A PV MODULE-INTEGRATED INVERTER USING A ĆUK CONVERTER
IN DCM WITH ISLAND DETECTION SCHEME
Henrique G. Cabral, Paulo F. S. R. de Faria, Igor L. Guisso, Carlos E. B. Rambo, Bruno L. Vigna,
Maurício S. Santos, Vanderlei A. Vieira Jr., Renan C. Viero and Fernando S. dos Reis
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
e-mail: f.dosreis@gmail.com
Abstract – This paper reports a study on a grid-tied
photovoltaic system, using a microinverter based on Ćuk
converter working in DCM. Since, when the Ćuk
converter is working in DCM, its output voltage presents
a linear behavior in relationship to its duty cycle.
Therefore, the duty cycle must have a sinusoidal
behavior, in absolute value, in order to generate a
rectified sine current waveform, at its output. The
connection of a full bridge current source inverter in
cascade with the Ćuk converter, allows obtaining a
sinusoidal current waveform at the microinverter output.
One of the most important challenges on microgeneration
systems is the island detection. In this sense, if the system
is unable to detect the islanding, this may cause power
quality degradation, electrical safety threats, especially
related to maintenance crews, and damage to third-party
devices connected to the same power grid.
Keywords – Anti-islanding, PV systems, DG,
microinverter, renewable energy, Ćuk converter, DCM.
I. INTRODUCTION
From the economic perspective, the microgeneration
technology can offer benefits to both electric distribution and
generation companies and consumers, since in this paradigm,
namely the distributed microgeneration, consumers also
assume the role of producers of electricity [1]. This is
especially true for photovoltaic (PV) panels, given that,
densely populated areas can also generate great amounts of
electric power by installing PV panels on its rooftops. Thus,
the main objective of this work is to develop a microinverter,
including active islanding detection system, in order to inject
the electric power generated by photovoltaic panels into the
commercial power grid.
The proposed microinverter is divided into two main
parts: the first one is based on the Ćuk converter, operating at
high frequency (20 kHz), and the second section is
implemented by a full bridge current source inverter (CSI),
working at low frequency (mains frequency, in this case
60 Hz). The Ćuk converter is responsible for the synthesis of
sine current waveform, in absolute value, synchronized with
the power grid. The full bridge inverter in cascade with the
converter ensures a sinusoidal current waveform at the
microinverter output. Considering the aforementioned
microinverter configuration, it is right ensure that, it provides
galvanic insulation, which is required in many countries. In
this topology, the switching losses are also reduced. Once,
only the Ćuk converter operates at high frequency.
978-1-4799-8779-5/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
In order to safely and successfully inject the electrical
power generated by distributed generation systems (DGS)
into the electrical power system, a series of control measures
must be taken. To avoid unsafe conditions, the DGS must
sense when the utility grid is disconnected either for
maintenance, by fault or human error. The islanding occurs
when the grid is offline, for any of the reasons above
described, but the DGS still feeds the point of common
coupling (PCC). For this purpose, an anti-islanding (AI)
protection scheme must be used so as to avoid this unsafe
condition, effectively protecting the personnel and equipment
of the system. Strict test conditions for this phenomenon are
defined under IEEE 929 (Recommended Practice for Utility
Interface of Residential and Intermediate Photovoltaic (PV)
Systems) and must be followed to avoid islanding of
distributed resources.
Several AI protection schemes have been developed and
are classified in two main categories: passive and active
methods. Passive AI protection schemes sense the electrical
parameters of the commercial power grid, and take action if
one of them is outside the desired standards. Active methods
try to cause disturbances at the PCC by altering the
magnitude, frequency or phase at the inverter output [2]. By
observing if the perturbation effectively occurs, the system
can detect an islanding condition and disconnect itself from
the grid, given that in the presence of the power grid the
electrical parameters at the PCC are imposed by it.
In this paper, a microinverter based on Ćuk converter is
proposed. This converter was chosen because it presents a
current source behavior in its input and output. The presence
of the output inductor gives to this circuit a current source
characteristic, which turns out to be suitable for connection
to the power grid, which has voltage source characteristics,
as is well known [3].
In the following sections, a brief design methodology
based on the quasi-static approach will be presented for the
Ćuk converter, as well as the component values used for the
actual prototype. Using a simulation tool and an
experimental prototype, the proposed active anti-islanding
protection scheme was validated, and the obtained results are
presented and discussed in the sequence of this paper.
II. OPERATION OF THE MICROINVERTER
Low power DC-DC converters operating in discontinuous
conduction mode (DCM) are widely used for implementation
of microinverters dedicated to PV systems, being one of the
best solutions for applications in low power [4]. This is due
to several factors such as: a) their topological simplicity, b)
low implementation cost, c) simplicity of the control loop
design, d) capacity to synthesize a sinusoidal current
waveform through simple variation of the duty cycle,
according to a sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM)
law, as shown in (1), when the converter is working in DCM.
The sinusoidal modulation ensures that the harmonic current
injected into the power grid is not affected by variations in
irradiance and temperature since the DCM operation is
guaranteed [5], [6]. The highlighted advantages, besides
many others, point the Ćuk converter as a satisfactory
solution to distributed microgeneration based on PV
modules.
d( ω t) = d max sin( ω t + ϕ ) (1)
where, dmax is determined through a maximum power point
tracking (MPPT) algorithm and ϕ is the absolute value of the
phase displacement introduced by the Ćuk microinverter.
The studied system, the microinverter, can be divided into
three stages, as is shown in Fig. 1: The first stage consists of
two Siemens© PV panels model SR50 (table I) connected in
series generating a rated power of 100 Wp (under Standard
Test Conditions - STC). These panels are connected in
parallel to a decoupling capacitor (CPV), whose function is
storing energy arising from the panels (Fig. 1). In the present
implementation, the capacitor has to be bulky, since the
converter synthesizes a rectified sinusoidal current waveform
in its output, in low frequency [4]. However, the input
current that is supplied by PV panels is almost constant.
Therefore, the capacitor (CPV) must be designed for storage
and to supply power during one semi-cycle of the power
mains.
A Ćuk converter is implemented in the second stage,
which is responsible for the galvanic isolation, for
synthesizing a rectified sinusoidal current waveform on its
output and for the impedance matching between the PV
module and the power grid. Therefore, the Ćuk converter
Fig 1. Full energy conversion system.
TABLE I
PV Module Specification at STC Panel Model SR50 [11]
Electrical PV module parameters Value
Maximum power Pmax 50.00 [Wp]
Current @ maximum power point - IMPP 2.95 [A]
Voltage @ maximum power point - VMPP 17.00 [V]
Short-circuit current ISC 3.20 [A]
Open-circuit voltage VOC 21.60 [V]
III. DESIGN CRITERIA FOR A ĆUK CONVERTER IN
DCM
When the Ćuk converter works in discontinuous
conduction mode, it presents three stages of operation. In the
first stage, the main switch is on (ton) and in the second and
third stages, it remains off (toff). The diode conducts only on
the second stage, when it is forward biased. The conduction
time of the diode (tDon) is a function of the switch conduction
time (ton) and of the voltage static gain (input-output voltage
ratio) of the Ćuk converter. A simplified topology of the Ćuk
converter shown on Fig 1 reflected to the primary side
considering a unitary turns ratio can be seen in Fig 2. Given
that the switching frequency is much higher than the line
frequency synthetized at the microinverter output, the
capacitor voltages can be assumed as a constant and ripple-
free during one switching cycle.
L1 L2
V1 + V2

allows tracking the maximum available power on different

V1 D V2
weather conditions (solar irradiation and PV panel
temperature). Also, given that the Ćuk converter operates at
high switching frequencies (fs), its switches have significant
switching losses. Fig 2. Equivalent circuit of a Ćuk converter reflected to the primary
The third and final stage consists of a full-bridge current side.
source inverter. This device allows obtaining a sinusoidal
current waveform from the output current synthesized by the A. First Stage of Operation ( 0 < t < ton )
Ćuk converter, which is a rectified sinusoidal current The equivalent circuit for the first stage of operation of a
waveform synchronized with the power grid voltage. Hence, Ćuk converter is shown on Fig 3, where the switch is on and
the full bridge inverter works at mains frequency, i.e. 50 Hz the diode is off.
or 60 Hz, its switching losses are negligible, so it presents
only conduction losses. L1 L2
The third and final stage consists of a full-bridge current V1 + V2
source inverter. This device allows obtaining a sinusoidal
current waveform from the output current synthesized by the V1 D V2
Ćuk converter, which is a rectified sinusoidal current
waveform synchronized with the power grid voltage. Hence,
the full bridge inverter works at mains frequency, i.e. 50 Hz Fig 3. Equivalent circuit of a Ćuk converter operating in DCM, first
or 60 Hz, its switching losses are negligible, so it presents stage, while the switch is conducting.
only conduction losses.
As such, the input and output currents on the first stage
can be defined by (2) and (3).
 V1 (2)
iL1( t ) = t + I min The input and output currents remain in their minimal
L1
values (iL1 = Imin and iL2 = -Imin) while the converter stays in
this stage, that is, until the switch is closed again.
V1 (3)
iL 2 ( t ) = t − I min Through the use of the power balance principle, the
L2 minimum value of the currents in the inductors (Imin) can be
determined, considering a loss-free scenario. Consequently,
When t = ton, this stage is succeeded by the second stage. the input power must be equal to the output power, as (9)
B. Second Stage of Operation ( ton < t < ton + tDon ) describes, and (10) can be defined.
The forward bias of the diode and the opening of the
switch characterize the second stage of operation, as shown V1 I L1 = V 2 I L 2 (9)
in Fig 4.
On the instant t = ton, the currents iL1 and iL2 reach their
maximum values, as defined by (4) and (5), and their d 2 ⎡V1 2 L2 − V1 V 2 L1 ⎤ (10)
I m in = ⎢ ⎥
instantaneous value, as declared by (6) and (7). f s ⎣ 2 L1 L2 V 2 ⎦
V (4)
I L1max ( t ) = 1 ton + I min
L1 where 1 and 2 are the current average values in the
inductors in the switching period (T), fs is the switching
V1 (5) frequency, d is the duty cycle, with d = ton / T.
I L 2 max ( t ) = ton − I min
L2 Conversely, the output voltage of the converter can be
obtained from the product of the average value of the iL2
V2 current ( 2 ) by the resistance of the load (R), which is
i L 1 ( t ) = I L 1 m ax − t (6)
L1 represented in (11). The validity of (1) is justified by (11).
However, from (11) it is easy to conclude that if K is
constant, the waveform of the converter output voltage only
V2 (7)
i L 2 ( t ) = I L 2 m ax − t depends on the pattern of variation of the duty cycle (d).
L2
d (11)
V2 = V1
L1 L2 K
V1 + V2

V1 V2
where,

L1 L2 2 Leq
Leq = ; K = .
L1 + L2 TR
Fig 4. Equivalent circuit of a Ćuk converter operating in DCM,
second stage, while the diode is conducting.
D. Design Method and Parameters
In order to guarantee the operation of the Ćuk converter in
This stage ends when the diode turns off (t = tDon) as iL1
DCM, for all duty cycle values, the operation in the
and iL2 reach their minimal values (Imin for iL1 and – Imin for
boundary mode must be guaranteed, at the worst case. In the
iL2), resulting in (8).
boundary mode, static gain equations are the same, for both
converter-operating modes, DCM and CCM. The converter
V1 ton (8) static gain for CCM is obtained through the volt-second
t Don =
V2 balancing in the inductors, resulting in (12), since the
average voltage upon the inductors should be zero. As such,
C. Third Stage of Operation ( ton + tDon < t < T ) the equivalent inductance should be as described by (13) for
The third stage of operation of the converter begins when operation in DCM.
the currents iL1 and iL2 reach their minimal values. At that
moment, both currents flow in freewheeling, resulting in the d max
2 V2 = V1 (12)
diode blocking, as Fig 5 shows. 1 − d max

L1 L2
V12 V2 2 (13)
V1 + V2 Leq <
2 P f s ( V1 + 2 V2 )2
V1 V2
Imin where dmax is the maximum value of the duty cycle, which is
required when the output voltage is equal to the mains peak
Fig 5. Equivalent circuit of a Ćuk converter operating in DCM, value, V2 is the mains rms value, V1 is the PV maximum
third stage, when neither the diode nor the switch is conducting. power point voltage, fs is the switching frequency and P is
the output power. Therefore, by making both inductors twice
the inductance of Leq found on (13), operation in DCM can
be guaranteed.
For this particular implementation, the microinverter input
voltage is V1 = 34 Vdc considering the maximum power point
(MPP) PV voltage (VMPP). The single-phase power mains
voltage establishes the output voltage V2 = 127 Vrms. Using
the proposed design criteria, considering fs = 20 kHz, the
values of the inductors were determined, resulting
L1 = L2 = 360 µH and dmax = 0.78.
IV. ANTI-ISLANDING METHODS
An anti-islanding algorithm can be classified in two main
categories: the passive and active methods. Passive
algorithms continuously sense the electrical characteristics at
the PCC, such as magnitude, frequency or phase. If the above
parameters diverge from the expected values as established
by IEEE 929, the DGS disconnect itself from the grid [8].
Active methods try to perturb the electrical parameters at
the PCC and can be further classified in three subcategories:
the residents in the inverter, those who are not resident in the
inverter and the methods based on the use of communication
between the power grid operator and the anti-islanding
detection scheme of the DGS [9].
A. Passive Methods
Usual passive anti-islanding methods consist of observing
abnormal over or under voltage, as well as over or under
frequency conditions. The IEEE 929 standard sets the
parameters for disconnection at the PCC, as shown on table
II with the voltage limits expressed as percentages of the
rated voltage at the PCC [10].
If a power outage occurs in the commercial power grid,
three scenarios can be expected when observing solely the
voltage at the PCC:
• The power generated by the DGS surpasses the power
consumed by the load and an increase in voltage at the
PCC occurs. The system is, then, disconnected;
• The power generated by the DGS is insufficient to
supply the load and voltage decreases at the PCC. The
system is, then, disconnected;
• The load and the DGS are in balance and the voltage at
the PCC does not vary. The system fails to disconnect.
Likewise, a very similar behavior can be seen on the
detection of under/over frequency: an increase or decrease of
the frequency at the PCC occurs when the commercial power
grid is disconnected. If the change in frequency is small
enough, it may go undetected and the anti-islanding system
may fail. The IEEE 929 standard sets a maximum trip time
of 0.1 s whenever the frequency at the PCC is not within
59.3 and 60.5 Hz [2].
B. Active Methods
Active anti-islanding methods that do not rely on the
communication to the power grid operator essentially try to
disturb electrical magnitudes on PCC by injecting
disturbance voltage, frequency, voltage harmonic content and
phase displacement, at the inverter output. Given that the
power grid can effectively reject these disturbances
generated by the inverter, if the impact of the anti-islanding
algorithm is imperceptible on PCC, it means that the power
grid is on. Likewise, if the impact of the perturbation in the
electrical magnitudes on PCC is significant, a power failure
is assumed and the DGS is disconnected.
TABLE II
IEEE 929 STANDARD – RESPONSE TO ABNORMAL
VOLTAGES
Voltage (at the PCC) Maximum Trip Time
V < 50 % 0.1 s
50 % ≤ V < 88 % 2.0 s
88 % ≤ V ≤ 110 % Continuous operation
110 % < V < 137 % 2.0 s
137 % ≤ V 0.03 s
These perturbations, while small in comparison to the
power grid, can cause losses in the power extracted from PV
panel and losses in power quality, when compared with the
normal operating conditions without any perturbations [8].
When implementing an anti-islanding algorithm on a DC-DC
converter, these perturbations are carried out by changing the
duty cycle of the converter. If an MPPT algorithm is also
implemented on the same converter, this means that while
the AI algorithm is active, the MPP is lost, thus, reducing the
time that the maximum power is extracted from the panel and
reducing the overall efficiency of the system.
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTI-ISLANDING
ALGORITHM
On this paper, an active islanding detection method was
described to a microinverter based on the Ćuk converter,
given that passive methods are not very effective when the
load connected to the microinverter is balanced. The
algorithm consists in the generation of a periodic disturbance
at microinverter output voltage by reducing the maximum
value of the duty cycle (dmax) of the Ćuk converter. Given
that this momentary reduction on dmax withdraw the converter
from MPP, resulting in an electrical power production
reduction, a one second delay, between perturbations was
established in order to meet the IEEE 929 standard and to
maximize the electrical power production. Thus, every
second, the output voltage of the microinverter is disturbed
and the voltage at the PCC is measured. If a voltage
disturbance at the PCC is observed, or its value is out of the
bounds specified in table II, the DGS should be
disconnected. Fig 6 summarizes the proposed anti-islanding
algorithm.
This algorithm determines the PCC voltage rms value,
every power mains cycle, in order to detect any voltage
disturbance that indicates an islanding occurrence. Figure 7
shows the behavior of the maximum value of the duty cycle,
during a dmax perturbation, which occurs every second. The
adopted reduction on dmax value it is fifty percent of its rated
value in order to generate a sizable voltage drop at the
inverter output (VPCC), when an islanding condition occurs.
In this event, the inverter is disabled, and physically
disconnected from PCC, by a power contactor, through the
output enable command signal as depicted in Fig 7. After the
power grid reestablishment, a five minuttes delay is required is reduced, every 60 cycles, due to the action of the active
by IEEE 929 standard, before the inverterr reconnection. anti-islanding algorithm.

Fig 8. Equipment under test, setuup IEEE 929.

Fig 6. Implemented anti-islanding algorithm.

Fig 9. Voltage at PCC and the microinverter

m output current.

The effectiveness of the isslanding detection method can be

verified by observation of the Fig 10, in which is shown that
the inverter shuts down wheen an islanding occurs. The time
interval for islanding detectioon can take up to one second that
corresponds to the periodd in which the duty cycle
perturbation occurs.

Fig 7. Main waveforms of the anti-islanding system.

s

VI. SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The standard IEEE 929 describes how w the load should be

sized for the anti-islanding test, where thhe load consists of a
RLC parallel circuit, as shown in Fig 8. In this arrangement,
the inductor (L) and the capacitor (C) are a forming a tuned
filter at the power mains frequency, thuus providing a high
quality voltage waveform at its terminalss. Therefore, even if
the power grid is disconnected the vooltage at the output
terminals of the inverter remains unchangged, considering that
the load is balanced, as recommended byy IEEE 929 standard.
The micro inverter and the RLC load are a connected to the Fig 10. Voltage at PCC andd the microinverter output current
utility grid by a power contactor, whichh will be opened to during an islanding condition under
u IEEE 929 test conditions.
simulate an islanding occurrence.
A microinverter prototype was built using the proposed TAB
BLE III
design criteria (table III) for the Ćuk coonverter operating in MICROINVERT
TER PARAMETERS
DCM. Figure 9 shows the voltage at PCC and the Parameters Value
Maximum power Pmax 100 [W]
microinverter output current at rated operation.
o From this
Nominal Input Voltagee 34 [V]
figure, it is remarkable that in the presennce of power mains, Output voltage 127 [V]
the microinverter output current, which is injected into grid, Switching frequency 20 [kHz]
Output frequency 60 [Hz]

VII. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper was presented a study on a microinverter,
based on the Ćuk converter working on DCM. A quasi-
sinusoidal current waveform was obtained at inverter output,
when it is powered by a set of PV panels. The proposed
active islanding detection method consists in to reduce the
inverter maximum duty cycle (dmax), during a short period,
every second and to observe the voltage at PCC. When this
perturbation results in a voltage sag at PCC, an islanding
occurrence is detected.
The 50% reduction on dmax was chosen in order to
generate a voltage drop at PCC compatible with the
abnormal voltage levels, according to IEEE 929 standard,
considering an islanding scenario. Therefore, the passive
islanding detection algorithm, which continuously monitors
the rms voltage at the PCC detects the islanding occurrence,
even in the presence of balanced loads.
The efficacy of the proposed islanding detection method
was fully verified and despite its simplicity, it showed to be
potentially fast. Given that after every perturbation on dmax,
the islanding detection system is able to sense an islanding
occurrence in just two power mains cycles. Nevertheless, the
one-second delay, between perturbations was established in
order to maximize the electrical power production and
likewise to meet IEEE 929 standard in relationship to the
maximum trip time. Since, the dmax reduction, withdraw the
converter from MPP, which implies on momentary reduction
in electrical power production.
ACKNOLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank the support of PUCRS
(Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul),
FAPERGS (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do
Rio Grande do Sul), CAPES (Coordenação de
Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), CNPq
(Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
Tecnológico) and Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda which made
this research possible.
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