Abstract

The installation cost of Photovoltaic (PV) systems can be reduced considerably by extending the maximum DC voltage from 1000 V to 1500 V (e.g., with more PV arrays connected in series). However, the increased DC voltage challenges the design and operation of PV inverters in terms of efficiency and reliability. To fulfill the requirements of an efficient and reliable PV power conversion, an early-stage evaluation plays an important role in the inverter design phase. This paper, thus, evaluates the lifetime of power modules for three-level 1500-V PV inverters with respect to their thermal cycling capabilities. The evaluation is carried out by case study of 160-kW inverters considering the impact of voltage stress, switching frequency and mission profile. The evaluation reveals that these factors have considerable impact on the inverter lifetime and thus affect the topology selection and the final cost of the entire PV system.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.