the AC PV module will become a significant consumer product and will have wide application as part of the emerging distributed electric utility.
Technical Information CenterOffice of Scientific and Technical Information United States Department of Energy DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency Thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. DISCLAIMERPortions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. n d~o f a u t o n e x p m m c d b e r o i e d o n o t n c e o o r u i t y~o r l n t l a c t t h o~0 o f t b e U n i t e d S t a~~a a n y~t h e r w f ,This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy. AvuIable from the THIS PAGE WAS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANKABSTRACT Photovoltaic systems, the state of the art of power conditioning subsystem components, and the design and operational interaction between photovoltaic systems and host utilities are detailed in this document. Major technical issues relating to the design and development of power conditioning systems for photovoltaic application are also considered, including: (1) standards, guidelines, and specifications; ( 2 ) cost-effective hardware design; ( 3 ) impact of advanced components on power conditioning developnient ; ( 4 ) protection and safety; ( 5 ) quality of power; ( 6 ) system efficiency; and ( 7 ) system integration with the host utility. In addition, theories of harmonic distortion and reactive power flow are discussed, and information about power conditioner hardware and manufacturers is provided.iii FOREWORD Powzr conditioning development has been a significant component of the Photovoltaics (PV) Program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This document establishes a perspective for that effort. Because alternative renewable energy sources are expected to become competitive with more conventional utility energy generation sources, realization of the full potential of the alternative energy will ultimately require interconnections with the utility grid. Power conditioners must therefore be grid compatible. The DOE has long recognized the need to resolve interconnection issues to ensure s smooth integration of Dispersed Storage and Generations (DSG) systems into the utility grid. The Electric Energy Systems Division (DOE/EES) has been given the generic responsibility for ensuring the integration of ...
MarketpIace aaxptance d utilityconnected photovoltaic (w) power gerteration systems and their &erated tnstallation into residential and COMlerdal appliitions are heavify d q e d n t lpon the ability of their power condtioning &systems (PCS) to meet hgh reliability, k~ cost and tigh p&mance goals. Many PCS development efforts have taken place over the last 15 years,'and those efforts have resulted in sbstantial PCS hardware 'npravements. These inprovements, however, have ~eneralfy fallen short of meeting many r d i l i t y , cost and perfomw~ce goals. Continuously evohing semiconductor techndogy develppments, oolpled with expanded market opportunities for power processing, offer a dgnificant promise of inproving PCS M i l i i , cost and p e r f o m r a m , 8s they are integrated into Mure Pcs dssigns. This paper revisits past and present deve-nt efforts in PCS design, identifies the evdutionary improvements and desabes the new opportunities for PCS designs. The new opportunities are arising from the inmased avalability and c a @ i l i t y of bemi COndUCfOT switching conponents, rn ~C M d e h , and pawer integrated a& (ACs). The conversion of free and sbundantty available sdar energy into cosfconpetitive decW pawer has been the post-Tesla culture, ac electricity is, by far, the most common form of electrical power used in t he U.SA and the world. Utilities have adopted 8c as a standard of generation and b-ansmissii. Hence, for W to become a significant power qpliier, the dc from the W must be converted to utility mpabwe ac power by a PCS. 'The PCS must conform to all of the rigorous requirements that are necessary for operation with the utility. This puts the PCS at the center of a challenge. That challenge calls for figh reliability and performance of the PCS today, with a continuous examination of evolving, germane technologies that have relevance and adaptation pdential for inprovemen1 of the PCS. Both stand-alone and utility-interactive W p o w systems have been designed and are widely operational in the U.SA and elswhere throughout the world Some of h e * reliable, efficient and axt effective. Also a Prof&sor of Electrical Engineering at C d i f d i a Stale University at L o n g B w h , and I Senior Manbn of AIAA. Sandia's portion of this work supported by the US. k p m e n t of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94-AL8500.
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