Grid-connected

PV System Using a Quasi-Z-source Inverter

Jong-Hyoung Park*, Heung-Geun Kim*, Eui-Cheol Nho**, Tae-Won Chun***, Jaeho Choi****
*Kyungpook National University, **PuKyong National University, ***University of Ulsan, ****Chungbuk National University,
*Daegu, South KOREA, ** Busan, South KOREA, *** Ulsan, South KOREA, ****Cheongju, South KOREA
*bell@knu.ac.kr, kimhg@knu.ac.kr, ** nhoec@pknu.ac.kr, *** twchun@mail.ulsan.ac.kr, **** choi@chungbuk.ac.kr

Abstract-This paper presents the MPPT (Maximum Power
Point Tracking) and PCC (Point of Common Coupling) current
control strategy for photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected generating
system using the quasi-Z-source inverter (QZSI). At first, in order
to explain the above controllers, the characteristic of QZSI is
analyzed. And then, the MPPT control technique with a modified
P&O method, the PCC current control one for the regulation of
dc-link capacitor voltage, and the PWM methods for the proposed
system are explained. The feasibility of the propose algorithm is
verified through the simulation and experiment with 3kW system.
I. INTRODUCTION
Recently, the use of the renewable-energy generating system
has been increased dramatically due to the exhaustion of fossil
fuel and the influence of the environment. The major
renewable-energy sources are photovoltaic energy, wind power,
and fuel cell. And, these are systematically accepted with the
microgrid application. The unregulated output power of
renewable energy sources should be regulated through the
power converters, and the power system reliability can be
guaranteed depending on the performance of the converters.
The conventional cascaded arrangement of DC/DC boost
converter and inverter system increases not only the complexity
of the power circuit and controller but the cost and space
requirement. Moreover, the increased number of power
switches results in a lower efficiency. So many papers deal with
the topology of high efficiency converter [1] or the new MPPT
control techniques [2] for improving the efficiency.
In this paper, a PV system with the topology of the QZSI is
described. And a new MPPT algorithm and a PWM method for
the proposed PV system are suggested. And finally, the
feasibility of the proposed algorithm is verified through the
simulation and experimental results with 3kW prototype
system.
II. QUASI-Z-SOURCE INVERTER
The operation of QZSI can be broken down into two states;
the active state and the shoot through state.
During the active state, the inverter is operated by the same
manner as a standard voltage source inverter (VSI). But, the
shoot through state occurs when both switches in at least one
phase conduction. The voltage across the inverter, V pn , during
this state is zero.
When the inverter is in the shoot-through state for the interval
of To during a switching cycle of T , the following voltage
equations can be described from the Fig. 1,
VC1 = v L1 , VC2 + Vin = v L2 , vout = 0 (1)
When the inverter is in the active state for an interval of T1 ,
during a switching cycle of T . From the Fig. 1, we have,
v L1 = VC1 − vˆout = −VC2 ,
v L2 = Vin − VC1 = Vin − vˆout + VC2 (2)

Z-source inverter
The average voltage of the inductors, v L1 , over one switching
ZSI (Z-source inverter) has been proposed to overcome the
period of T should be zero in steady state, and from (1) and (2),
disadvantage of the conventional scheme with a unique
we have
impedance network [3]. ZSI can buck or boost the input voltage
using the shoot-through state and the modulation index in a
single stage. Besides, no dead time is needed, thus the output VL1 = vL1 =
(
T0 ⋅ VC1 + T1 ⋅ − VC2 ) = T0 ⋅ VC1
(
+ T1 ⋅ VC1 − vˆout )=0
T T
voltage is free from voltage distortion. Due to these good
T1
features, the ZSI has been applied to the single stage conversion, T0 ⋅ VC1 = T1 ⋅ VC2 , VC1 = ⋅ vˆout (3)
T
such as the PV system [4][5], the fuel cell system [6], and the ac
motor drive system [7].
From (2) and (3), we have
Quasi-Z-source inverter
The quasi-Z-source inverter (QZSI) is similar to the ZSI T0
VC 2 = ⋅ vˆout , vˆout = VC1 + VC 2 (4)
presented above, but has several advantages including in some T
combination; lower component ratings, reduced source stress,
reduced component count, and simplified control strategies [8].
And, the average voltage of the inductors v L 2 over one

978-1-422-2812-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 925

 If this shoot-through ratio is not controlled well, the system
VC2
vL 2 v L1 can be affected by this. During the shoot-through state, in case
of ZSI, the input current is zero due to the blocking diode. But
this current is the output current of PV array and so, it should be
Vin VC1 Vout
continuous for the MPPT control. In case of the QZSI, the input
current is continuous.
The output voltage of ZSI and QZSI is zero during the
Figure 1. Configuration of QZSI.
shoot-through time interval. If the shoot-through time interval is
in the switching state, the output voltage is affected. Thus the
switching period of T should be zero in steady state, from (1),
shoot-through time interval should be located within the zero
(2) and (3), we also have
state in order not to affect the output voltage.

VL 2 = v L 2 =
( )
T0 ⋅ VC 2 + Vin + T1 ⋅ Vin − VC1 ( ) Figure 3 shows the grid connected PV system using the QZSI.
In contrast with the traditional PV system, only one PWM is
T used for all control and the number of power switches can be
=
( )
T0 ⋅ VC 2 + Vin + T1 ⋅ Vin − vˆout + VC 2( )=0 reduced. Generally, the inverter for grid-connected PV system
T should satisfy two controls, such as the MPPT control and the
PCC current control. Thus, methods of these controls for the
T QZSI topology should be developed.
vˆout = ⋅ Vin , Vin = VC1 − VC 2 (5)
T1 − T0
III. CONTROL OF GRID-CONNECTED PV SYSTEM
Similarly, the average dc-link voltage across the inverter A. MPPT control
bridge can be found as follows: If the capacitor voltage VC1 of impedance network is
controlled to be constant, the input voltage decreases as the
Vout = vout =
(
T0 ⋅ 0 + T1 ⋅ VC1 − vL1 ) shoot through time interval enlarges by the equation (8), as
T shown in the figure 4.

=
(
T1 ⋅ VC1 + VC 2 ) =V (6)

T
C1 T1 − T0
VPV = ⋅ VC1 (8)
T1

And, from (3), (5) and (6), we have

The input voltage is the output voltage of PV array in the
T1 QZSI. Therefore, the operating point of the PV-array can be
Vout = VC1 = ⋅ Vin (7)
T1 − T0 controlled by adjusting the shoot-through time interval. So, if
the capacitor voltage is controlled to be constant, the MPPT
control can be realized by shoot-through time interval.
From (7), it is well defined that the input voltage of QZSI can Figure 5 shows the method of shoot-through reference
be boosted by using the shoot-through ratio. Figure 2 shows the generation for the MPPT control. The voltage and current of
relationship between the Z-source output voltage and the PV-array are used for MPPT control by P&O method. Voltage
shoot-through ration. reference by the P&O method is the shoot-through reference
signal VP*
2000

1800 vL2 VC2 vL1

1600

1400

VPV VC1 Vout

1200

1000

800 VC1 iGrid

3 3
vGrid
iPV vPV
P*
600

400
*
Q
200
VP va*
vb*
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 vc*
Shoot-through ratio (To/T)
VN

Figure 2. Boosted voltage by shoot-through time Figure 3. Control block diagram of PV-system using QZSI.

978-1-422-2812-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 926

 Sense V(k),I(k)

P(k)=V(k)I(k)

P(k)>P(k-1)?

No Y es

V(k)>V(k-1)? V(k)>V(k-1)?

No Y es No Y es

Vp=Vp+Delta_V Vp=Vp-Delta_V Vp=Vp+Delta _V Vp=Vp-Delta_V

Figure 4. Reduced input voltage of PV-array by shoot-through time of ZSI.

If VP* is lower than the carrier signal, then all switches in the Return

three legs turn on. And, if VN* is higher than the carrier signal, Figure 6. Modified P&O method for shoot-through reference.
then all switches turn on, too. Therefore, the shoot through
frequency is twice of carrier frequency. So, if the VP* decreases
from the Vdc 2 , the shoot-through time interval is increased. VC*
And then, the real voltage is decreased as the shoot through time P*
interval enlarges by the mentioned above. Figure 6 is the
modified P&O method for the MPPT control of PV system
using QZSI.
VC
B. PCC current control Figure 7. Control block diagram for PCC current control.
In this paper, the PCC current is controlled by the capacitor
voltage VC1 regulation. And, by this control, the generated vα P* + vβ Q* vβ P* − vα Q *
iα* = K ⋅ , iβ* = K ⋅
power of PV array is injected directly to the grid.
In the figure 7, if the real voltage is higher than the reference (vα + vβ )
2 2
(vα + vβ )
2 2
(9)

voltage, the error is reflected as the positive active power

reference. And then, by the relative equation (9) of traditional The block diagram of these controls is shown in figure 8.
inverter, the current reference is increased. So, the power can be
C. PWM scheme for QZSI
injected to the grid as generated power by PV array
Figure 9 shows that the control signal VP* should have a limit
If the reactive power reference Q* is zero, the output current
value to guarantee the traditional VSI action. So, the maximum
is in phase by PLL. And, the K is the coefficient of DQ
value of VP* is Vdc 2 . And the minimum value is the amplitude
conversion.
of the three phase reference voltage signals.

V pv VP VP IV. SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENT

I pv The simulation of 3 kW grid connected PV system using a
VN QZSI is carried out through a PSIM. The simple boost method is
used in this paper for the shoot-through. The open-circuit
voltage of the PV array is 425 V. And the short-circuit current is
Vdc 7.9 A. The MPPT voltage and current are 355 V and 7.3 A
2 iα vsα
v sa via*
VP v sα iα* ΔI d vα
v sb vib*
3/ 2 vsβ eq.1 i β* ΔI q vβ 2/3
vsc vic*

VN P*
iβ vsβ
Q* V pv *
V *
C v pv V p*

I pv Vn*
VC
Figure 5. MPPT control strategy: (a) Control block diagram, (b) simple boost
method for shoot-through. Figure 8. Control strategy of PV-system using QZSI.

978-1-422-2812-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 927

 Vp
vc

va
vb
Vn

S ap
Sbp
Scp
S an
(a) References for PWM signal generation
Sbn
Scn

Figure 9. PWM signal generating strategy.

So, the maximum power is 2.6 kW. The control voltage of

capacitor is 400 V. The inductance and capacitance of the
Z-network are 1000 uF and 1mH
Figure 10-(a) shows the reference signals for generation of
*
PWM signal. The VP varies in order to track the MPP. So the
shoo-through time interval is determined by the PV array
characteristic. In this figure the characteristic of PV array is (b) Output waveforms of PV array
changed twice at 0.4 s and 0.7 s.
Figure 10-(b) shows that the operating point of PV array is
tracking the MPP. And, in the figure 10-(c), the capacitor
voltage VC1 is controlled to be constant. The output current of
the QZSI is sinusoidal as shown in the figure 10-(d). In the
figure 10-(e) power of PV array is injected to the grid as
generated.
The experiment condition is same to the simulation. The
switching frequency is 10 kHz. The grid line to line voltage is
220 Vrms. Figure 11 shows the result of experiment.
At first, the system is on open circuit condition. At “1,” the (c) Controlled voltage
switching starts without the shoot-through for building the
capacitor voltage VC1 to the control level. The shoot-through
for the MPPT control start at “2”. It is well described that the
voltage, current and power of PV array are controlled to track
the MPP.

V. CONCLUSION
The power conversion circuit of the grid-connected PV
system using a ZSI is analyzed in this paper. The MPPT control
and PCC current control of the ZSI are suggested. The (d) Output waveform of QZSI
feasibility is successfully verified through the simulation using
the PSIM simulation and experiment.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work is the outcome of a Manpower Development
Program for Energy & Resources supported by the Ministry of
Knowledge and Economy (MKE)

(e) Output power of PV array and injected power of QZSI

Figure 10. Output waveforms of simulation.

978-1-422-2812-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 928

 7.3 A

352 V

Vpv
1 2 Ipv
3

Pmax

Experiment region
Figure 11. Experiment result of using the PV simulator.

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978-1-422-2812-0/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 929