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2019 IFAC Workshop on
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Jeju, Korea,
2019 IFAC June 10-12,
Workshop on 2019
ScienceDirect
Control of Smart Grid and Renewable Energy Systems
Jeju, Korea, June 10-12, 2019 IFAC PapersOnLine 52-4 (2019) 63–68

A Voltage-sensorless Current Control of Grid-connected Inverter Using

A Voltage-sensorless Frequency-adaptive Observer
Current Control of Grid-connected Inverter Using
Frequency-adaptive Observer
Thuy Vi Tran*. Kyeong-Hwa Kim**

Thuy Vi Tran*. Kyeong-Hwa Kim**
* Department of Electrical and Information Engineering,  Seoul National University of Science and Technology,
232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01811, Korea (Tel: +82-2-970-9867; e-mail: tranvithuy@gmail.com).
* Department
** Departmentof ofElectrical
ElectricalandandInformation
InformationEngineering,
Engineering,Seoul
SeoulNational
NationalUniversity
Universityof ofScience
Scienceand andTechnology,
Technology,
232
232 Gongneung-ro,
Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu,
Nowon-gu, Seoul,
Seoul, 01811,
01811, Korea
Korea (Tel:
(Tel: +82-2-970-9867;
+82-2-970-6406; e-mail: e-mail: tranvithuy@gmail.com).
k2h1@seoultech.ac.kr).
** Department of Electrical and Information**Engineering, Corresponding Seoul National University of Science and Technology,
author
232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01811, Korea (Tel: +82-2-970-6406; e-mail: k2h1@seoultech.ac.kr).
** Corresponding author
Abstract: This paper presents a grid voltage-sensorless current control design based on the linear
quadratic regulator (LQR) approach for an LCL-filtered grid-connected inverter. The proposed scheme
Abstract:
relies only This on thepaper presentsfrom
information a gridthe voltage-sensorless currenttocontrol
grid-side current sensors implement designthe based
controlon the linear
algorithm as
quadratic
well as toregulator
synchronize (LQR)the approach
inverter systemfor an LCL-filtered grid-connected
with the utility grid. Basically, inverter. The proposed
the construction of scheme
current
relies only consists
controller on the information
of a full-statefrom feedback
the grid-side currentaugmented
regulator sensors to implement
with an integralthe controlcontrolalgorithm
term for as
well as tocontrol
achieving synchronize the inverter
objectives, system with the utility
and a frequency-adaptive observergrid. Basically,thethe
to estimate construction
system of current
state variables and
controller
grid voltageconsists of aeven
parameters full-state
under afeedback
non-idealregulator augmented
grid environment withwith an integral
frequency control
variation. term for
A systematic
achieving
design method control objectives,
based on the LQRand aapproach
frequency-adaptive
is introduced observer
to obtain to optimal
estimategains
the system
for thestate variables
controller and
as well
grid
as thevoltage
adaptive parameters
observer.even
Theunder a non-ideal
effectiveness gridproposed
of the environmentscheme withisfrequency
validated variation.
through the A simulation
systematic
design
results.method based on the LQR approach is introduced to obtain optimal gains for the controller as well
as the adaptive observer. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is validated through the simulation
Keywords:
© 2019, IFAC adaptive observer;
(International frequency
Federation variation; Control)
of Automatic grid-connected
Hostinginverter;
by Elsevier internal
Ltd. Allmodel;
rights linear
reserved.
results.
quadratic regulator.
Keywords: adaptive observer; frequency variation; grid-connected inverter; internal model; linear
quadratic regulator. 
characteristic of the LCL filter causes a difficulty in the
1. INTRODUCTION
 current control strategies to stabilize the system. Generally,
A recent power-electronics technology creates a trend toward the characteristic
damping methods of the LCL of the filter
LCL causes
resonanta difficulty
behaviour in are
the
1. INTRODUCTION
integration of the renewable energy from wind and solar categorized current control in twostrategies
types:tothe stabilize
passivethe system.realized
damping Generally,by
A recent
power power-electronics
generation systems into technology creates
the utility gridatotrend
reduce the the
toward damping
additional methods
physical of the LCL
components on LCL resonant
circuitsbehaviour
(Peña-Alzolaare
integration
environmental of the renewable
impacts causedenergy
by the from wind andelectric
traditional solar et categorized
al., 2013), in twoand types: the passive
the active damping damping realized by
implemented
power generation
generation systems
system.into In the utility
these grid to reduce
applications, additional physical
the modifying
a grid- the controlcomponents
algorithmon(Jia, LCLZhao,circuits and (Peña-Alzola
Fu, 2014).
environmental
connected voltage impacts
sourcecaused
inverterby the totraditional
(VSI) power et
supply theelectric Dueal., 2013),
to the main and the active
drawback damping
of the passive implemented
damping that causesby
power generation system. In these applications,
to the mains grids attracts numerous studies on the control a grid- modifying
extra losses the control
through algorithm
heat (Jia,
dissipation, Zhao,
the and
active Fu, 2014).
damping
connected
strategies tovoltage
provide source inverter
a high (VSI)
quality to supply thecurrent
of grid-injected Due to the main
power approaches are drawback of the passive
usually preferred and damping that causes
used popularly to
to theunder
even mainsnon-ideal
grids attracts numerous
grid voltage studies onInthe
environment. extra losses
control maintain
particular, the through
system heat dissipation,
efficiency. However, the active damping
it is worth to
strategies
the power to provide
quality a highofquality
standard of grid-injected
distributed generation such current approaches
as mention thataresome usually
active preferred
damping schemesand usedrealized popularly to
by the
even underinnon-ideal
IEEE-519 USA or grid IEC voltage
61000-3-2environment.
in EuropeInrequiresparticular, maintain
the virtual the system
resistance requireefficiency.
extra sensors However,
to obtain it the
is worth
capacitorto
the power
total quality
harmonic standard (THD)
distortion of distributed
of currentgeneration
less thansuch5% mention that
as currents some active
or voltages, which damping
increases schemes
the systemrealized costby and
the
IEEE-519and
(Duffey in USA or IEC1989).
Stratford, 61000-3-2Gridin frequency
Europe requires virtual resistance
the hardware
variation requireAs
complexity. extra sensorsapproach,
another to obtain the a capacitor
full-state
total harmonic
caused distortion
by different faults (THD) of current
in distribution networkless isthan
one5% currents orcontrol
of feedback voltages,scheme
which increases
provides the a system
convenient cost and
(Duffey and grid
unexpected Stratford, 1989). which
conditions, Grid frequency
causes a variation hardware complexity.
serious straightforward way to As fulfilanother approach, and
the performance a full-state
stability
caused by different
degradation of current faults in distribution
control performance.networkTo copeiswith one the feedback control
of requirements scheme provides
in LCL-filtered inverter system a convenient
when all and the
unexpected
challenge raised grid byconditions,
adverse grid which
voltagecauses a seriousa system
environment, straightforward
states areway to fulfil
available. In the
orderperformance
to reduce the and stability
number of
degradation
robust control of current
scheme control
and fast performance. To cope with
frequency detection method requirements ina LCL-filtered
the measurements, full-state observerinverter system when
is normally all the
employed in
challenge
are required. raised by adverse grid voltage environment, a this system stateswhereupon
work, are available. the Innumber
order toofreduce needed the sensors
number of is
robust control scheme and fast frequency detection method compatible measurements, with a full-state
the design observer
of theis normally
conventional employed in
L filter
Aside from the concern of current control design, the filter this work, whereupon the number of needed sensors is
are required. counterpart (Tran, Yoon, and Kim, 2018).
connected between the mains grid and VSI plays an essential compatible with the design of the conventional L filter
Asidetofrom
role the concern
attenuate of current
the current controlindesign,
harmonics the filter For the purpose of reducing the cost and improving the
high switching counterpart (Tran, Yoon, and Kim, 2018).
connected between
frequency due to the mains pulse grid
widthandmodulated
VSI plays inverter.
an essential In reliability of the grid-connected inverter, it is desirable to
role to attenuate
general, the current
the LCL filters harmonics
are regarded as beingin high switching
satisfactory For thereduce
for further purpose theofnumber
reducing the costdevices
of sensing and improving
in system.the A
frequency due to the pulse width modulated
three-phase voltage source grid-connected inverter because inverter. In reliability
feasible of
option the grid-connected
which gains a lot inverter,
of interestit is
of desirable
researchersto
general,
they the LCL
provide filters
a better are regarded
grid-side currentasquality
being withsatisfactory
lower cost further reduce
for recently, the number
is to replace the use of sensing devices sensors
of grid voltage in system. by anA
three-phase
and smallervoltage
physicalsourcesizegrid-connected
in comparison inverterwith because feasible option
the estimator. which the
However, gains a lot
great of interest
challenge of of thisresearchers
approach
they provide a better
conventional grid-side Nevertheless,
L filters. current quality with the lower recently,
cost relies
resonant on theis tohigh
replace the use
accuracy of grid
of grid voltagevoltage sensorsscheme
estimation by an
and smaller physical size in comparison with the and estimator.
the grid However, the great technique
synchronization challenge inof order this approach
to inject
conventional L filters. Nevertheless, the resonant relies on the high accuracy of grid voltage estimation scheme
and the grid synchronization technique in order to inject
2405-8963 © 2019, IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control) Hosting by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Peer review under responsibility of International Federation of Automatic Control.
10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.08.156
Copyright © 2019 IFAC 63
2019
64 IFAC CSGRES Thuy Vi Tran et al. / IFAC PapersOnLine 52-4 (2019) 63–68
Jeju, Korea, June 10-12, 2019

sinusoidal currents in phase with the fundamental component block diagram of the proposed control scheme is also shown
of grid voltage even under non-ideal grid condition such as in this figure, which is constructed by an integral full-state
frequency variation. In particular, several studies have feedback current control and an adaptive full-state observer
presented grid voltage-sensorless and frequency-adaptive with only the use of grid-side current sensors.
control schemes (Jorge, Solsona, and Busada, 2014; Lee et al.,
2009; Bimarta, Tran, and Kim, 2018). In the research work
i1 i2
L1 R1 L2 R2 Grid
���
(Jorge, Solsona, and Busada, 2014), a grid voltage-sensorless 
+
current control scheme which is unaffected by grid frequency VDC
_
���


variation is presented to produce high quality of injection ���


current under distorted grid conditions. However, this
approach is applied for an L-filtered grid-connected inverter.
abc
C ��
qd

Another sensorless technique is introduced to deal with 6 �∗

� � � ��∗
unbalanced and harmonic contents in grid (Lee et al., 2009). Space vector ���∗ ���∗
Nevertheless, the grid frequency variation is not taken into PWM �
�̂ � �̂�
�
� �� ���
�∗ Integral full-state � �
account in this design method. In the study (Bimarta, Tran, ��
�� ���∗
feedback current
�̂ �
����
�̂�
����
Adaptive full-
state observer
control
and Kim, 2018), a frequency-adaptive current controller �
�
design based on the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) state
feedback approach is proposed to cope with the issue on the
grid frequency deviation. However, this scheme still requires Fig. 1. Configuration of a grid-connected inverter and the
the measurement of the grid voltage. block diagram of the proposed control scheme.

In order to address the above mentioned challenges in regard The continuous-time model of inverter system can be
to the control design and system performance, this paper expressed in the SRF as follows:
presents a voltage-sensorless current control scheme for a
grid-connected inverter with an LCL filter by using �̇ (�) = ��(�) + ��(�) + ��(�) (1)
frequency-adaptive observer. The current control design is
accomplished in the synchronous reference frame (SRF) by a �(�) = ��(�) (2)
full-state feedback control for system stabilization, which
�
does not require extra damping method. In addition, integral where � = ���� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� � is the system state vector,
terms are augmented into the control structure to ensure �
� = ���� ��� � is the system input vector, � = [�� �� ]� is
asymptotic reference tracking. To reduce the total number of
the grid voltage vector, the superscript “q” and “d” denote the
sensing devices required for the control of an LCL-filtered
grid-connected inverter, only the grid-side current q-axis and d-axis variables, respectively, �� is the inverter-
measurement is employed. With the aim, a frequency- side current, �� is the grid-side current, �� is the capacitor
adaptive observer is presented to estimate both the system voltage, and �� is the inverter output voltage. The system
states and the grid voltage. The proposed frequency-adaptive matrices �, �, �, and � are expressed as
observer provides an excellent estimation capability even in −� /� −� 0 0 1/�� 0
⎡ � � ⎤
the presence of grid frequency deviation. ⎢ �
−�� /�� 0 0 0 1/��
⎥
0 −�� /�� −� −1/��
Instead of using grid voltage sensors as in the conventional �=⎢ 0 0 −�� /��
0 ⎥
⎢ 0 � 0 −1/�� ⎥
methods, the proposed sensorless scheme estimates the grid ⎢ −1/� 0 1/� 0 0 −� ⎥
voltages from the adaptive observer to extract the information ⎣ 0 −1/� 0 1/� � 0 ⎦
of the grid phase angle for synchronization purpose. 0 0 −1/�� 0
⎡ 0 ⎤ ⎡ 0
Furthermore, a zero-crossing detection technique is employed 0 −1/�� ⎤
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
on the phase angle to determine the grid frequency, which 1/�� 0 ⎥, � = ⎢ 0 0 ⎥
�=⎢
presents a compatible performance to the conventional phase ⎢ 0 1/�� ⎥ ⎢ 0 0 ⎥ (3)
locked-loop (PLL) method. ⎢ 0 0 ⎥ ⎢ 0 0 ⎥
⎣ 0 0 ⎦ ⎣ 0 0 ⎦
In order to select the feedback and observer gains in a 1 0 0 0 0 0
systematic way, the optimal LQR approach is adopted in this C=� �
0 1 0 0 0 0
paper. By minimizing the cost function to satisfy the stability where � is the angular frequency of the grid voltage.
and robustness of system, the overall control system can be
designed in an effective and straightforward way. The For a digital implementation, the discretized model of
simulations based on the PSIM software are presented to inverter system is obtained by using the zero-order hold
demonstrate the effectiveness and validity of the proposed (ZOH) with the sampling time �� as (Franklin, Powell, and
control scheme. Workman, 2006)

2. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION �(� + 1) = �� �(�) + �� �(�) + �� �(�) (4)

Fig. 1 shows a configuration of three-phase grid-connected
inverter with an LCL filter, in which ��� denotes the DC-link �(�) = �� �(�) (5)
voltage, �� , �� , �� , and �� are the filter resistances and filter
inductances, respectively, and � is the filter capacitance. The

64
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Jeju, Korea, June 10-12, 2019

where the matrices �� , �� , �� , and �� can be calculated as An adaptive observer is constructed in this section by
follows: utilizing the models of inverter and disturbance to eliminate
the need of grid voltage sensing devices. Regarding to the
��� �� ��� inverter model, it is obvious in (3) that the inverter system
�� = � ��� = � + + +⋯ (6) expressed in the SRF contains the information of the grid
1! 2!
angular frequency, which causes a discrepancy in the
�� = ��� (�� − �)� discretized system model when the grid frequency varies.
(7) This can be overcome by introducing a discrete-time full-
�� = � state observer designed in the stationary reference frame
instead of using the SRF. Then, the system model becomes
�� = ��� (�� − �)�. (8) independent of the frequency information. As a result, the
inverter system model can be discretized simply by using the
3. PROPOSED CONTROL SCHEME offline ZOH method and the observer model is not affected
by non-ideal grid conditions.
3.1 Proposed Current Control
For simplification in notation, the subscripts “α” and “β” in
In order to ensure that the tracking error converges to zero the system model description in the stationary reference
asymptotically, an integral state feedback control term is frame are omitted. In addition, the control design can be
augmented in the full-state feedback controller based on the accomplished by considering only one axis without the loss
internal model principle. An integral term in the state-space is of generality because the equations in the α-axis and β-axis
expressed as are independent of each other. The system model for the
LCL-filtered grid-connected inverter is expressed in the
stationary frame as follows:
��̇ (�)
� �
� (�) � � (�)
� � = ��� � �� � + ��� � � � (9)
���̇ (�) �� (�) � (�) �̇ � (�) = � � � � (�) + �� u� (�) + �� �� (�) (13)

where � = [� � � � ]� = � − �� � is the current error vector, � = �� (�) = �� �� (�) (14)

�∗ � 0 0
��� ���∗ � is the reference current vector, ��� = � �, and
0 0 where � � = [�� �� �� ]� , �� = �� , �� = � , and the
1 0 parametric matrices are described as follows:
��� = � �.
0 1 −�� /�� −1/�� 0
The discrete-time counterparts of � �� and ��� , which are �� = � 1/� 0 −1/� �
defined as ��� and ��� can be obtained by the ZOH method 0 1/�� −�� /��
as in (6) and (7). Then, the entire control system can be �� = [1/�� 0 0]� , �� = [0 0 1/�� ]�
constructed as follows: �� = [0 0 1].
�(� + 1) �� � �(�) Then, the discretized model of (13) and (14) can be obtained
� �=� �� �
�� (� + 1) −��� �� � �� �� (�) by the similar procedure to (6)-(8) to provide the discrete-
(10)
� � � time counterparts of � �� , ��� , ��� , ��� . To estimate the grid
+ � � � �(�) + � � � �(�) + � � �(�) phase angle without using the grid voltage measurement, a
� � ���
discrete-time disturbance model for the grid voltages are used
�(�) in the stationary frame. This model is presented in the state-
�(�) = [�� �] � � (11)
�� (�) space as follows:
�
where �� = ��� ��� � .
� �� (� + 1) � (�) � (�)
� � = �� � � � + �� � �� � (15)
�� (� + 1) �� (�) ��� (�)
With the augmented system, the state feedback control is
obtained as 2���(��� ) 1 ���(��� )
where �� = � � , �� = � �
−1 0 −1
�(�) �
�(�) = −[� � � � ] � � = � � (�) + �� (�) (12) and � = ��� �� � is a sinusoidal disturbance vector and
�� (�)
�� = [��� ��� ]� is an arbitrary input vector. Combining the
where �� (�) = −� � �(�) and �� (�) = −� � �� (�). inverter and disturbance models to � = [� � �� �� ]� , a
compact form including the inverter system and disturbance
If the gain matrix [� � �� ] in (12) is evaluated systematically model can obtained as
by the LQR method (Tran, Yoon, and Kim, 2018), the state
feedback control input �(�) becomes an optimal control �(� + 1) = �� �(�) + �� �(�) (16)
input to ensure the control performance and system stability.
This task is accomplished easily by utilizing the Matlab �(�) = �� �(�) (17)
function “dlqr” in this paper.

3.2 Design of Frequency-adaptive Observer

65
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66 IFAC CSGRES Thuy Vi Tran et al. / IFAC PapersOnLine 52-4 (2019) 63–68
Jeju, Korea, June 10-12, 2019

��� ��� 0 3.3 Proposed Grid Synchronization Method

where �� = � 0 2 ���(��� ) 1�
0 −1 0 From the estimated grid voltages in (18), the grid frequency
and phase angle can be determined, which provides precise
���
information used for the synchronization process. In addition,
�� = � 0 � , �� = [��� 0 0].
the online estimated grid frequency is utilized to update the
0
system matrix in observer. From the estimated grid voltages
Then, a frequency-adaptive observer which estimates the in α-axis and β-axes in the stationary frame, the phase angle
system states and grid voltage from the inverter reference of grid voltage is simply obtained as
voltage �(�) and the grid-side current measurement �(�)
under the grid frequency variation can be achieved as follows: ����
�� = tan�� . (21)
� � − �� �� )�̂(�) + �� �(�) + �� �(�)
�(� + 1) = (� (18) ����

where � = [� � ��� ��� ]� The phase angle �� is directly used in the current controller to
guarantee the injected currents from inverter to be in phase
�� ��� ��� 0 with the fundamental component of the grid voltage. The grid
�� = ���� ���(��� )�, � � = � 0 � �� )
2 ���(� 1� frequency � � is easily acquired by applying the zero-crossing
−��� 0 −1 0 detection technique on phase angle �� . The proposed grid
with �� being an observer gain matrix. frequency estimator is explained in Fig. 2. By measuring the
time duration between zero crossing points, the information
For the purpose of designing the observer gain �� , the of grid frequency can be calculated fast and accurately.
observer error dynamics can be obtained by subtracting (18)
from (16) as Phase angle (rad)
Zero crossing
�� (� + 1) = �(� + 1) − �(� + 1)
(19)
� � − �� �� ���(�) − �� �(�).
= �� �(�) − �� 0

Although the grid may suffer from frequency deviations, the �

�
grid frequency can be considered as a slowly-varying
parameter along with time. In addition, the dynamics of the
Time (s)
proposed observer can be designed sufficiently fast by
selecting observer poles as compared with the frequency
variation. As a result, it is valid to state that �� is close to �� Fig. 2. Zero-crossing detection technique for grid frequency
in steady-state period, and then, the observer error dynamics estimation.
can be rewritten as below:
4. SIMULATION RESULTS

�� (� + 1) = (�� − �� �� )�� (�). (20) In order to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed
current control scheme and adaptive observer, the simulations
By selecting the poles of the matrix (�� − �� �� ) in the stable have been carried out for an LCL-filtered three-phase grid-
region, the estimated and disturbance states converge to the connected inverter based on the PSIM software. The
actual values asymptotically. In other words, the proposed configuration of the inverter system and the proposed control
adaptive observer is able to estimate both the system states scheme are depicted in Fig 1. The system parameters are
and the grid voltage as a disturbance signal without using any listed in Table 1.
sensing devices except for grid-side current sensors. Fig. 3 represents three-phase grid voltages used for the
simulations. The grid voltages experience a frequency
For the purpose of choosing a robust and optimal observer variation from 60 Hz to 50 Hz at 0.3 sec.
gain matrix �� under grid frequency uncertainty, the LQR
approach used to design � in the previous section can be Table 1. System parameters of a grid-connected inverter
applied in (20). Similar to the selection of the current control Parameters Value Units
feedback gains, the observer gains are computed by the V
DC-link voltage 420
Matlab function “dlqr”. The simulation results are presented
Filter resistance 0.5 Ω
in next Section to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed
adaptive observer scheme. Filter capacitance 4.5 µF
Inverter-side filter inductance 1.7 mH
In this paper, the grid frequency and phase angle are an Grid-side filter inductance 0.9 mH
unknown constants and need to be estimated. Therefore, an Grid voltage (line-to line rms) 220 V
estimation method must be designed to ensure that the Grid frequency 60 Hz
observer works and the inverter is synchronized to the actual
grid voltage in the grid-connected mode.

66
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Jeju, Korea, June 10-12, 2019

200
�� �� �� voltages also show an asymptotical convergence to the real
values in less than half of grid voltage fundamental period
100 during frequency jump at 0.3 sec. Clearly, a good
Voltage (V)

0 performance of the adaptive observer not only ensures the

stability for whole system but also minimizes the total
-100 sensing devices required for LCL-filtered inverter.
-200 60 Hz 50 Hz �̂ �� � ��� �
10 �̂ � ��
0.2 0.24 0.28 0.32 0.36 0.4
Time (s) 5

Current (A)
Fig. 3. Three-phase grid voltages with frequency change at 0
0.3 sec.
-5
First, the current control performance of the integral state
-10 60 Hz 50 Hz
feedback current control is presented under a step change in
current reference from 4 A to 7 A at 0.15 sec. It is clearly 0.2 0.24 0.28 0.32 0.36 0.4
Time (s)
shown in Fig. 4(a) and (b) that the grid-side currents track the
(a)
reference values with satisfactory transient and steady-state
performance at both the grid frequencies of 60 Hz and 50 Hz. 10 �̂�� �
�̂� ��� �
��
The THD values of grid-side a-phase current are 3.55% at 60
5
Hz and 3.28% at 50 Hz, respectively, which satisfies the

Current (A)
IEEE-519 requirement for injected current of inverter. 0

10 ��� ��� ��� -5

5 -10 60 Hz 50 Hz
Current (A)

0 0.2 0.24 0.28 0.32 0.36 0.4

Time (s)
-5 (b)
-10 60 Hz 200 ���� ���
� ��� ��
�

0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2 100

Time (s)
Voltage (V)

0
(a)
-100
10 ��� ��� ���
-200 60 Hz 50 Hz
5
Current (A)

0.2 0.24 0.28 0.32 0.36 0.4

0 Time (s)
(c)
-5
200 �̂ � �̂ � �� ��
-10 50 Hz
100
0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2
Voltage (V)

Time (s) 0

(b) -100

Fig. 4. Simulation results for three-phase measured grid-side -200 60 Hz 50 Hz

currents of the proposed scheme under a step change in
0.2 0.24 0.28 0.32 0.36 0.4
reference current at 0.15 sec. (a) At 60 Hz; (b) At 50 Hz Time (s)

In order to demonstrate the proposed adaptive observer at the (d)

stationary frame, Fig. 5 shows the simulation results for the
measured and estimated system states of the inverter and grid
voltages under the grid frequency variation from 60 Hz to 50
Hz at 0.3 sec. Fig. 5(a) through (c) represent the measured
and estimated values for the grid-side currents, inverter-side
currents, and capacitor voltages, respectively. Fig. 5(d) shows
the estimation performance of grid voltages. A fast and stable
estimating capability of the proposed observer is obviously
validated even under the frequency variation. In particular,
the waveforms of estimated grid-side currents, inverter-side
currents, and capacitor voltages rapidly match to the actual
states in transient period. Similarly, the estimated grid
Fig. 5. Simulation results for measured and estimated values
of the proposed scheme under the frequency change from 60
Hz to 50 Hz at t = 0.3 sec in the stationary frame. (a) Grid-
side currents; (b) Inverter-side currents; (c) Capacitor
voltages; (d) Grid voltages.
To evaluate the performance of estimators for the grid
frequency and phase angle proposed in the last section, Fig.
6(a) shows the comparative results of frequency estimation
between the conventional PLL and the proposed frequency
estimator when the grid frequency is subject to variation.

67
2019
68 IFAC CSGRES Thuy Vi Tran et al. / IFAC PapersOnLine 52-4 (2019) 63–68
Jeju, Korea, June 10-12, 2019

To evaluate the performance of estimators for grid phase information. Based on the estimates of grid voltages, the grid
angle in the last section, Fig. 6(a) shows the comparative frequency and phase angle are easily determined. Theoretical
results of phase angle estimation between the conventional analyses and comparative simulation results have been
PLL with grid voltage measurement and the proposed scheme provided to confirm the usefulness of the proposed control
based on estimated grid voltages from the adaptive observer. scheme.
It is clearly shown in Fig. 6(a) that the estimated phase angle
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
is well matched with the real value in steady-state without
any noticeable difference in a short time when the grid This work was supported by the Human Resources
frequency is subject to variation. The acceptable performance Development of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology
of estimated grid phase angle ensures not only the stability of Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), grant funded by the
synchronization process but also the accuracy of the Korea government Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy
estimated frequency. Fig 6(b) presents the compatible results (NO. 20174030201840).
of frequency estimation between the conventional PLL and
the proposed frequency estimator with zero-crossing REFERENCES
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This paper has presented a grid voltage-sensorless current Power Electr., 29(3), 1532-1541.
control scheme for an LCL-filtered grid-connected inverter
using a frequency-adaptive observer. The current control of
the inverter has been implemented by means of full-state
feedback approach after augmenting integral control terms,
which is known as a straightforward method to deal with the
resonant behaviour of LCL filter and to ensure the system
stability. Though this approach requires the availability of the
full system states, the proposed scheme uses only the grid-
side current sensing devices for the purpose of reducing cost
and improving the system reliability. A full-state frequency-
adaptive observer has been introduced, which not only
estimates the system states but also provides the grid voltage

68