Grid Tie Inverter Control for Rooftop Photovoltaic
System
Aurobinda Panda M.K.Pathak
Department of Electrical Department of Electrical
Engineering, Engineering,
IIT Roorkee, India-247667 IIT Roorkee, India-247667
Abstract— This paper presents a simulation of grid-connected
photovoltaic (PV) system under fast atmospheric variations. With
varying irradiation and temperature condition the maximum
power point tracking (MPPT) controller is presented. This
MPPT controller allows an optimum extraction of energy from
the PV module. A single-phase phase-locked loop (PLL) is
introduced for the grid interfacing system which enables the PV
inverter to get synchronizes with the utility grid. Also a current
controller is proposed to fulfill two requirements in grid
connected system that are, (i) during overload condition or incase
of unfavorable atmospheric conditions the load requirements
should be shared by both PV inverter and the utility grid and (ii)
during light load condition the excess energy generated from the
PV inverter should be feed to the utility grid.
Keywords- Photovoltaic System, MPPT, PLL, PV Inverter,
Current Controller
I. INTRODUCTION
The recent change in the environmental conditions such as
global warming and the rapid increase in the demand for
electricity led to a need for a new source of energy that is
cheaper and sustainable with less carbon emissions. Today
many renewable energy technologies such as solar, biomass,
wind, and tidal power are well developed, reliable, and cost
competitive with the conventional source of energy [3]. The
solar energy has several advantages for instance clean,
unlimited, and its potential to provide sustainable electricity in
area not served by the conventional power grid [4].
A photovoltaic system (PV system) is a system which uses
one or more solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity.
However, the solar energy produces the dc power, and hence
power electronics and control equipment are required to
convert dc to ac power [16]. There are two types of the solar
energy system; stand-alone power system and grid-connected
power system. The stand-alone system is used in off-grid
application with battery storage. In the case of residential or
rooftop grid connected PV systems, the electricity demand of
the building is met by the PV system and only the excess is fed
into the grid [2, 5, and 15]. Its control function must follow the
voltage and frequency of the utility-generated power presented
on the distribution line [10-11]. The feeding of electricity into
the grid requires the transformation of DC into AC by a grid-
controlled solar inverter. Solar grid-tie inverters should be
designed to operate within allowable power quality limits set
by standards like IEEE [12].
978-1-4673-0766-6/12/$31.00 ©2012 IEEE
.
S.P.Srivastava,
Department of Electrical
Engineering,
IIT Roorkee, India-247667
The major constraints in the fast development of rooftop
photovoltaic system are the cost of photovoltaic module and
the challenge of interfacing PV inverter and grid. Because of
these challenges it is necessary to use the energy of PV module
optimally and also to design the necessary controller for the
efficient interfacing with the grid. In order to maximize the
utilization of the solar array for a given insolation and
temperature, it is necessary to extract maximum energy from
the PV module. Several approaches have been proposed in
some literature for tracking MPP accurately in PV cells [1], [8],
and [9]. For the synchronization of PV inverter and grid the
phase locked loop controller is used [10]-[11].
This paper focuses on grid-connected roof top photovoltaic
system. Here the generated power from the PV module is
continuously feed to the residential load. But during the
unsuitable atmospheric conditions i.e. when the load demand is
not meet by the PV generation at that instant the required
energy can be taken out from the utility grid. Also when the PV
generation is more than the load requirement then the excess
energy can feed to the utility grid.MATLAB/SIMULINK is
utilized to predict the dynamic behaviour of the system. This
paper proposes the mppt controller and current controller for
the grid connected system which enables maximum power
extraction from PV module and also the bidirectional energy
transformation between utility grid and PV inverter
respectively. For synchronization purpose single phase PLL
controller has been presented
II. PROPOSED GRID CONNECTED PV SYSTEM
Fig.1 shows the block diagram of proposed grid connected
photovoltaic system.
Fig.1 Complete Block Diagram of Proposed Grid Connected PV System
It is composed of the PV array, the DC–DC converter, the
DC–AC inverter, and the utility grid. The function of the DC–
DC converter is to extract the maximum power from the PV
array and to transfer the DC energy to the inverter, whereas
that of the inverter is to convert the input DC energy into an
output AC form and to produce a sinusoidal output current in
phase with the utility voltage. For the synchronization between
utility grid and PV inverter phase locked loop controller is
used.
A. Modeling of PV Module
The solar cell is the basic unit of a photovoltaic module and
it is the element in charge of transforming the sun rays or
photons directly into electric power. The solar cell used is the
PN junction, whose electrical characteristics differ very little
from a diode.
Fig.2 Equivalent circuit of a PV Cell
The equivalent circuit of a practical PV cell is shown in
Fig.2.The characteristic equation of a PV cell is the output
current produced by it and is expressed as [6]-[7],
V RS I
Vt a V RS I
I I PV I0 e 1 (1)
RP
Where IPV=Current generated by the incident solar radiation
Id=Diode current
I0=Reverse saturation or leakage current of the diode
Vt =Thermal voltage of PV module with Ns PV cell
connected in series
= NsKT/Q
K=Boltzmann constant=1.3806503 x 10-23 J/K
Q=Electron Charge=1.60217646 x 10-19 C
T=Temperature in Kelvin
a=Diode ideality constant (1<a<1.5)
PV cells connected in series increases the total output
current of the PV module whereas cells connected in series
increases the total output voltage of the module.
For simulation purpose, we use the manufacturer datasheet
for open circuit voltage, short circuit current, the voltage at the
MPP, the current at the MPP, the open circuit
voltage/temperature coefficient (KV), the short circuit
current/temperature coefficient (KI), and the maximum
experimental peak output power (Pmax, e).This information are
always given at standard test condition i.e. at 1000 W/m2
irradiation and 250C temperature. The other parameters like the
light generated current, diode saturation current, diode ideality
constant, series and parallel resistance which are not mentioned
in manufacturer datasheet but required for the simulation
purpose can be evaluated as follows[6].
The current generated by the incident solar radiation
depends linearly on the solar irradiation and is also influenced
by the temperature according to the following equation.
G
I PV ( I PV ,n K1 T )
Gn
Where,
IPV, n is the light generated current at the nominal condition
i.e. at 25oC and 1000W/m2
T =Actual temperature-Nominal temperature in Kelvin
G=Irradiation on the device surface
Gn=Irradiation at nominal irradiation
The diode saturation current I0 and its dependence on the
temperature may be expressed as [7],
3 qE g
Tn 1 1 (3)
I0 I 0, n exp
T aK Tn T
Where Eg is the band gap energy of the semiconductor and
Io, n is the nominal saturation current and is expressed as [3],
[11],
I sc, n
I o, n (4)
Voc, n
exp 1
aVt , n
Where Voc, n=Nominal open circuit voltage of the PV
module
Finally the series and parallel resistance of the PV cell is
calculated by any iteration method. Here Newton-Raphson
method is used for solving the characteristics equation
(equation 1) to find RS and RP values.RS basically depends on
the contact resistance of the metal base, the resistance of the p
and n bodies, and the contact resistance of the n layer with the
top metal grid. The RP resistance exists mainly due to the
leakage current of the p-n junction .The value of RP is generally
too high where as the value of RS is very low.
B. Maximum Power Point Tracking by Perturb & Observe
Method
Maximum Power Point tracking controller is basically used
to operates the Photovoltaic modules in a manner that allows
the connected load on PV module to extract the maximum
power which the PV module capable to produce at a given
atmospheric conditions.PV cells have a single operating point,
where the values of the current and voltage of the cell result in be regarded as a high-order band-pass filter, with zero phase
a maximum power output. With the varying atmospheric distortion.
condition and because of the rotation of the earth [8], the
The error into the PI controller included in the PLL
irradiation and temperature keeps on changing throughout the
day. So it is a big challenge to operate a PV module structure is given by,
consistently on the maximum power point and for which many Error Vgrid sin gr
grid cos pl
pll Vgrid cos gr
grid sin pl
pll
MPPT algorithms have been developed [8]. The most popular
among the available MPPT techniques is Perturb and Observe Vgrid sin( grid
gr pl )
pll

(P&O) method [9]. Here the current/voltage is repeatedly

(5)
perturbed by a fixed amount in a given direction, and the
direction is changed only if the algorithm [9] detects a drop in
power between steps. The algorithm for the present work used
is shown in Fig.3. Here if there is an increase in power, the
subsequent perturbation should be kept in the same direction to
reach the MPP and if there is a decrease in power then the
perturbation should be reversed.

Fig.4 Phase Locked Loop for Single phase system

Finally the error signal is fed to a properly tuned controller

for determining the position of grid voltage.
D. Current Controller
For the current controller the reference current is generated
with the help of the PLL controller. A reference current signal
is generated at the same phase with grid voltage. The grid
voltage vector position can be found out from the PLL
controller. Then the actual inverter current is compared with
the reference current and the error is fed to a PI controller. The
output of the controller generates a modulating signal and
which can be used for the PWM technique to generate required
pulse for grid tie inverter to meet the load demand. The
controller output should generate such pulses which can enable
the inverter to generate the current as that of reference.
In this paper two cases has been presented those are,
Fig.3 Algorithm for Maximum Power Point tracking by Perturb and Observe
method a) When the load demand is less than PV generation or
incase of favorable atmospheric condition then the extra
In the proposed work in each perturbation the controller energy generated from the PV module is fed to the load.
gives a reference voltage which is compared with the b) When the load demand is more than PV generation or in
instantaneous PV module output voltage and the error is fed to case of cloudy atmospheric condition the load
a PI controller which in turns decides the duty cycle of the requirement is shared by both PV module and grid.
DC/DC converter as shown in Fig.1.The process of
perturbation is repeated periodically until the MPP is reached. The voltage generated at PCC is,
The system is then oscillates about the maximum power point.
Vdc - Vgrid, when switch 1 and 4 are in conduction
So the perturbation step size has to be chosen accordingly in
order to minimize the oscillation around the MPP and also it Vpcc = -Vdc - Vgrid, when switch 2 and 3 are in conduction
shouldn’t reduce the convergence speed much. Although this
algorithm benefits from simplicity, it lacks the speed and - Vgrid, when inverter is not in operating mode
adaptability necessary for tracking fast transients in weather
variation.
C. Phase Locked Loop Controller
The main goal of the Phase locked loop (PLL) is to track
the fundamental grid voltage, even though that severe
background harmonics are present [10-11]. Thus the PLL can
 condition. Here the power variation is less with change in
voltage. Fig. 7 (b) shows the voltage-power characteristics of
PV module at constant temperature and varying irradiation
condition. Under this condition it can be observed that the
variation in power more with change in voltage.
In Fig. 8, the simulation results of maximum power point
tracking of PV module by perturb and observe method has
been presented at varying irradiation condition and varying
Fig.5 Interfacing between PV inverter and Grid
temperature condition respectively. Fig. 8 (a) shows the
current, voltage and power at maximum power point under
Where Vdc is the dc link voltage and Vgrid is the
varying temperature condition. Here it can be observed that the
instantaneous value of grid voltage. The change in the grid
variation in maximum power under varying temperature
current per switching cycle can be computed as follows,
condition is very less. Similarly Fig. 8 (b) shows the current,
voltage and power at maximum power point under varying
(Vdc Vgrid ).D Vgrid (1 D) Vdc D Vgrid temperature condition. Here it can be observed that the
digrid (6)
2 Lf sw 2 Lf sw 2 Lf sw variation in maximum power under varying irradiation
condition is much more compared to varying temperature
condition.
Where L is the total filter inductance, fsw is the switching
frequency and D is the duty cycle.
So the duty cycle required for the inverter to generate
required current is,
Vgrid digrid
d 2 Lf sw
D
Vdc Vdc (7)
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
To investigate the performance of the proposed grid
connected photovoltaic system under varying atmospheric
condition a simulation is carried out with following datasheet
of PV module.
For the proposed grid connected system, 10 PV modules
have been connected in series to meet the required voltage
demand and two such strings are connected in parallel to meet (a)
the current demand. In this way the complete PV array can
generate maximum voltage of 263 V and maximum current of
15.2 Ampere. Fig. 6(a) shows the VI characteristics of the PV
module at constant irradiation (at 1000 watt/m2) and varying
temperature conditions. Here it can be observed that with
increase in temperature there is small drop in voltage with no
change in current value. Fig. 6(b) shows the VI characteristics
of the PV module at constant temperature (at 250C) and
varying irradiation conditions. Here it can be observed that
with change in irradiation there is large variation in current
compared to voltage.

TABLE I. PV MODULE DATASHEET

(b)
Fig. 6 Voltage-Current characteristics(a)atconstant irradiation (b)at constant
temperature

In Fig. 9 the simulation result of grid connected PV system

Fig. 7 (a) shows the voltage-power characteristics of PV
module at constant irradiation and varying temperature
during light load condition has been presented. Here in this
case a 10 ohm resistor is taken as a local load for PV inverter.
As per datasheet of PV module, under standard test condition
the maximum current generated by PV module is 15.2 Ampere.
With 220 volt ac supply the load demand cannot be met by PV
module as reference current is taken as 12 Amp rms value. So
for 10 ohm resistive load 12 amp and 10 amp current is shared
by PV inverter and grid respectively.
Similarly in Fig. 10, the simulation result of grid connected
PV system during over load condition has been presented.
Here, a 25 ohm resistive load is connected at point of common
coupling (PCC).Here load requires only 3 Amp, so the rest of
the energy is fed to grid.
Finally a harmonic analysis of grid connected PV system is
presented in Fig. 11.Here the grid current THD is coming as
1.14 % which is the essential requirement for grid interfaced
distributed system as per IEEE standard.

(b)
Fig. 8 Maximum Power Point tracking of PV module (a) at varying
temperature (b) at varying irradiation condition

(a)

Fig. 9 Inverter Current, Grid current and load current during light load
(b) condition
Fig. 7 Voltage-Power Characteristics of PV module (a) at constant irradiation
(b) At constant temperature

Figure 1.

(a) Fig. 10 Inverter Current, Grid current and load current during overload
condition
 IV. CONCLUSION
In this paper a complete simulation of grid connected
rooftop PV system has been carried out under varying
atmospheric conditions. With varying irradiation and
temperature conditions mathematical modeling of a PV module
has been presented. MPPT controller and current controller are
designed for the efficient use of grid interfacing system.
Current controller is designed in such a way that during over
load condition the load requirement is shared by both PV
inverter and the grid. On the other hand during light load
condition the excess energy generation from PV module is fed
to the utility grid. Here the harmonic requirements (<5%) for
the grid current set by different standards for grid interfacing
system is achieved.
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