Low Voltage Ride Through Control Strategy for a Two-Stage Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic System with Grid Faults

Abstract

This paper investigates a low voltage ride-through (LVRT) control strategy for a two-stage grid-tied solar photovoltaic (SPV) system with line-to-ground (L-G) and double line-to-ground (L-L-G) faults. A proportional resonant (PR) controller controls the SPV inverter based on classical and reactive power oscillation-based reference current generating techniques. The proposed method injects reactive power as an ancillary service to provide voltage support and prevent power outages, reduces the DC component injection into the grid currents, and finally injects sinusoidal currents into the grid, avoid voltage oscillations in the DC-link and limit the inverter current by operating the boost converter in non-MPPT mode during L-G & L-LG faults. Experimental results for reference current generation using classical method and proposed method are compared to highlight the proposed controller’s ability to maintain power quality during faults.

Keywords:

• low voltage ride through
• PR controller
• ancillary services
• reactive power control
• total harmonic distortion

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bangalore, India for funding under the Research Scheme on Power (grant number: CPRI/PM/RD/RSOP/F-1).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ramesh Daravath

Ramesh Daravath received B.Tech Degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University, Hyderabad, India, in 2009 and M.Tech Degree in Power Electronics from Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University, Hyderabad, India, in 2011. Presently doing research for Ph.D degree at the National Institute of Technology Warangal, India. His Research interests include power electronic converters, renewable energy systems, grid integration, grid faults, and power quality.

Srinivasa Rao Sandepudi

Srinivasa Rao Sandepudi received B.Tech Degree in Electrical Engineering from Regional Engineering College (REC) Warangal, India, in 1992, M.Tech Degree in Power Electronics from Regional Engineering College (REC) Calicut, India, in 1994 and Ph.D. Degree from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal, India, in 2007. Since 1996, he has been a Faculty with Department of Electrical Engineering NIT Warangal. His Research interests include Power Electronic Drives, Renewable Energy Systems, Power Quality, Power Electronic Converters, Induction Motor Drives, Digital Signal Processor Controlled Drives. He is a Life Fellow of Society of Power Engineers (SPE) India, Life Member of the System Society of India (SSI), Life Member of Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), Fellow in the Institution of Engineers (India), Member of Instrument Society of India (ISOI) and Member of International Association of Engineers (M/190206) and Senior Member of IEEE (SM’ 2016).