Z-source inverter (ZSI) based reconfigurable architecture for solar Photo-voltaic (PV) Microgrid

Abstract

The principal aim of this research is to identify and use the advantages of Z-source inverter and to develop a reconfigurable architecture for residential microgrid. The researcher has described the summary of the studies on Z-source inverter and reconfigurable systems. The distinctive feature of the proposed, reconfigurable, residential microgrid is the capability to reconfigure microgrid components to operate as a current source (current controlling mode) and a voltage source (voltage-frequency controlling mode) and a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) (reactive power controlling mode) while replacing the traditional solar inverter from latest Z-source inverter. Where grid-connected, solar photovoltaic customers get uninterrupted power supply from their solar system even at a grid fault, and utility grids can use the same assets to improve the power quality and use their distribution network when it is idle at night. Then, it improves the utilization factor of solar photovoltaic system, power quality at the point of common coupling, and reliable power supply to the loads while increasing controllability of residential microgrid and taking part grid operations with utility grid request. Both the customer and the grid owner could get benefits. The proposed architecture is developed in MATLAB/Simulink platform and results are discussed to prove the proposed architecture.