A Comparative Study on Voltage Level Standard for DC Residential Power Systems

Abstract

With the development of dc renewable power generation and dc power consumption, more and more attention has been paid to residential low-voltage dc (RLVDC) power systems in recent years because of their advantages in conversion efficiency and control flexibility. Meanwhile, there are still some obstacles and challenges in the practical application of RLVdc due to the lack of standardization. One of the most important issues in RLVdc standardization progress is the voltage level standard. In this article, a comparative study on the performance of different RLVdc system voltage levels is presented. The main purpose of the article is to provide a voltage level selection guidance for energy prosumers and equipment manufacturers interested in RLVdc systems. The voltage levels commonly used in academia and industry, from 220 to 750 V, are compared and analyzed considering their influence on compatibility, topology, power supply capability, and safety. The article contains a research surveys, market statistics, power system simulations, and calculations with simplified models. The results of the comparative study show that ±375 V is optimal for the RLVdc system in cases with large power ratings and voltage levels below 240 V are suitable for RLVdc systems with special safety requirements.