Development of a Comprehensive Virtual Test Bench Aimed at Photovoltaic Inverters

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation of a comprehensive Virtual Test Bench VTB aimed at the reliability prognosis for photovoltaic inverters. The scheme is based on the Design for Reliability approach, and uses the FIDES reliability prediction methodology to include information about the mission profile. That, in combination with the selected computational tools, provides a fast, low-cost tool for the analysis and reliability prognosis of Photovoltaic Inverters. The VTB usefulness and versatility are demonstrated by way of the analysis and comparison of three inverters: full-bridge, T-type and I-type neutral-point configurations. Meteorological data from the intended installation site was used to develop a mission profile. The results include the Mean Time Between Failures, and both individual and overall failure rates. The VTB is a resource-saving alternative for performing reliability audits of the designs to be prototyped, providing valuable information that saves time in later design cycle stages.