A Feedback-Based Passive Islanding Detection Technique for One-Cycle-Controlled Single-Phase Inverter Used in Photovoltaic Systems

Abstract

Single-stage, single-phase photovoltaic (PV) distributed generation (DG) systems rated below 5 kW are becoming popular because of the reduction in the cost of PV panels and also due to various policy initiatives. One cycle control (OCC) based inverters are ideally suitable for such DG systems because of its cost-effectiveness, simple structure, and phase-locked loop free implementation. These inverter-based DG systems should have a robust islanding detection method (IDM) incorporated into it and should fulfill the recent standard requirements. This article proposes a novel feedback-based passive IDM, which is suitable for OCC-based grid-connected PV inverter system. The proposed method relies on the inbuilt feedback nature of OCC-based system, which drives the voltage at the point of common coupling outside the normal range of operation during an islanding condition. The proposed IDM works effectively under the new standard requirements with negligible nondetection zone. The IDM does not rely on additional computational effort or injection of external disturbance into the grid. Simulation studies are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed IDM. A laboratory prototype has been developed, and experimental studies are conducted to ascertain the viability of the proposed method.