Design, Fabrication and Performance Analysis of

Solar Inverter
Shuva Paul Dr. Md. Kamrul Alam Khan
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Dean, Department of Science
American International University Bangladesh Jagannath University
Dhaka Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract— In recent days, focuses on renewable energy normally accomplished by pulse-width-modulation (PWM)
sources has become very much popular. Due to limitations control within the inverter. The inverter gain may be defined
of reservation of conventional energy sources future as the ratio of the ac output voltage to dc input voltage.
generations have to search for alternative energy sources. The output voltage waveforms of ideal inverters
Solar energy is one of the convenient renewable energy should be sinusoidal. However, the waveforms of practical
sources as the availability of the solar radiation is limitless. inverters are non-sinusoidal and contain certain harmonics. For
This research study aims to describe the design, low-and medium-power applications, square-wave or quasi-
fabrication and performance analysis of solar inverter square-wave voltages may be acceptable; and for high-power
both theoretically and practically. applications, low distorted sinusoidal wave-forms are required.
With the availability of high-speed power semiconductor
Keywords- devices, the harmonic contents of output voltage can be
minimized or reduced significantly by switching techniques.
I. INTRODUCTION
An inverter changes dc voltage into ac voltage. Typical III. CLASSIFICATION OF INVERTER
efficiencies of commercially available dc/ac inverters range Inverters can be broadly classified into two types: (1)
from 65 to 75%. Inverter technology is extremely wide ranging single-phase inverters, and (2) three-phase inverters. Each type
and varied. The various techniques can be grouped, by can use controlled turn-on and turn-off devices (bipolar
implementation. In some basic classification, the simplest junction transistors [BJTs], metal oxide semiconductor field-
inverter technique, a power amplifier, is not widespread effect transistors [MOSFETs], insulated-gate bipolar transistors
because of its low efficiency. Power amplifiers employ a high- [IGBTs], metal oxide semiconductor-controlled thyristors
fidelity amplifier controlled by an oscillator, with voltage [MCTs], static induction transistors, [SITs], and gate-turn-off
regulation feedback. Oscillators produce ac voltage of various thyristors [GTOs]). These inverters generally use PWM control
distortion rates and wide range of reproduced frequencies. signals for producing an ac output voltage. An inverter is called
Switching inverters, however, generally fall into the two basic a voltage-fed inverter (VFI) if the input voltage remains
classes of current generators and voltage generators. Each of constant, a current-fed inverter (CFI) if the input current is
these can be further divided into sub classes by the techniques maintained constant, and a variable dc linked inverter if the
used. There are also techniques that require little or no output input voltage is controllable. If the output voltage or current of
with a transformer operation at the output frequency. There the inverter is forced to pass through zero by creating an LC
generally are considered to be “carrier” systems. The resonant circuit, this type of inverter is called resonant-pulse
ferroresonent inverter is the most popular lower priced system inverter and it has wide applications in power electronics.
used today. There inverters should be considered as special
cases of either voltage or current generators.
IV. USEFULNESS OF INVERTER
Inverters are widely used in industrial applications (e.g.,
II. DEFINITION OF INVERTER
variable-speed ac motor drives, induction heating, standby
Dc-to-ac converters are known as inverters. The function of an
power supplies, and uninterruptible power supplies). The input
inverter is to change a dc input voltage to a symmetric ac
output voltage of desired magnitude and frequency. The may be a battery, fuel cell, solar cell, or other dc source. The
output voltage could be fixed or variable at a fixed or variable typical single-phase outputs are (1) 120V at 60Hz, and (2)
frequency. A variable output voltage can be obtained by 220V at 50 Hz, and (3) 115V at 400 Hz. For high-power three-
varying the input dc voltage and maintaining the gain of the phase systems, typical outputs are (1) 220 to 380V at 50 Hz,
inverter constant. On the other hand, if the dc input voltage is (2) 120 to 208V at 60 Hz, and (3) 115 to 200V at 400 Hz.
fixed and it is not controllable, a variable output voltage can
be obtained by varying the gain of the inverter, which is

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 V. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION shows the load current and conduction intervals of devices for
a purely inductive load. It can be notices that for a purely
The principle of single-phase inverters can be explained with
inductive load, a transistor conducts only for T0/2 (or 90˚).
Fig.5.1a. The inverter circuit consists of two choppers. When
Depending on the load impedance angle, the conduction
only transistor Q1 is turned on for a time T0/2,the
instantaneous voltage across the load v 0 is Vs/2.If transistor period of a transistor would vary from 90˚ go 180˚.
Any switching devices can replace the transistors. If
Q2 only is turned on for a time T0/2, - Vs/2 appears across the
toff is the turn-off time of a device, there must be a minimum
load. The logic circuit should be designed such that Q1 and
delay time of td (= toff) between the outgoing device and
Q2 are not turned on at the same time. Fig.5.1b shows the
triggering of the next incoming device. Otherwise, short-
waveforms for the output voltage and transistor currents with a
circuit condition would result through the two devices.
resistive load. This inverter requires a three-wire dc source,
Therefore, the maximum conduction time of a device would
and when a transistor is off, its reverse voltage is Vs instead of
be ton = T0/2 - td. All practical devices require a certain turn-
Vs/2. This inverter is known as a half-bridge inverter.
on and turn-off time. For successful operation of inverters, the
The root-mean-square (rms) output voltage can be
logic circuit should take these into account.
found from
For an RL load, the instantaneous load current i0 can
T0/2
be found by found by dividing the instantaneous output
Vs voltage by the load impedance Z=R + jn ωL. thus we get
Vo = (2/T0×∫ (Vs²/ 4) dt) = ------------------------ (1)
2
0 ∞
The instantaneous output voltage can be expressed in Fourier i0 = ∑ (2Vs / nπ R²+(nωL)² ) sin (nωt – θn )---------- (4)
series an n=1,3,5,…
∞
v 0 = a0/2 + ∑ (an cos (nωt) + bn sin (nωt) ) where θn = tan ˉ¹( nωL/R).If I01 is the rms fundamental load
n=1 current, the fundamental output power (for n = 1) is
Due to the quarter-wave symmetry along the x-axis, both a0 P01 = V01 I01cosθ1 = I01² R-----------------(5)
and an are zero. We get bn as

π = [2Vs/ 2 π R²+(ωL)² ]²R------------- (5a)

0
2
In most applications (e.g., electric motor drives) the
1 -Vs Vs 4Vs
bn = [ ∫ d(ωt) + ∫ d(ωt) ] = output power due to the fundamental current is generally the
π 2 2 nπ
useful power, and the power due to harmonic currents is
-π
dissipated as heat and increases the load temperature.
2
Which gives the instantaneous output voltage VO as VI. DC SUPPLY CURRENT
Assuming a lossless inverter, the average power absorbed by
∞
the load must be equal to the average power supplied by the dc
2Vs
v0 = ∑ sin (nωt) source. Thus, we can write
nπ
n=1,3,5,... T T
v 0 = 0 for n = 2,4,…------------------------------------ (2) ∫ vs (t) is (t) dt = ∫ v 0 (t) i0 (t) dt
0 0
where ω = 2 πf0 is the frequency of output voltage in rads per
second. Due to the quarter-wave symmetry of the output where T is the perict of the ac output voltage. For an inductive
voltage along the x-axis, the even harmonics voltages are load and a relatively high switching frequency. The load
absent. For n=1, Eq.(5.2) gives the rms value of fundamental current i0 is nearly sinusoidal: therefore, only the fundamental
component as component of the ac output voltage provides power to the
load. Because the dc supply voltage remains constant vs (t) =
V01 = (2Vs / 2 π ) = 0.45Vs ------------------ (3) Vs. We can write

For an inductive load, the load current cannot change

immediately with the output voltage. If Q1 is turned off at
t=T0/2, the load current would continue to flow through D2, T T
load, and lower half of the dc source until the current falls to 1
zero. Similarly, when Q2 is turned off at t=T0, the load current ∫ is (t) dt = ∫ 2 V01 sin (ωt) 2 I0 sin (ωt – θ1)dt = Is
Vs
flows through D1, load, and upper half of the dc source. When 0 0
diode D1 or D2 conducts, energy is fed back to the dc source
and these diodes are known as feedback diodes. Fig.5.1c

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where V01is the fundamental rms output voltage: Data for Used Panel Characteristics Test (Panel–6 Watt)
I0 is the rms load current: Local time Open circuit Short circuit Maximum
θ1 is the load angle at the fundamental frequency. Voltage. current Isc(dc) power
Thus, the dc supply current Is can be simplified to (Hrs) Voc(dc) (Volt) (A) Pmax(dc) (W)
11.50 12.3 .45 5.535
Is = (V01 / Vs) I0 cos (θ1)---------------------- (6) 12.00 12.3 .46 5.658
12.10 12.2 .46 5.612
12.20 12.2 .45 5.490
A. Gating Sequence
12.30 12.1 .46 5.566
The gating sequence for the switching devices is as follows:
12.40 12.2 .44 5.368
1. Generate a square-wave gating-signal vg1 at an output 12.50 12.3 .43 5.289
frequency f0 and a 50% duty cycle. The gating-signal vg2
01.00 12.2 .44 5.368
should be a logic invert of vg1.
2. Signal vg1 will drive switch Q1 through a gate-isolating 01.10 12.1 .42 5.082
circuit, and vg2 can drive Q2 without any isolating circuit. 01.20 12.2 .41 5.002

VII. DESIGN OF SOLAR INVERTER 01.30 12.2 .41 5.002

The determination of voltage and current ratings of power 01.40 12.2 .40 4.880
devices in inverter circuits depends on the types of inverters, 01.50 12.3 .39 4.797
load, and methods of voltage and current control. The design 02.00 12.2 .36 4.392
requires—deriving the expressions for the instantaneous load
current, and---plotting the current waveforms for each device 02.10 12.3 .35 4.305
and component. Once the current waveform is known, the 02.20 12.4 .33 4.092
ratings of power devices can be determined. The evaluation of 02.30 12.4 .32 3.968
voltage ratings requires establishing the reverse voltages of
each device.
To reduce the output harmonics, output filters are
necessary. Figure below shows an effective solar inverter.

Figure: Experimental setup for used Module characteristics.

Figure:
VIII. PRACTICAL/EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF INVERTER

Table-1
Start Local Time: 11:50AM Figure: Experimental setup for Inverter Characteristics(a) and
Place: Dhaka. used module (b)

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 Table-2 02.00 14.18 .11 1.5598

Start Local Time: 11:50AM 02.10 14.58 .09 1.3122

02.20 14.84 .09 1.3356
Place: Dhaka.
02.30 14.17 .08 1.1336
Data for Solar Inverter Input Characteristics Test( Used
Panel – 6 Watt) Table-4
Local time Inverter Input Inverter Input Inverter Input Start Local Time: 11:50AM
Voltage. current Iin(dc) power Pin(dc)
(Hrs) Vin(dc) (Volt) (A) (W) Place: Dhaka.
11.50 10.0 .46 4.6 Data for Transformer Output Characteristics Test( Used
12.00 10.0 .46 4.6
Panel -6 Watt)
Local time Transformer Transformer Transformer
12.10 10.0 .47 4.7 output Voltage. output current output power
(Hrs) VT(ac) (Volt) IT(ac) (MA) PT(ac) (W)
12.20 10.0 .45 4.5
11.50 195 16.74 3.26430
12.30 10.0 .47 4.7
12.00 186 16.84 3.13224
12.40 10.0 .45 4.5
12.10 197 16.70 3.28990
12.50 10.0 .45 4.5
12.20 199 16.44 3.27156
01.00 9.9 .44 4.356
12.30 187 17.00 3.17900
01.10 10.0 .43 4.3
12.40 187 16.52 3.08924
01.20 9.9 .42 4.158
12.50 186 16.23 3.01878
01.30 10.0 .41 4.1
01.00 196 16.12 3.15952
01.40 9.9 .40 3.96
01.10 184 15.78 2.90352
01.50 9.9 .38 3.762
01.20 186 15.29 2.84394
02.00 9.9 .36 3.564
01.30 184 15.26 2.80784
02.10 9.9 .35 3.465
01.40 185 14.81 2.73985
02.20 9.8 .34 3.332
01.50 185 14.64 2.70840
02.30 9.7 .32 3.104
02.00 184 13.97 2.57048
02.10 181 13.44 2.43264
Table-3
02.20 193 13.16 2.53988
Start Local Time: 11:50 02.30 180 12.34 2.22120
Place: Dhaka.
Data for Solar Inverter Output Characteristics Test (Used
Panel – 6 Watt) IX. RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Local time Inverter output Inverter output Inverter output Table 1 shows the characteristics of the 6watt panel which was
Voltage. current power used to the inverter circuit. Table 2 Shows the Input
(Hrs) Vout(ac) (Volt) Iout(ac) (A) Pout(ac) (W)
11.50 14.67 .11 1.6137
characteristics of the Inverter circuit. It is shown that the Input
Voltage decreases with local time which is shown in Figure
12.00 14.74 .12 1.7688 below:
12.10 14.58 .11 1.6038
12.20 14.58 .10 1.4580
12.30 14.55 .11 1.6005
12.40 14.10 .12 1.6920
12.50 14.05 .12 1.6860
01.00 13.95 .10 1.3950
01.10 14.30 .11 1.5730
01.20 13.93 .11 1.5323
01.30 14.05 .12 1.6860
01.40 14.04 .10 1.4040
01.50 14.09 .10 1.4090
Figure: Input Voltage Vs. local time curve.

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From Table 1 & 2 it is shown that the variation of current is ACKNOWLEDGMENT (HEADING 5)
almost same with local time. Table 3 shows the Inverter output Special thanks to American International University
characteristics. It is shown that the out voltage increases and Bangladesh (AIUB), Dhaka, Bangladesh and Jagannath
Current & Power decreases than the Input voltage, current & University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. All the experiments have been
power respectively. done in the Solar Energy Research Laboratory (SERC) of
Table 4 shows the output characteristics of the Inverter Using Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
step-up transformer. It is shown that from 6watt module 200
ac Volt can be obtained in our local isolation. Finally, it is REFERENCES
concluded that our designed and developed inverter can be
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