Analysis of the conversion efficiency and THD of DC/AC converters used in off-grid Photovoltaic generation system
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https://doi.org/10.22517/23447214.24807Abstract
This article presents an experimental analysis of the conversion efficiency and total harmonic distortion (THD) of two DC/AC converter prototypes designed for off-grid photovoltaic generation systems (OPGS). The objective is to determine the influence of two controllable factors; the DC input voltage and the percentage of nominal load at the output, on the converters’ performance. The prototypes, based on unipolar SPWM modulation, were implemented using simulation software, and tested under a factorial experimental design. The study applied statistical methods, including ANOVA, to analyze the effect of each factor and their interaction on the two response variables: efficiency and THD. Results showed that for the first prototype, efficiency is independent of DC input voltage but dependent on load, while THD is influenced by both factors. In the second prototype, both efficiency and THD are affected by variations in both factors, with THD showing instability due to LC network resonance. The comparison reveals that locating the LC filter after the transformer slightly improves THD but reduces efficiency due to increased harmonic losses. These findings are relevant for optimizing inverter design in isolated PV systems.
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