BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to inverter control systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for controlling an inverter to operate within a safe operating area while maximizing a power output from an alternative energy source such as, for example, a photovoltaic (PV) array, to a power grid.

[0002] Most homes and/or facilities with electrical systems receive alternating current (AC) electrical power from a utility power grid. Many facilities connected to utility power grids will substitute power from the power grids with power from their own alternative energy sources. The alternative energy sources may include solar, wind, geothermal, and/or hydroelectric energy sources, as non-limiting examples. In some cases, the alternative energy sources will generate power in excess of what the facilities need to operate the facilities' electrical systems. In those cases, the excess generated electrical power from the alternative energy sources can be supplied back into power grids in exchange for compensation.

[0003] Since power grids provide AC electrical power, only AC power can be supplied into power grids. Therefore, in the case of alternative energy sources that produce direct current (DC) power, an inverter must be used to invert the energy from the DC alternative energy sources from DC power to AC power. An inverter is operated by a controller that selectively controls switches of the inverter to invert the DC power into AC power. During operation, the inverter controller receives a reactive power command from a utility and a power grid voltage from the power grid to which the inverter supplies power. The controller then regulates switching within the inverter to supply that reactive power and voltage to the power grid.

[0004] These inverters are controlled to limit the input DC-side current and the output AC-side current so as not to damage the internal hardware of the inverter. The operation of an inverter is also restricted by the DC voltage of the alternative energy source. Typically, the controller for an alternative energy source inverter is designed to switch off the inverter if the DC voltage of the alternative energy source drops below a preset threshold DC voltage. Therefore, when the DC voltage of the alternative energy source drops below the threshold, no active or reactive power is supplied to the power grid. Further, the reactive power specified for an inverter is limited to a small percentage of the apparent power rating of the inverter (for example, an inverter may be restricted to providing a power factor of +/-0.91). All of the above limitations - the inverter DC and AC current limits, the reactive power command and the power grid voltage, the alternative energy source DC voltage, and the inverter power factor limits - impose restrictions on extracting the maximum amount of active power out of alternative energy sources.

[0005] The above limitations pose additional restrictions when the inverter is used for higher apparent power applications. Because an inverter has limited AC current capabilities, the AC voltage of the inverter must be increased to increase the apparent power rating of the inverter. However, the DC voltage supplied to the inverter from the alternative energy source remains the same. This increase in the AC voltage of the inverter makes the problem of low DC voltage more severe because the inverter must be disconnected from the alternative energy source at a higher DC voltage, further limiting the inverter from extracting active power from the alternative energy source and supplying the requested reactive power to the power grid.

[0006] In any case, a preset (static) threshold DC voltage limits an inverter from providing any power to a power grid when the DC voltage generated by the alternative energy source is below that threshold DC voltage. Therefore, even if the alternative energy source has a DC voltage output that could be used to provide power to the power grid, the inverter will be switched off if the DC voltage is below the threshold.

[0007] It would therefore be desirable to provide a system and method for controlling an inverter to operate within the hardware limitations of the inverter and the limitations of a power grid while maximizing the active power provided to the power grid from an alternative energy source under low-DC voltage conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for controlling an inverter to operate within its hardware limitations while maximizing the supply of active power from an alternative energy source to a power grid.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system for controlling an inverter to supply power from a DC power source to a power grid includes a sensor system coupled to the power grid, a voltage sensor coupled to an output of the DC power source, and a controller coupled to the sensor system and the voltage sensor to receive signals therefrom. The controller is programmed to calculate a maximum reactive power that the inverter can deliver to the power grid according to a reactive power algorithm and based on a reactive power command received from a utility, a power grid voltage received from the sensor system, and a voltage of the DC power source received from the voltage sensor. The controller is also programmed to calculate a maximum active power that the inverter can deliver to the power grid according to an active power algorithm and based on the maximum reactive power. The controller is further programmed to control the inverter to deliver to the power grid the maximum reactive power and an active power equal to the smaller of the maximum active power and a maximum power point tracking active power command.

[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for controlling an inverter includes receiving a reactive power command from a utility and sensing a voltage of the power grid and a direct current (DC) voltage of a power source providing power to the power grid. The method also includes calculating in a reactive power algorithm a maximum reactive power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on the reactive power command, the voltage of the power grid, and the DC voltage of the power source. The method further includes calculating in an active power algorithm a maximum active power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on the reactive power the inverter can deliver to the power grid. In addition, the method includes outputting the maximum reactive power to an inverter current control block and outputting control signals from the inverter current control block to switches of the inverter to control the inverter to output to the power grid the maximum reactive power.

[0011] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a photovoltaic (PV) system includes a PV array, an inverter coupled to the PV array for converting a direct current (DC) voltage of the PV array to an alternating current (AC) voltage for delivery to a power grid, a power grid sensor system for monitoring a voltage of the power grid, and a PV sensor for monitoring the DC voltage of the PV array. The PV system also includes a controller programmed to calculate a maximum reactive power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on a reactive power command received from a utility, the voltage of the power grid, the DC voltage of the PV array, and an AC-side current limit of the inverter. The controller is further programmed to calculate a maximum active power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on the maximum Q-axis current and the AC-side current limit of the inverter. The controller is additionally programmed to control the inverter to output to the power grid the maximum reactive power and an active power equal to the lesser of the maximum active power and a maximum power point tracking active power command.

[0012] Various other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

[0014] In the drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photovoltaic (PV) system, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a flow chart setting forth exemplary steps of the reactive power algorithm of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a flow chart setting forth exemplary steps of the active power algorithm of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating examples of the active and reactive power achievable in the PV system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a series of graphs illustrating a simulation of the PV system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a series of graphs illustrating an additional simulation of the PV system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example of the active power achievable in the PV system of FIG. 1 as compared to prior art PV systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for controlling an inverter to supply a utility power grid with the maximum amount AC electrical power while operating within an operating area that is pre-defined based on hardware limitations of the inverter, namely the DC-side and AC-side current limits of the inverter. This pre-defined operating area is referred to hereafter as the safe operating area (SOA) of the inverter. Embodiments of the system and method disclosed herein differ from prior art systems by allowing the inverter to operate with a variable low-DC voltage input into the inverter instead of using a preset threshold DC voltage, thereby maximizing the amount of power the inverter supplies to a power grid. The inverter controller or control system operates by prioritizing the Q-axis current over the D-axis current so that the inverter is able to generate an output that meets the reactive power setting or command from a utility with the maximum amount of active power. While embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to a PV system, those with skill in the art will understand that the concepts disclosed herein may be used with any energy source that generates DC power, including wind, hydro, battery-storage, and flywheel power systems as non-limiting examples.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a PV system 10 is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the invention. The PV system 10 includes a PV array 12 that supplies a DC voltage, V _dc , to a DC bus 14. In one embodiment, PV array 12 is composed of a plurality of PV strings (not shown) connected in parallel, with each of the PV strings including a plurality of modules (not shown) therein that are connected in series to generate a DC power from received solar radiation. While PV system 10 is shown having only one PV array 12, it is contemplated that the number of PV arrays in PV system 10 can vary, with two, three, four or more PV arrays 12 being included in PV system 10, for example, with each PV array 12 being configured to generate a DC power responsive to received solar radiation. Each PV array 12 is composed of a plurality of PV strings (not shown) connected in parallel, with each of the PV strings including a plurality of modules (not shown) therein that are connected in series to generate a DC power. [0024] A capacitor bank 16 having a capacitance C and a three-phase inverter 18 are coupled to the DC bus 14 in parallel with the PV array 12. The capacitor bank 16 may include one or more capacitors. The inverter 18 includes switches or switching elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 that are selectively controlled such that inverter 18 outputs a desired AC power to a utility power grid 50 (including individual phases 44, 46 and 48). Switches 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 may be in the form of any of a number of various switching elements or devices, including a relay, an IGBT, an SCR, a circuit breaker, sub-arrays of small contactors, or other suitable switching devices. An LC filter 31 including filter inductors 32, 34, 36 and filter capacitors 33, 35, 37 is coupled to the inverter 18. The inductors 32, 34, 36 are coupled to nodes 38, 40, 42 between switches 20 and 24, 24 and 26, and 28 and 30, respectively, and each of the inductors 32, 34, 36 has the same or substantially the same inductance L. Each inductor 32, 34,

36 is coupled to a phase 44, 46, 48 of the utility power grid 50. The capacitors 33, 35,

37 are coupled in a Y-configuration to form a low-pass filter. According to various embodiments of the invention, PV system 10 may also include any number of additional components (not shown) such as, for example, filters, fuses, contactors, and/or circuit breakers coupled between the inverter 18 and the utility power grid 50.

[0025] The relationship between the current flowing through the inductors 32, 34, 36; the capacitors 33, 35, 37; and the power grid 50 is given by: lL = Ic ⁺ Igrid [Eqn. 1], where I _∑ is the current output by the inverter 18 and flowing through the inductors 32, 34, 36; Ic is the current flowing through the filter capacitors 33, 35, 37; and I _gri d is the current flowing into the power grid 50. The inverter current, I _L , splits into the filter capacitor current, Ic, and the power grid current, I _gri d, at nodes 39, 41, 43. With reference to FIGS. 2-3 and 5-6, various forms of the inverter current, I _L , the filter capacitor current, Ic, and the power grid current, I _gri d, are be labeled to as I _{∑ x} , Ic_ _x , I _g rid_x, with "x" being replaced by the appropriate label. [0026] The PV system 10 also includes an inverter controller or control system 52 for controlling the switches 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the inverter 18. The controller 52 includes two control blocks: an inverter safe operating area (ISO A) control block 54 and an inverter current control block 56. The ISOA control block 54 includes two algorithms: a reactive power algorithm 58 and an active power algorithm 60. The reactive power algorithm 58 receives three inputs: a power grid root mean square (rms) voltage, V _g rid_rms, of the power grid 50 measured at the output terminal of the inverter 18 by a sensor system 62, a reactive power command, Q _cm d, received from a utility 63, and the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, measured by a sensor 64. In various embodiments, the sensor system 62 includes a first sensor (not shown) for sensing the power grid rms voltage, V _g rid_rms, and a second sensor (not shown) for sensing the grid currents. While the reactive power command, Q _cm d, is received from the utility 63, a reactive power, Q, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 is calculated by the reactive power algorithm 58. The reactive power algorithm 58 uses the power grid rms voltage, V _g rid_rms, the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, and the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, to calculate an inverter Q-axis reference current, I _q _ _re f, which the reactive power algorithm 58 outputs to the inverter current control block 56. The inverter Q-axis reference current, I _q _ _re f, represents the maximum Q-axis current the inverter 18 can deliver to the power grid 50 while staying within the hardware limitations of the inverter 18 and meeting the constraints of the power grid rms voltage, V _gr id_rms, and the PV array DC voltage, V _dc -

[0027] The active power algorithm 60 receives from the reactive power algorithm 58 various inputs 68 that will be described further with respect to FIG. 2 below. The active power algorithm 60 uses inputs 68 to calculate an inverter D-axis reference current, Id_ref, which the active power algorithm 60 outputs to the inverter current control block 56. The inverter D-axis reference current, Id_ _re f, represents the maximum possible D- axis current the inverter 18 can deliver to the power grid 50 while staying within the hardware limitations of the inverter 18 and meeting the constraints of the power grid rms voltage, V _gri d_ _rm s, and the PV array DC voltage, Vdc- [0028] Controller 52 further includes a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm 72 that calculates an MPPT active power command, P _cm d, which the MPPT algorithm 72 outputs to the active power algorithm 60 for calculating the inverter D-axis reference current, Id _re p The inverter current control block 56 receives the inverter Q- axis and D-axis reference currents, I _q _ _re f, Id_ref, from reactive power and active power algorithms 58, 60 and selectively controls switches 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the inverter 18 to supply the maximum possible Q-axis and D-axis currents the inverter 18 can deliver to the power grid 50 while staying within the hardware limitations of the inverter 18 and meeting the constraints of the power grid rms voltage, V _g rid_rms, and the PV array DC voltage, V _dc -

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 2, the reactive power algorithm 58 of FIG. 1 for calculating the inverter Q-axis reference current, I _q _ _re f, is set forth, according to an embodiment of the invention. The reactive power algorithm 58 is based on defining an operating range of the inverter 18 based on a maximum voltage at the AC-side terminal of the inverter 18. The reactive power algorithm 58 starts at STEP 76 when the controller 52 is powered on. At STEP 78, the reactive power algorithm 58 receives the power grid rms voltage, V _gri d_ _rm s (FIG. 1), the power grid reactive power command, Qcmd, and the PV array DC voltage, V _dc -

[0030] At STEP 80, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a power grid D-axis voltage, Vgrid_d, which is the D-axis voltage component of the power grid rms voltage, Vgrid _j ms, of the power grid 50. The reactive power algorithm 58 calculates the power grid D-axis voltage, V _gri d_d, according to:

Vgnd _ d ^~ V gnd_rms Pqn. 2], where kref is a reference constant set to a specific value based on representations of the various D-axis and Q-axis currents and voltages used in the reactive power algorithm 58 and the active power algorithm 60. In one embodiment, the reference constant, kref, is set to 1.5 for calculating three-phase representations of the various D-axis and Q-axis voltages and currents. In other embodiments, the various D-axis and Q-axis voltages and currents are calculated using other representations. As one non-limiting example, the reference constant, kref, is 1 instead of 1.5.

At STEP 82, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a power grid-requested Q-axis current, I _g nd_ _q _req e _S ted, according to:

I _gri d _ _q _ _requeste d = ^ef · 1000 · _[Eqn . ₃ ],

grid _ d where the power grid-requested Q-axis current, Ig„d_q_reque _S ted, represents the Q-axis current that the inverter 18 needs to supply to the power grid 50 with the power grid D- axis voltage, V _gr ,d_d, to supply the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, to the power grid 50.

[0031] At STEP 84, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a filter capacitor Q- axis current, Ic_ _q , according to: where Xc_ _q is a capacitive reactance of the filter capacitors 33, 35, 37. The filter capacitor Q-axis current, I _c _ _q , represents the Q-axis current flowing into the filter capacitors 33, 35, 37 of the LC filter 31. At STEP 86, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a power grid-requested inverter Q-axis current, _q_ _re quested, according to:

^L q requested Igrid_q_requested ^~ ^ ^~ Ic_q [Eqn. 5], where the power grid-requested inverter Q-axis current, _q_ _re quested, represents the current flowing through the inductors 32, 34, 36 corresponding to the total of the power grid-requested Q-axis current, Ignd q reqmsted, and the filter capacitor Q-axis current, Ic_ _q .

[0032] At STEP 88, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _mvpe ak_max, of the inverter 18 according to: ^v^ max = ^V ,nv _ d _ max = W ^{' k} P ^W ™ ^' [Eqn. 6], where ksf is a safety factor applied to give a safety margin on the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _mvpea k_max, to ensure no damage is done to the inverter 18 and kpwm represents a percentage increase in voltage achieved due to 3rd harmonic injection that will vary based on what pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is used to control the inverter 18. For example, kpwm may be set to 1.15 for one PWM technique to represent a 15% increase in voltage due to 3rd harmonic injection. The maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _invpea k _max, is a theoretical maximum peak voltage on the AC-side of the inverter 18 based on the PV array DC voltage, Vd _c , on the DC-side of the inverter 18. Exemplary, non-limiting values of the safety factor, ksf, may include 0.99 (99% of the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _mvpea k _max) and 0.98 (98% of the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _mvpea k_max)-

[0033] At STEP 90, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a minimum allowable inverter Q-axis current, h q aiiowed, according to:

- (k ^w ref - V my _ _A a _ max - V gri _A d _ a λ /

L - ^a - allowed ⁼ ( _ί ^Ζ) Ι¾ ^η · 7], where ω is an angular frequency of the PV system 10. The minimum allowable inverter Q-axis current, h q aiiowed, is the Q-axis current that would flow through the inductors 32, 34, 36 if the inverter 18 outputs the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _inv _d_ _ma x-

[0034] At STEP 92, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates an inverter Q-axis current, _ _q _deiivered, for delivery by the inverter 18 according to: if ( h q -equested ^ ^L q allowed) I∑ q delivered ^L q allowed

Else I∑ q delivered ^L q requested [Eqn. 8], where q eiivered is the current the inverter 18 should deliver to the inductors 32, 34, 36. As shown by Eqn. 8, the reactive power algorithm 58 will not allow the inverter Q-axis current, h_ _q jeiivered, to be set to a value less than the value of the minimum allowable inverter Q-axis current, h q aiiowed, so the inverter 18 is not damaged. At STEP 94, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a raw value for a power grid Q-axis current, Ignd_q_deiivered_raw, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 corresponding to the inverter Q-axis current, h_ _q jeiivered, according to: jgrid q delivered raw ^L q deliverecT q [Eqn. 9], where I _gn d_qjeiivered_raw is the value of the Q-axis current the power grid 50 would receive if inverter 18 outputs the inverter Q-axis current, h_ _q delivered-

[0035] At STEP 96, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates a power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_qjeiivered, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 according to: if (Jgrid q delivered raw ^ -kfcf' 1.414 'I _a c lim)

I grid q delivered kfcf' 1.414 ' I _a c lim SISS if {Jgrid q delivered raw ^ kvef' 1 A\A'I _{ac lml} )

I grid q delivered kfcf' 1 .414 'I _ac \[ _m

^grid q delivered jgrid q delivered raw [Eqn. 10], where I _ac jim is an AC-side rms current limit of the inverter 18 and I _gr ,d_q_deiivered is the Q- axis current that should be delivered to the power grid 50. As shown by Eqn. 10, the reactive power algorithm 58 will not allow the power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_q_deiivered, to be set to a value beyond the negative or positive value of the AC-side rms current limit, Iac _j im, of the inverter 18 so that the inverter 18 operates within its SOA. Therefore, the power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_q_deiivered, is the maximum possible Q-axis current the inverter 18 can output while operating within its SOA and meeting the constraints of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, and the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms-

[0036] At STEP 98, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates the reactive power, Q, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 according to:

Q = - grid _ d ^■ I 1

grid _ q _ delivered [Eqn. 11].

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Since the reactive power algorithm 58 uses the power grid Q-axis current, I _g nd_ _q _deiivered, to calculate the reactive power, Q, the reactive power, Q, is the maximum possible reactive power the inverter 18 can output while operating within its SOA and meeting the constraints of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, and the power grid rms voltage, Vgnd rms- At STEP 100, the reactive power algorithm 58 calculates Q-axis reference current, I _q _ _re f, according to:

Q

q_ref ¾ _Μ ·ιοοο [Eqn. 12], where Q _pu is a preset reactive power constant corresponding to characteristics of the inverter 18 used to calculate Q-axis reference current, I _q _ _re f, from reactive power, Q.

[0037] STEPS 102 and 104 of the reactive power algorithm 58 are performed simultaneously. At STEP 102, the reactive power algorithm 58 outputs the power grid D-axis voltage, V _gr ,d_d, the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _invpe ak_max, and the power grid Q-axis current, I _g nd_q_deiivered, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 to the active power algorithm 60. In another embodiment, the reactive power algorithm 58 outputs the power grid D-axis voltage, V _gr ,d_d, the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, V _mvpea k_max, and the power grid Q-axis current, I _g rid_q_deiivered, to the active power algorithm 60 as each is calculated by the reactive power algorithm 58. At STEP 104, the reactive power algorithm 58 outputs the inverter Q-axis reference current, I _q _ _re f, to the inverter current control block 56, which interprets the Q-axis reference current, Iq ref, and outputs signals to switches 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the inverter 18 so that the inverter 18 outputs the power grid Q-axis current I _gr ,d_q eiivered-

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 3, the active power algorithm 60 of FIG. 1 for calculating the inverter D-axis reference current, Id_ _re f, is set forth, according to an embodiment of the invention. The reactive power algorithm 58 starts at STEP 106 when the controller 52 is powered on. At STEP 108, the active power algorithm 60 receives the power grid D-axis voltage, V _gr ,d , the maximum inverter peak AC voltage, Vinvpeak _j nax, and the power grid Q-axis current, I _g nd_ _q eiivered, from the reactive power algorithm 58. At STEP 110, the active power algorithm 60 calculates a new value for the inverter Q-axis current, _ _q eiivered, for delivery by the inverter 18 according to:

^L q delivered Igrid q delivered q [Eqn. 13].

Although the inverter Q-axis current, h _jj eHvered, has already been calculated in the reactive power algorithm 58 in Eqn. 8, the inverter Q-axis current, through the inductors 32, 34, 36 is recalculated in the active power algorithm 60 in Eqn. 13 using the power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_ _q _deiivered, as opposed to the raw value of the power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_q eiivered_raw, in Eqn. 9. In this manner, Eqn. 13 accounts for the situation when the power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_q eiivered, is set to a value other than the raw value of the power grid Q-axis current, I _gn d_q eiivered_raw, in Eqn. 10 because of the AC-side rms current limit, I _{ac jim} .

[0039] At STEP 112, the active power algorithm 60 calculates an inductor D-axis voltage drop, V∑ , across inductors 32, 34, 36 corresponding to the inverter Q-axis current, lL_q divered, according to:

^L ^=~ _ q_ delivered ^{' 0 '} ^ [Eqn. 14] .

At STEP 114, the active power algorithm 60 calculates an inverter D-axis voltage, V _inv _d, for delivery by the inverter 18 according to:

V _mv j = Vgrid_d+ V _L [Eqn. 15], where the inverter D-axis voltage, V _inv _d, represents the voltage output by the inverter 18 corresponding to the total of the power grid D-axis voltage, V _gr ,d_d, and the inductor D- axis voltage drop, V _∑ . The inverter D-axis voltage, V _mv , is the D-axis voltage the inverter 18 needs to output to supply the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d- At STEP 116, the active power algorithm 60 calculates an inverter Q-axis voltage, V _mv _ _q , for delivery by the inverter 18 corresponding to the inverter peak AC voltage, Vinvpeak _j nax, and the inverter D-axis voltage, V _mv _ _d , according to:

[0040] At STEP 118, the active power algorithm 60 calculates a maximum allowable inverter D-axis current, I _L _ _d corresponding to the inverter Q-axis voltage, V _inv _ _q , according to:

The maximum allowable inverter D-axis current, I _L _ _d ^ _max , represents a maximum allowed active power the inverter 18 can output and remain in its SOA. At STEP 120, the active power algorithm 60 calculates a commanded maximum inverter D-axis current, I _L _d_cmd_max, according to:

1 L _ d _ cmd max — ^m ^ ⁿ (^ _\ j^ ^re f - 1 . 14 - 1 _{ac lim} ) 1 ^' _{grid q} _ delivered )' ^ L d max

[Eqn. 18].

As shown in Eqn. 18, the active power algorithm 60 will not allow the commanded maximum inverter current, _d_cmd_max, to be set to a value beyond the AC-side rms current limit, I _ac j _im , of the inverter 18 so that the inverter 18 operates within its SOA. [0041] At STEP 122, the active power algorithm 60 calculates a maximum allowable power grid D-axis current, I _gn d_d_aiiowed, due to a DC-side current limit of the inverter 18 according to: j ' ggr ^r i'dd __dd __aalllloowweedd = L \ V l ' . _V . / ) . J kref

" ddcc ddcc J liimm J _T „ ₇ - [Eqn. 19],

grid _d where η is the power efficiency of the inverter 18. At STEP 124, the active power algorithm 60 calculates a power grid D-axis current, I _gr ,d_d_deiivered, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 according to:

1 grid _d delivered d cmd max _? I grid q allowed) [Eqn. 20]. where I _gr ,d_d_deiivered is the D-axis current that should be delivered to the power grid 50. As shown in Eqns. 19 and 20, the active power algorithm 60 will not allow the power grid D-axis current, I _gn d_d_deiivered, to be set to a value beyond the DC-side current limit of the inverter 18 so that the inverter 18 operates within its SOA. Therefore, the power grid D-axis current, I _gn d_d_deiivered, is the maximum possible D-axis current the inverter 18 can output while operating within its SOA and meeting the constraints of the PV array DC voltage, Vd _c , and the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms-

[0042] At STEP 126, the active power algorithm 60 calculates a raw value of the active power, P, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 according to:

1

P r.aw = / ^' grid _ d , · / g. rid _ d _delivered- [Eqn. 21]

Because the active power algorithm 60 uses the power grid D-axis current, I _gn d_d_deiivered, to calculate the raw value of the active power, P _raw , the raw value of the active power, Prow, is the maximum possible active power the inverter 18 can output while operating within its SOA and meeting the constraints of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, and the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms- At STEP 128, the active power algorithm 60 calculates the active power, P, for delivery to the power grid 50 according to: P— in(P _raw , P _cmd ) [Eqn. 22].

Therefore, if the raw value of the active power, P _raw , is less than the MPPT active power command, Pcmd, the active power, P, is limited by the SOA of the inverter 18. However, if the maximum possible active power, P _raw , allowed by the SOA of the inverter 18 is greater than the MPPT active power command, Pcmd, the active power, P, is limited to the MPPT active power command, Pcmd-

[0043] At STEP 130, the active power algorithm 60 calculates D-axis reference current, Id_ref, according to: where P _pu is a preset active power constant corresponding to characteristics of the inverter 18 used to calculate D-axis reference current, Id_ref, from the active power, P. At STEP 131, the active power algorithm 60 outputs the inverter D-axis reference current, Id_ref, to the inverter current control block 56, which interprets the D-axis reference current, Id_ _re f, and outputs signals to switches 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the inverter 18 so that the inverter 18 outputs the power grid D-axis current, Ignd eiwered-

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, because the active power algorithm 60 receives inputs from the reactive power algorithm 58 to function, the reactive power algorithm 58 is a priority over the active power algorithm 60. In other words, the inverter 18 prioritizes delivery of the reactive power to the power grid 50 over the active power. In this manner, the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, will always be met by the inverter 18 and the inverter 18 can supply active power to the power grid 50, even when the PV array DC voltage, drops to level where the inverter 18 can no longer supply power according to the MPPT active power command, Pcmd- However, when the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, is set to zero, the inverter 18 operates with no priority to deliver the reactive power, Q, and prioritizes delivery of the active power, P. [0045] Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary graph 132 illustrates examples of the active and reactive power achievable in the PV system 10, according to an embodiment of the invention. Graph 132 illustrates a series of five simulations run in the PV system 10: a first simulation 134, a second simulation 136, a third simulation 138, a fourth simulation 140, and a fifth simulation 142. In each simulation 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms, is 384 V line-to-line, the DC-side current limit of the inverter 18 is 3100 amperes (A), and the AC-side current limit of the inverter 18 is 2970 A. Each simulation 134, 136, 138, 140, 142 shows the amount of active power, P, in kilowatts (kW) that the inverter 18 can deliver to the power grid 50 for different levels of reactive power, Q, delivered to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18. The reactive power is displayed in kilovolt-amperes reactive (kVAR) and is varied from - 800 kVAR to 800 kVAR. Each simulation 134, 136, 138, 140, 142 corresponds to a different PV array DC voltage, Vdc-

[0046] In the first simulation 134, the PV array DC voltage is 600 V. As shown, the inverter 18 is able to supply a large amount of the active power over the entire range of the reactive power. The same can be said of the inverter 18 in the second simulation 136, in which the PV array DC voltage is 580 V. However, in the third, fourth, and fifth simulations 138, 140, 142, in which the PV array DC voltage is 570 V, 560 V, and 550 V, respectively, the inverter 18 is not able to supply as much active power over the entire range of the reactive power.

[0047] In the third simulation 138, the inverter 18 cannot supply as much active power after the reactive power increases to a level above 600 kVAR. Because of the inverter Q-axis and D-axis reference currents I _q _ _re f, h ref, received from the reactive and active power algorithms 58, 60 of the ISO A control block 54, the inverter current control block 56 is able to curtail the amount active power the inverter 18 outputs to the power grid 50. The inverter current control block controls the inverter 18 to output as much active power as possible while still operating within the SOA of the inverter 18 and meeting the constraints of the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms, and the PV array DC voltage, Vdc- The same can be said of the inverter 18 in the fourth and fifth simulations 140, 142, except that the active power, P, the inverter 18 is able to supply to the power grid 50 starts to decrease above 400 kVAR and 200 kVAR, respectively, because of the lower PV array DC voltages of 560 V and 550 V, respectively. However, when the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, becomes too high (above 600 kVAR in the case of the fourth simulation 140 and above 400 kVAR in the case of the fifth simulation 142), the inverter current control block 56 must also curtail the reactive power. When the reactive power is curtailed, the active power is zero.

[0048] The controller 52 is able to operate under both capacitive reactive power conditions (when the reactive power is negative) and inductive reactive power conditions (when the reactive power is positive). However, under capacitive reactive power conditions, the voltage output by inverter 18 is less than the power grid rms voltage, Vgnd rms- Therefore, a low PV array DC bus voltage, Vdc, does not constrain the operation of the inverter 18 under capacitive reactive power conditions, and the maximum reactive power is constrained only in the case of the inductive reactive power conditions.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 5, results of an example simulation 148 run on the PV system 10 are shown, according to an embodiment of the invention. The results of the simulation 148 are illustrated by a first graph 150, a second graph 152, and a third graph 154. The first graph 150 illustrates the parameters of the simulation 148. In the simulation 148, the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, is varied from 550 V to 650 V at a frequency of 2 hertz (Hz). The power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, is varied from 450 kVAR to 675 kVAR at a frequency of 1 Hz. The second graph 152 illustrates the active power, P, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18. The third graph 154 illustrates the reactive power, Q, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18. The power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms, is set at 384 V line-to-line.

[0050] As seen in the simulation 148, the active power is curtailed whenever there is not enough of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, to supply the active power and meet the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d- The active power is curtailed around 0.5 seconds, 1 second, and 1.5 seconds when the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, is at 575 V. The controller 52 controls the inverter 18 to output the maximum amount of active power without going outside of the SOA of the inverter 18 and meeting the constraints of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, and the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_rms- When the reactive power for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 is also curtailed shortly after 0.5 seconds, 1 second, and 1.5 seconds in the third graph 154, the active power drops to 0 V.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 6, results of another example simulation 156 run on the PV system 10 are shown, according to an embodiment of the invention. The results of the simulation 156 are illustrated by a first graph 158, a second graph 160, and a third graph 162. The first graph 158 illustrates the parameters of the simulation 156. In the simulation 156, the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, is varied from 550 V to 650 V at a frequency of 2 Hz. The power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, is varied from -800 kVAR to 800 kVAR at a frequency of 0.25 Hz. The second graph 160 illustrates the active power, P, for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18. The third graph 162 illustrates the reactive power, Q, delivered to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18. The power grid rms voltage, V _gri d_rms, was set to 384 V line-to-line.

[0052] As seen in the first, second, and third graphs 158, 160, 162, when the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, is a negative value, almost full active power is supplied by the inverter 18. The active power is only curtailed due to the DC-side current limit, Idcjimit, of the inverter 18 when the power grid reactive power command, Qcmd, is negative. However, the active power is curtailed when the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d, is positive and there is not enough of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, to supply the active power and meet the power grid reactive power command, Q _cm d- The controller 52 controls the inverter 18 to output the maximum amount of active power without going outside of the SOA of the inverter 18 and meeting the constraints of the PV array DC voltage, Vdc, and the power grid rms voltage, V _gn d_ _rm s- When the reactive power for delivery to the power grid 50 by the inverter 18 is also curtailed shortly after 0.5 seconds, 1 second, and 1.5 seconds in the third graph 162, the active power drops to 0 V. [0053] Referring now to FIG. 7, an exemplary graph 164 illustrates an example of the active power, P, for delivery to power grid 50 by the inverter 18 achievable in the PV system 10 versus the active power achievable in prior art PV systems. The graph 164 illustrates the level of active power in kW for delivery to the power grid 50 for a PV array DC voltage, V _dc - In the graph 164, the PV array DC voltage decreases to a level that is too low for providing full active power at 600 V. An ISOA operational curve 166 for the PV system 10 illustrates how the controller 52 is able to control the inverter 18 to supply some active power to the power grid, even after there is not enough PV array DC voltage to supply full active power. As shown, the active power begins to drop at a PV array DC voltage of 600 V and drops to a value of 0 V at a PV array DC voltage of 550 V when the reactive power, Q, is also curtailed.

[0054] In contrast with the ISOA operation curve 166, a threshold operational curve 168 for a prior art PV system illustrates how the controller shuts down the inverter at a PV array DC voltage, V _dc , of 600 V to prevent the inverter from exceeding its DC-side and AC-side current limits. While both the prior art inverter and the inverter 18 are both prevented from exceeding their DC-side and AC-side current limits, the inverter 18 is able to supply active power, P, at a minimum PV array DC voltage that is 50 V less than the minimum PV array DC voltage of the prior art inverter. Therefore, controller 52 provides the advantage of allowing the inverter 18 of the PV system 10 to supply active power to the power grid 50 for a longer period of time, thereby maximizing the amount of active power supplied to the power grid 50 over the lifetime of the PV system 10.

[0055] Beneficially, embodiments of the invention thus provide a system and method of controlling an inverter to supply power to a power grid under low-DC voltage input conditions. An inverter controller controls the inverter to operate within a SOA defined by the hardware limitations of the inverter while still meeting the constraints of a power grid voltage and a power grid reactive power setting or command. The inverter controller includes an ISOA control block including a reactive power algorithm for calculating the maximum Q-axis current (the maximum reactive power) the inverter can supply to the power grid and an active power algorithm for calculating the maximum D- axis current (the maximum active power) the inverter can supply to the power grid. An inverter current control block receives commands corresponding to the maximum Q- axis and D-axis currents and controls the inverter switches to output the maximum Q- axis and D-axis currents, even under low-DC voltage input conditions. Thus the inverter controller enables the inverter to provide the maximum amount of active power to the power grid under all conditions.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for controlling an inverter to supply power from a DC power source to a power grid includes a sensor system coupled to the power grid, a voltage sensor coupled to an output of the DC power source, and a controller coupled to the sensor system and the voltage sensor to receive signals therefrom. The controller is programmed to calculate a maximum reactive power that the inverter can deliver to the power grid according to a reactive power algorithm and based on a reactive power command received from a utility, a power grid voltage received from the sensor system, and a voltage of the DC power source received from the voltage sensor. The controller is also programmed to calculate a maximum active power that the inverter can deliver to the power grid according to an active power algorithm and based on the maximum reactive power. The controller is further programmed to control the inverter to deliver to the power grid the maximum reactive power and an active power equal to the smaller of the maximum active power and a maximum power point tracking active power command.

[0057] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling an inverter includes receiving a reactive power command from a utility and sensing a voltage of the power grid and a direct current (DC) voltage of a power source providing power to the power grid. The method also includes calculating in a reactive power algorithm a maximum reactive power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on the reactive power command, the voltage of the power grid, the DC voltage of the power source. The method further includes calculating in an active power algorithm a maximum active power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on the reactive power the inverter can deliver to the power grid. In addition, the method includes outputting the maximum reactive power to an inverter current control block and outputting control signals from the inverter current control block to switches of the inverter to control the inverter to output to the power grid the maximum reactive power.

[0058] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a photovoltaic (PV) system includes a PV array, an inverter coupled to the PV array for converting a direct current (DC) voltage of the PV array to an alternating current (AC) voltage for delivery to a power grid, a power grid sensor system for monitoring a voltage of the power grid, and a PV sensor for monitoring the DC voltage of the PV array. The PV system also includes a controller programmed to calculate a maximum reactive power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on a reactive power command received from a utility, the voltage of the power grid, the DC voltage of the PV array, and an AC- side current limit of the inverter. The controller is further programmed to calculate a maximum active power the inverter can deliver to the power grid based on the maximum Q-axis current and the AC-side current limit of the inverter. The controller is additionally programmed to control the inverter to output to the power grid the maximum reactive power and an active power equal to the lesser of the maximum active power and a maximum power point tracking active power command.

[0059] The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.