Power Converter (Inverter)

Power-inverter

Power Converter (Inverter)

A power converter is used for inverting or regulating the variable power DC output from a PV panel to the required form:

- DC to AC (micro-inverter)

- DC to DC (power optimizer)

Solar inverters have functions dedicated for PV panels such as MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) and circuitry for anti-islanding.

Solar PV power converting operations

Three main options are available: - String inverters - Microinverters - Power optimizers

String inverters

Advantages:

  1. Economical
  2. Conventional–easily available
  3. Suitable for large scale (higher efficiency at large scale)
    4. .

Disadvantages

  1. Difficult to maintain
  2. A defect in a single panel affects the whole system, and efficiency isreduced.
  3. Difficult to monitor performance and identify defects in individual PV panels.
    4. .

Microinverter

Advantages

  1. Suitable for small and microgeneration projects such as a single home
  2. Easy monitoring–makes it possible to monitor the array panel-wise, measure performance, and identify defects.

Disadvantages

  1. Expensive compared to String Inverters (20% to 30% higher project cost).
  2. More suitable for on-grid installations: battery charging not efficient.

Power Optimizer

Advantages

  1. Easy monitoring
  2. Can identify and monitor the array panel-wise, measuring performance and detecting defects in each individual panel

Disadvantages

  1. Only suitable for off-grid and hybrid systems