power is its simplicity. It is almost completely solid
state, from the photovoltaic cell to the electricity
delivered to the consumer. Whether the application
is a solar calculator with a PV array of less than 1 W
or a 100 MW grid-connected PV power generation plant, all that
is required between the solar array and the load are electronic
and electrical components. Compared to other sources of energy
humankind has harnessed to make electricity, PV is the most
scalable and modular. Larger PV systems require more electri-
cal bussing, fusing and wiring, but the most complex component
between the solar array and the load is the electronic component
that converts and processes the electricity:the inverter. In the case of grid-tied PV, the inverter is the only piece of electronics needed between the array and the grid. Off-grid PV applications use an addi- tional dc to dc converter between the array and batteries and an inverter with a built-in charger. In this article we discuss how inverters work, includ- ing string, or single-phase, and central, 3-phase inverters; explore major inverter functions, key components, designs, controls, protections and com- munication; and theorize about future inverter technology
get here
