Thin-Film Photovoltaic Micro-Inverter

What is a microinverter?

The microinverter is a low power rating converter of 150–400 W in which a dedicated grid-tied inverter is used for each PV module of the system. The compact design attached to the back of each PV module with the highest MPPT provides high efficiency for the PV system under partial shading.

How efficient is a microinverter?

The maximum efficiency of the proposed microinverter is achieved 96.5% at 175 W, and the California Energy Commission (CEC) efficiency is 95.9%. Fig. 17 shows that the efficiency of the proposed microinverter is also high at full load operation for a wide range of input voltage of the PV modules.

Can a microinverter be used for rooftop PV system?

A 250 W prototype of the proposed microinverter has been implemented and the performance is analyzed with different loading condition. The feasibility analysis of the proposed topology for the PV modules in different weather condition confirms the superiority of the proposed microinverter for rooftop PV system compared with the existing topologies.

What are the different types of PV inverters?

On the basis of the different arrangements of PV modules, the grid-connected PV inverter can be categorized into central inverters, string inverters, multistring inverters, and AC-module inverters or microinverters ( Kjaer et al., 2005 ). The string or central inverters are mostly used due to their ease of installation and low cost.

What are thin-film PV cells based on?

Practical thin-film PV cells are based on quaternary chalcogenides (I 2 -II-IV-X 4) of sphalerite crystals such as CdTe and Cu (In, Ga) (S, Se) 2 (CIGSSe), which is cheaper to process and exhibit competitive performance levels compared to conventional crystal silicon-based PVs.

Can microinverters improve efficiency and reliability in photovoltaic applications?

A detailed analysis is carried out among commercially-available microinverters in terms of topological structure and operational principle to improve efficiency and reliability in photovoltaic applications. Expand 2017 Brazilian Power Electronics Conference…