Solar PV Energy Conversion System and its Configurations

Ahteshamul Haque. Int. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications www.ijera.com
ISSN: 2248-9622, Vol. 6, Issue 2, (Part -6) February 2016, pp.80-84
www.ijera.com 80|P a g e
Solar PV Energy Conversion System and its Configurations
Ahteshamul Haque*
*(Department of Electrical Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi-25)
ABSTRACT
Solar PV based energy conversion system is now used in commercial and residential buildings. Advancements in
Power electronics leads the researchers to enhance the use of solar application in various configurations. These
configurations may be used to utilize the energy optimally. The main objective of this paper is to present an
overview of the various configurations of solar PV energy conversion system.
Keywords – Power Electronics, Solar PV, Standalone, Grid Connected, Hybrid
I. INTRODUCTION
The demand of electrical energy is increasing
exponentially worldwide [1]. This demand is met by
the generation of electric power in which coal is used
as a major component. The burning of coal in thermal
power plant leads to emission of carbon gases, which
possess serious climatic threats. The other concern is
of energy crisis as coal reservoirs are very limited. A
Critical environmental issue has emerged to
minimize the causes which increases global warming
and climate change threats [2-5]. The world has
agreed that renewable energy sources (RES) like
production of energy from solar Photovoltaic (PV)
should be able to reduce the carbon di oxide emission
considerably and be able to meet the growing energy
demand [6-8]. Solar Energy is reliable source of
energy and an efficient tool for the mitigation of
global warming [9-10]. The safety concerns related to
solar energy is almost negligible.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is used to convert solar
energy into unregulated electrical energy [11]. Due to
advancement in Power Electronics, it becomes
possible to regulate the electrical energy from solar
PV [12]. It is also identified that the combination of
solar PV along with power electronics converters can
be used in different applications [13]. Solar PV has
been commercialized around the globe for its long
term economic prospects [14-15].
These solar PV's have very low conversion
efficiency. Also, the characteristic of PV is non linear
i.e. it varies with solar irradiation and ambient
temperature. Due to these constraints it becomes
essential to harness maximum power from solar PV.
A method known as Maximum Power Point
Tracking (MPPT) is developed by researchers to
extract the maximum power from solar PV under
normal and varying ambient conditions [16]. Various
types of MPPT schemes are proposed, mainly are
open circuit voltage, short circuit current,
Incremental conductance, perturb & observe etc. The
working of solar PV energy conversion system and
characteristic are described by researchers [17 -25].
The various configurations are also described in
various literatures [26- 38]. The main objective of
this paper is to give an overview the various
configurations of solar PV system.
II. MODELLING & CHARACTERISTICS OF
SOLAR PV
Fig. 1: Solar PV Configuration
The basic element of solar PV system is PV
cells. These cells are connected to form modules. It is
further expanded in the form of arrays as per the
power requirements as shown in Fig. 1. These PV
cells exhibit nonlinear characteristics. The output of
the PV cell varies with solar irradiation and with
ambient temperature. The equivalent circuit model of
PV cell and module are shown in Fig 2. The
characteristic equation of PV cell based on this model
is given by equation 1, 2 and 3 [17-18].
RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

Fig. 2: Equivalent Circuit Model of Solar PV
Cell,Solar PV Module
I = Iph – Ios {exp [(q/AKT ) (V + I Rs)] – 1}- ((V
+I*Rs)/Rp) (1)
Ios = Ior exp [q EGO/ Bk ((1/Tr ) – (1/T))] [T/Tr]3
(2)
Iph = S[ Isc + KI (T- 25)]/100 (3)
The current equation of PV module where N
identical cells are connected in series (Fig. 2), is
given by equation 4.
I = Iph – Ios {exp [(q/AKT ) (V + I*N*Rs)] – 1}-
((V+I*N*Rs)/(N*Rp)) (4)
Where I is the PV module output current, V is
the PV cell output voltage, Rp is the parallel resistor,
Rs is the series resistor. Ios is the PV module reversal
saturation current, A, B are ideality factors, T is
temperature (o
C), k is boltzmann‘s constant, Iph is the
light-generated current, q is electronic charge, KI is
short-circuit current temperature coefficient at ISC. S
is solar irradiation (W/m2
), ISC is short-circuit current
at 25o
C and 1000 W/m2
, EGO is bandgap energy for
silicon, Tr is reference temperature and Ior is
saturation current at temperature Tr.
Fig. 3: PV Characteristic Curve of a Module: Power
vs Voltage
Fig. 3 shows the variation of PV power with PV
module voltage at different solar irradiation. The
power increases with the increase in solar irradiation.
Fig.4 : PV Characteristic Curve of a Module: Current
vs Voltage
Fig. 4 shows the variation of PV module current
with PV module voltage.
In all these characteristic curves the power varies
non-linearly.
III. CONFIGURATION OF SOLAR PV
ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM
The solar PV energy conversion system is
broadly used in three configurations:
(i)- Stand Alone PV System
(ii)- Grid Connected Solar PV System
(iii)- Hybrid Solar PV System
(i)- STAND ALONE PV SYSTEM
Fig.5: Standalone Solar PV Energy Conversion
System
Fig. 5 shows the typical complete block diagram
of standalone solar PV system [21-23]. The power
harnessed from solar PV is regulated by using DC-
DC converter and MPPT algorithm is implemented to
in the control of DC-DC converter [24]. The battery
is connected to increase the reliability for power
supply to the load. The DC loads may be connected
after DC-DC converter. A single phase or three phase
inverter is connected to convert DC- AC following
which AC loads are connected [25-27]. In actual
installations inverter and AC load may or may not be
present.

(ii)- GRID CONNECTED PV SYSTEM
Fig.6: Grid Connected Solar PV Energy Conversion
System
Fig. 6 is the block diagram of grid connected
solar PV energy conversion system. The inverter is
connected to the grid and allows bidirectional power
flow depending on the requirement.
The above configuration are also known as two
stage PV system [28-30]. The inverter could be a one
way or two way type [31-32]. The flow of power is
controlled optimally to meet the demand response
[33-34].
(iii)- HYBRID SOLAR PV SYSTEM
Fig.7: Hybrid Solar PV Energy Conversion System
Fig. 7 is the configuration of Solar PV used with
other energy sources like fuel cell, wind turbine and
conventional generators [35]. The power flow to DC
load and to the AC load is optimized from the
available energy [36]. It is the most preferable
configuration as the reliability to meet load demand
is very high.
IV. CONCLUSION
The main objective of the work of this paper is to
give an overview of various types of solar PV
configuration. The three main types i.e. standalone,
grid connected and hybrid solar PV system is
described.
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