Chapter 5 Introduction to Solar Photovoltaic Components and Systems
5.4 Inverters
Inverter is an electronic device that converts DC voltage into AC voltage of required
magnitude and frequency. In solar PV applications inverters are used to power the
equipment/devices that operate from AC source. The DC to AC conversion is required
as the solar PV system generates and stores energy in the form of DC voltage and
current only. The inverters are some time called DC-AC converters.
Basic Principle of operation of inverters
The basic idea behind DC-AC conversion is to turn ON and OFF the DC supply
voltage (e.g. 12 V) at a regular interval (as governed by the frequency of the required
AC signal; e.g. 50 Hz) and boost the magnitude of switched voltage to required level
(e.g. 220V). The graphical representations shown in figure 5.4.1 below illustrate the
basic principle of the conversion.
V Un - switched DC voltage
from battery or other source
t
DC voltage from battery or other source
switched On-Off at regular interval
On Off
V
t
Switched DC voltage (already an AC
voltage) boosted to required level
V
Fig. 5.4.1 Basic Principle of DC-AC conversion
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Functionally, the block diagram of the simplest inverter would be as shown in fig.
5.4.2.
Switch
control
DC In AC Out
Switching circuit Voltage magnitude
booster
Fig. 5.4.2 Functional diagram of DC-AC conversion
The DC input supply, say 12 V, is fed to a switching circuit, which makes and breaks
the current path on a fixed regular interval. The switch On-Off time is controlled by
the switch control circuit. The output of the switching circuit now is rather quasi AC
than DC. By the term quasi, it is to be understood that the AC is not the type of AC in
which the flow of current reverses periodically. In the present case, the current either
flow in one direction or do not flow at all. In technical terms, this AC is shifted in
voltage axis by a level equal to its negative swing. Now if this quasi AC voltage is
passed through an electronic component (capacitor) that blocks the DC voltage level,
AC voltage in true sense is obtained. Thus obtained AC voltage magnitude does not
exceed the input DC level. Voltage boosting circuit (transformer) is further used to
increase the magnitude of the AC voltage to required level.
Parameters of an Inverter
The basic parameters of an inverter are as follows:
Rated Output Power
This parameter indicates the continuous power that an inverter can deliver in normal
operating condition. The unit of rated output power is VA. The power is expressed in
VA, because the inverter can also be used to power loads with reactance like motor.
Nominal output voltage
It is the magnitude of output voltage (RMS value) that the inverter produces steadily.
This voltage is specified with fixed level of deviation like 200V +/- 10% for given
range of fluctuation of input DC voltage.
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Nominal Frequency
It indicates the frequency of the output voltage or current waveform and expressed in
Hz. As with the voltage, the value of frequency is also specified with tolerance level,
generally about 2% from the nominal value of 50 Hz.
Efficiency
Efficiency of an inverter is an indication of the losses of energy occurred during the
conversion from DC to AC. Efficiency is the ratio of output power delivered to the
nominal load (i.e. the maximum load for which the inverter is designed) and the total
input power drawn from the DC source. The efficiency is expressed in percent and is
specified for the upper limit of load. Typical efficiency of good inverter exceeds 80%
range.
Maximum Quiescent Current
It is the current drawn by the inverter from the DC source in idle (no load) condition.
Surge Capability
It is an indication of the capability of the inverter to deliver the power beyond its
nominal power for a very short period of time. This capability is very important where
the load takes large surge current for a short period time and then draws nominal rated
current rest of the time. Examples of such loads are color television, motors,
refrigerators etc. The surge capability is usually defined in percent of its nominal
capacity for given duration (e.g. 150% of rated capacity for 2 seconds).
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
The AC supply from the grid line has sinusoidal waveform containing a single
frequency component called fundamental frequency. In other words, if the waveform
of the grid supply is perfectly sinusoidal, it will contain the frequency component of
50 Hz only, i.e. no other frequency components are present in that waveform. But if
the waveform is other than sinusoidal (e.g. rectangular or square), it will contain the
frequency components that are integer multiple of fundamental frequency. These
additional frequency components are called harmonics. The total harmonic distortion
(THD), expressed in percent, is the ratio of power contained in all other frequency
components to the power contained in the fundamental frequency only. The THD is
the measure of similarity between the real waveform and the ideal sinusoidal
waveform. The THD of ideal sinusoidal waveform is essentially zero.
Other additional parameters may include operating environmental conditions
(temperature and humidity levels), safety measures (electric shock protection, reverse
polarity protection, over-load protection, low input voltage warning etc.), noise levels
etc.
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Types of Inverters
Inverters are classified into different groups based on the following criteria:
Output Power Rating
According to this rating, inverters are in low power (upto 500 VA), medium power
(upto 5000 VA) and high power (above 5000 VA) inverters.
Output Waveform
As per this criterion, the inverters are sub divided into sinusoidal, quasi-sinusoidal and
square wave types (fig. 5.4.3). The output of a sinusoidal (or sine wave) inverter is
sinusoidal in shape and thus it has very low or negligible THD value. It is the most
preferable type of inverter as it produces the waveform identical to the waveform
available in grid supply. This type of inverter has low efficiency and cost more. Quasi
sine wave inverter has the waveform resembling the sinusoidal waveform. This type
of inverter has higher THD value than the sine wave inverter but is more efficient and
cost effective. The square wave inverters are simple in design, have highest efficiency,
low cost but have highest THD value. It is the challenge of the designer to select the
most appropriate inverter based on the cost, application and quality of the waveform.
V or I Quasi sine
wave
sine wave
Square wave
Fig. 5.4.3 Different types of waveforms
Single or three phase type
As with the grid supply, which could be single phase (two wires labeled as phase or
live and neutral) or three phase (three live wires and one neutral wire or three live
wires), inverters are also designed to produce single phase or three phase supply.
Inverters to be used with loads requiring three phase supply are classified as three
phase inverters. Usually large power inverters are three phase type.
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Continuous duty or back-up type
The inverters designed for continuous operation are called continuous duty inverters.
The inverters used to power loads like television, refrigerator, motors etc. are
generally continuous duty type. The inverters used in computers as uninterruptible
power supply are referred to back-up type because the inverters power the computers
for a short period of time allowing users to save their work when the grid supply fails.
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