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Field installation and evaluation of a 20kw rooftop PV system using 3.5kw string level MPPT DC/DC converters and a central inverter

  • Ahmed Elasser
  • , Mohammed Agamy
  • , Maja Harfman Todorovic
  • , Song Chi
  • , Adam McCann
  • , Li Zhang
  • , Lei Wang
  • , Fengfeng Tao
  • , Bex Thomas
  • , Juan Sabate
  • , Raj Bahadur
  • , Frank Mueller
  • , Brian Baxter
  • , Brian Smith
  • , John Dodge
  • , Sigifredo Gonzalez
  • , Armando Fresquez

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

High energy yield has been and continues to be a major driver in PV installations. With the continuous improvement in PV modules' performance, there is a need to extract as much power as possible from the modules under various weather conditions. Over the past three years, we proposed, analyzed, built, installed, and monitored a PV system with string level MPPT dc/dc converters and a central inverter to understand and quantify the benefits of distributed MPPT. Our team performed detailed simulation studies on multiple architectures (module level to multi-string level MPPT), quantified the benefits of each architecture, selected an approach (string level), and designed a novel high efficiency partial power dc/dc converter, built it and tested it in the lab (with a PV emulator) and in the field with actual PV strings and a grid tied inverter. A rooftop installation was built with two systems side by side (a distributed and a central inverter) and has been monitored over the past 9 months.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2013
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages87-93
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781479905126
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 4 2015
Event39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2013 - Tampa, United States
Duration: Jun 16 2013Jun 21 2013

Publication series

NameConference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
Volume2015-August

Conference

Conference39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTampa
Period06/16/1306/21/13

Keywords

  • DC/DC Converter
  • Distributed
  • High Energy Yield
  • MPPT
  • Partial Power

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