DC CURRENT INJECTION INTO THE NETWORK FROM PV GRID INVERTERS

V. Salas , E. Olas , M. Alonso , F. Chenlo and A. Barrado

Electronic Technology Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid1, Legans (Madrid), SPAIN
2
Photovoltaic Solar Energy CIEMAT , Madrid, SPAIN

ABSTRACT
The present paper is focused on the study of the DC
current injection for low voltage small grid-connected PV
systems, which is one power quality requirements by the
utility companies. For this aim, the existing status of guidelines and regulations in six selected countries where the
development in the grid PV sector has evolved rapidly
over the last decade, (Japan, Germany, USA, Australia,
Spain and United Kingdom) has been viewed, according
to the dc current injection into the grid. Furthermore, a
grid-connected system installed in Spain has been used to
perform measures about their possible DC current injection into the grid. Thus, twelve single-phase inverters (according to the transformer options: 50 Hz LF transformers,
HF transformers or transformer-less) from the European
market have been tested. Many groups of measurements
were made, under different conditions. The results show
that in all cases there is any DC current injection, even if a
LF transformer inverter is used.
INTRODUCTION
Currently the management of energy sources represents a fundamental problem for the development and
prosperity of any community. As a result, there exist two
major problems: the energy sources and the ambient
pollution from the residues from conventional sources.
Taking this into consideration, it is necessary to optimize energy resources as with using alternative energy
sources. The main characteristics of such sources include
their renewability and small contamination contribution.
Photovoltaic solar energy is in this category and its use
also has increased notably in industry over the past few
years.
Common distributed generators, PV generators particularly, are increasingly being connected to utility grids to
contribute electrical power to the utility grid to meet power
demands and to meet electric consumers demands for
alternate sources of power.
GRID PHOTOVOLTAIC ELEMENTS: PHOTOVOLTAIC INVERTER

Figure 1 Grid photovoltaic elements

The DC voltage at PV generator is converted to a sinusoidal AC current waveform at the output of the switch
converter, inverter, in order that may be connected and
synchronized to the utility network. According to state of
the art, inverters can be divided into three groups, in
agreement with transformer options: 50 Hz LF transformers, HF transformers and transformerless. A review of the
state of the art inverter has been also carried out. Thus,
three hundred and seventy nine have been viewed, from
which the 76 % are 10 kW below and 24 % up of 10 kW.
Table 1 According to the dc current injection into the grid,
existing status of guidelines and regulations in six selected
countries, in alphabetic order: Australia, Germany, Japan,
Spain, United Kingdom and United States
Country
Standard
Max DC
Max DC curcurrent
rent permitted
permitted without transwith transformer
former
Australia AS 4777.2
5 mA
5 mA
Germany DIN VDE
1000 mA
126
Japan
Technical
1 % inverter
1 % inverter
Guideline for rated power
rated power
the Grid
Interconnection
Spain
RD
1663/2000
United
ER G83/1
5 mA
Kingdom
USA
IEEE 9290.5 % rated
0.5 % rated
2000
power inpower inverter
verter

Figure 1 shows the main structure of the photovoltaic

system, which consists of the photovoltaic generator,
inverter, ac-filter and utility grid. The integration of PV
systems to electricity networks is covered in the standard
[1].

1-4244-0016-3/06/$20.00 2006 IEEE

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By the other hand, one of the most important technical

issues of the grid connection of generation plants is the
power quality. For any grid-connected system, voltage and
frequency regulation, harmonic distortion in the operating
load range, power factor, protection and operation criteria
in the event of a grid failure consideration are important.
However, in this paper special attention has been shown
in the DC current injection. Because, a dc current fed from
the customer's side into the grid can disturb the regular
operation of the upstream distribution transformer. It can
shift the transformers operating point and might cause
saturation. This would result in high primary current peaks,
which might trip the input fuse and thus cause a power
outage to that specific section of the grid. It would furthermore cause increased harmonics.
However, the grid-interface criteria vary with the utility
companies and have yet to be standardised internationally. Then, according to the dc current injection into the
grid, existing status of guidelines and regulations in six
selected countries, in alphabetic order, Australia [2], Germany [3], Japan [4], Spain [5], United Kingdom [6] and
United States [7], where the development in the grid PV
sector has evolved rapidly over the last decade, have
been viewed, Table 1.
Table 2 Inverters tested in the experimentation
Inverter type

Company

Nominal
Power
(W)

Nominal
Current
(A)

A
B
C
D

2500
4600
5000
2200

10
22
33
10

F
G
H
I

2500
3000
3000
2600

10.9
14.9
13
12

J
K
L
M

3300
2300
2300
2500

14.3
14.3
10.9
13

LF transformer

HF transformer

Thus, from a Laptop 0.04 A DC (7.7% of rms current) was

measured as well as 0.03 A DC (11.2 % of rms current)
from a Desktop PC. Also, the reference [9] reports 0.34 A
DC (0.53 % of rms current) from a fluorescent lighting
load. However, up now measurements of DC current injection from PV grid inverter have not been made. Theoretically, two of the three types of inverter inverters, HF transformer and transformerless inverters, are candidates to
DC current injection.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
A photovoltaic grid-connected system installed in the
CIEMAT (Madrid 40 23 N, Spain) has been used to perform measures. This installation was connected to an
acquisition data system. This system received values from
meteorological variables and electric signals on the input
and output of the inverter. Such values have been measured by means of the Yokogawa PZ4000 modular power
analyzer.
To carry out this study, twelve 50 Hz single-phase inverters have been selected and tested, around 3 kW, from
European market. In the Table 2 is shown their most important characteristics.
Three groups of measurements were made: firstly,
measurements for all inverters, under different dc operating voltage, using function in harmonic mode of power
analyzer, were made. Then, only the cero harmonic was
taken. Secondly, in the transformerless and HF inverters a
toroidal LF transformer, in accordance with IEC 61558
[10], was put into outside between the inverter and the grid
connection, observing the possible influence of the transformer into the dc current. And thirdly, measurements,
using function in the normal mode of power analyzer, Idc
simple average, were taken and compared with the measurements using the function in harmonic mode.
In the Figures 2 to 6 are shown some results more
representatives obtained in this study for every type of
inverter.

Transformerless

23/08/05

0.1

DC current in AC side (A)

0.08

SOURCES OF DC INJECTION
There are numerous potential sources of direct current,
namely: power supplies computer, network faults, geomagnetic phenomena, cycloconverters, lighting circuits/dimmers, embedded generators, AC and DC
drivesand PV grid inverters.
Measurements have been performanced of some
sources. For examples, measurements were taken from
computer power supplies, [8], monitoring the DC levels.

0.06
0.04
0.02
0
-0.02

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-0.04
-0.06
-0.08
-0.1
AC Power (W)

Figure 2 DC current in AC side (A) gathered from a PV LF

transformer inverter (type A), taken in harmonic mode

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And finally, the measures using function in the normal

measurement mode, Idc simple average, were similar to
harmonic measurement mode.
9/2/2005

0.1

27/07/05

0.06

DC current in AC side (A)

HF transformer Inverter + LF transformer

HF transformer Inverter

0.08
DC current in AC side (A)

From the Figures 2, 3 and 4 can be observed that

there are some differentiates appreciable for the DC current measured among inverters for the three groups. Thus,
the maximum value is greater in transformerless inverters
than HF transformer and LF transformer inverters, respectively. Thus, there is DC current non zero when a LF transformer inverter is used. To probe if that DC current came
from inverter or was existing in the network the only DC
current network was measured. Values non zero were
met.

0.05
0.04

0.06
0.04
0.02
0
-0.02 0

500

1000

1500

2000

-0.04
0.03

-0.06
AC Power (W)

0.02

Figure 5 DC current in AC side (A) gathered from a PV HF

transformer inverter adding an LF toroidal transformer, measured in harmonic mode

0.01
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

AC Power (W)

8/2/2005

Figure 3 DC current in AC side (A) gathered from a PV HF

transformer inverter (type E), taken in harmonic mode

0.2

DC current in AC side (A)

In a second group of measures taken, when a LF

toroidal transformer was inserted between inverter and
network in a HF transformer and transformerless inverter
(previously measured without transformer), is shown in
Figures 5 and 6 that the DC current decreases with respect to the same measures without transformer. Therefore, the results, then, are similar than LF transformer
inverter.

0.1
0.05
0
-0.05

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

-0.1

8/2/2005

0.2

-0.15
AC Power (W)

0.15
DC current in AC side (A)

Transformerless Inverter + LF transformer

Transformerless Inverter + LF transformer

0.15

Figure 6 DC current in AC side (A) gathered from a PV

transformerless inverter adding an LF toroidal transformer,
measured in harmonic mode

0.1
0.05
0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

-0.05
-0.1
-0.15
AC Power (W)

Figure 4 DC current in AC side (A) gathered from a PV

transformerless inverter (type E), taken in harmonic mode

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CONCLUSIONS

[9] The BSRIA Power Quality Guide, Application Guide

AG2/2000, Pearson,C.C, Uthayanan, V.

Based on the results presented the following conclusions may be stated. From said legislation it has been
possible to determine that discrepancies exist among the
standards which are applied in the different countries. For
example, in three of the countries analyzed (the United
States, Japan and Australia), limitations with respect to the
injection of the DC are imposed for inverters with a transformer.
With respect to measures taken from different inverters have been observed that there are some differentiates
appreciable for the DC current measured among inverters
for the three groups.
Also, there is DC current non zero when a LF transformer inverter is tested. It might probe that there is a
current existing in the network that varies with respect the
time.
Finally, when a LF toroidal transformer was inserted
between inverter and network in DC/AC converters without
LF transformer (previously measured without transformer),
is shown that the DC current decreases with respect to the
same measures without transformer. Although there is DC
current non zero. It might probe that there is a DC current
injection to the network.

[10] IEC 61558-1: 1997, Safety of power transformers,

power supplies, reactors and similar products - Part 1:
General requirements and tests.

REFERENCES
[1] IEC 61727: 1996 Photovoltaic (Pv) Systems. Characteristics of the utility interface.
[2] AS 4777.2, Grid connection of energy systems via
inverters Part 2: Inverter requirements. Australia. 2002
[3] DIN VDE 0126-1-1 Automatic disconnection device
between a generator and the public low-voltage grid,
1999.
[4] JISC 8980:1997 Power conditioner for small photovoltaic power generating system.
[5] Royal Decree 1663/2000, dated September 29th, on
the connection of photovoltaic installations to the low voltage network.
[6] ER G83/1Recommendations for the connection of
small-scale embedded generators (up to 16 a per phase)
in parallel with public low-voltage distribution networks.
Engineering Recommendation, United Kingdom, September 2003.
[7] IEEE 929-2000, IEEE Recommended Practice for
Utility Interface of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, 3 April,
2000.
[8] Industry Consultation on Grid Connection of Small PV
systems, ETSU S/P2/00332/REP, Halcrow Gilbert, 2000

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