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This article presents a cell-level differential power processing IC to maximize the power yield under partial shading and mismatch condition in series-connected single junction photovoltaic (PV) cells. A 3-MHz bidirectional buck–boost converter is employed to realize voltage equalization technique forcing the PV cells to constantly operate close to their maximum power points. A novel and simple low-power low-area analog control circuit is proposed to maintain the high system efficiency at low and high levels of mismatch by obviating the need for power hungry blocks such as analog to digital converters, digital to analog converters, op-amps, saw-tooth generator, and regulators. The voltage of adjacent PV cells is used to drive the high-side switches through bootstrap supplies eliminating the need for voltage regulators. The performance of the proposed IC, fabricated in 130 nm CMOS process, is validated through simulation and experimental results. The converter is capable of processing mismatch currents up to 4 A while the control circuitry consumes less than 40 mW and a system efficiency above 95% is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a new way to achieve reduced-order controllers using an integrated controller-plant dynamics approach. The proposed method combines the controller and plant dynamics to achieve specific overall control functionalities. The method is applied to a grid-connected inverter that conventionally uses second-order proportional-resonant (PR) and proportional-integrating (PI) transfer functions. The proposed approach replaces a third-order PR+PI function with a first-order PI function without compromising its features. The approach is to integrate the dynamics of the inverter and its output filter with the PI function to achieve a PR functionality. The proposed approach not only obviates the computational and digital implementation challenges pertaining to the PR compensators, it also results in a generally more robust and stable operation of the inverter in practical grid conditions. Detailed theoretical analysis, simulations, comparisons, and laboratory experiments are presented to elucidate various aspects of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, new steady-state analysis is proposed for a series resonant converter (SRC) that provides closed-form expressions for converter waveforms. Using the proposed analysis, explicit equations are obtained to design the converter components. It is shown that an SRC can be modeled through a nonlinear differential equation with discontinuous inputs. A Laplace-based theorem (LBT) is provided to obtain the steady-state analytic solution of the resonant converter differential equations. Using the LBT, a flowchart is proposed to analyze the converter where the nonlinearity of differential equation is removed by defining intermediate variables. The variable duty ratio SRC is analyzed using the proposed flowchart. Accurate, closed-form, and explicit equations for converter waveforms, voltage gain, current phase lag, zero voltage switching, and discontinuous conduction mode boundaries are derived. The proposed analysis is compared with conventional methods and its accuracy is validated through simulations and experimental results. Moreover, using the proposed method, a novel procedure is provided for the optimal design of the converter and is compared with conventional design approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new inverter control approach, called enhanced virtual synchronous machine (eVSM), is proposed based on the VSM concept. Unlike existing VSM approaches, the eVSM does not emulate the rotating inertia based on an assumption of the unlimited energy storage, but it deploys the physically existing inertia of the dc-link element. The eVSM adopts an innovative way of enlarging the inertia utilization range, which obviates the need for having a large dc-link element or a dedicated battery storage system, while still providing the same inertia response of an equivalent synchronous machine. Theoretical developments and numerical results presented in this paper confirm that the proposed eVSM can present a stabilizing support to the grid similar to a synchronous machine despite the small size of its dc-link element. Moreover, its transient responses can be improved beyond those of conventional synchronous machines thanks to the possibility of more flexibly adjusting damping and governor functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a fast and robust $DQ$ current controller to regulate the output power of single-phase grid-connected inverters. The proposed method generates the grid current orthogonal component without introducing any additional dynamics or distortions to the control loop. Moreover, its operation does not depend on the system parameters. The proposed method exhibits improved steady-state and dynamic performances in comparison with the inverters equipped with the conventional orthogonal signal generation techniques. Its improved characteristics make the proposed controller suitable for smart inverter applications, to provide advanced grid functionalities as demanded by recently revised standards. Simulation and experimental results show the feasibility and performance of this control structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]