Design of a power conditioning subsystem for photovoltaic central power stations
This report describes the conceptual design of a 5 MW power conditioning subsystem (PCS) capable of interfacing between a photovoltaic array and a utility grid at the lowest cost and highest efficiency. The approach selected uses gate turn-off thyristors in a pulse-width-modulated current-controlled inverter. Inverter performance data is calculated over a wide range of operating conditions. The efficiency was calculated at 96.3% with projected improvements increasing it to 97.1%. The current and projected future selling prices per watt of several 5 MW self-commutated and line-cummutated inverters are estimated. Several lower power PCS modules (44 to 88 kW) are evaluated for operation in parallel to obtain a total output power of 5 MW. These units use self-commutation and operate in the pulse-width-modulation mode. Their current and future selling prices per watt are also calculated. At the present time the larger module size appears to result in a system that is both less expensive and more efficient. However, the large volume generated by using many small units and a more rapid advancement in technology predicted for the smaller ratings suggest a cost parity with the large module approach by 1990. The cost of line-commutated equipment is currently less than the cost of self-commutated; however, the predicted trend indicates that this difference will disappear beginning with the low-power modules and even in the multi-megawatt ratings by the year 2000.
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (USA). Corporate Research and Development Center
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6257836
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-84-7014; ON: DE86008321
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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