2020 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM)
Renewable Energy: Hybrid Inverter
Pyotr G. Ochnev Yulia B. Shchemeleva
Southern Federal University Southern Federal University in Gelendzhik
Taganrog, Russian Federation Gelendzhik, Russian Federation
pre-di@yandex.ru
Abstract— The Sun is one of the most promising sources of voltage stability. For high-quality electricity, a low-frequency
renewable energy. Solar energy can be converted into both elec- filter must be placed after the inverter. [1]
tricity and heat. Actual applications of renewable energy
(specifically solar panels) make broad use of converting the VDC Thus, the solar-panel inverter is the heart of a solar farm,
of series- and parallel-connected photovoltaic cells into VAC designed to convert DC into AC. There are three kinds of
using an inverter that powers the load. Russian and international inverters in terms of usage:
manufacturers offer quite a broad range of inverters for solar
x off-grid inverters. These connect to a solar module and
panels. This paper critically analyzes the existing inverter
circuits and outlines the technical contradictions arising from are part of an isolated photovoltaic sys-tem, as they do
using them. It proposes an alternative hybrid inverter circuit to not interface with the external grid. Their power varies
address these issues. The microprocessor controls proposed from 100 to 8,000 W;
herein enable flexible inverter configuration. The proposed x on-grid inverters. These are synced to the cen-tralized
battery charge controller can extend the battery service life.
grid. They function as converters and adjust the grid
Keywords— renewable energy, solar panels, inverter, stabilizer,
parameters (amplitude swings, frequency readings,
consumer, battery, electricity generation etc.);
x multifunctional inverters. These combine the features
I. INTRODUCTION of the two other types and have a greater
March 2017, Russian Energy Week, plenary session. configurability.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin, “It is obvious the new Russian and international manufacturers offer quite a broad
energy is a whole new story. Just two decades later, the range of inverters for solar panels. Table 1 lists the most
humanity will need 30% more energy than it does today, popular inverter manufacturers.
experts believe. Such drastic increase is due to economic and
demographic growth, higher living standards and consumption, Note that as of today, the circuitry of solar farm inverters
especially in the developing economies,” TASS reports. Putin cannot be used as hybrid stabilizers to maximize the utilization
also reminded the audience that “nearly every devel-oped of the energy produced by renewable sources. If this feature is
country now focuses on ‘clean’ energy ad-vancements, which present, the unit’s price skyrockets.
includes the use of renewable energy.” [10] All of the above means it is relevant to develop an inverter
The Sun is one of the most promising sources of renewable circuit for solar farms that could be used as a hybrid stabilizer
energy. Solar energy can be converted into both electricity and to maximize the utilization of generated energy while being
heat. It is environmentally friendly, and converting it generates cheaper than its existing counterparts.
no harmful emissions. Solar energy got boosted in the mid- This, the goal is to develop a hybrid stabilizer-inverter
2000s as the EU began to implement its policy towards less circuit for household solar farms.
dependence on hydrocarbons in electricity genera-tion.
Another goal was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[11] In line with the goal, the objectives are as follows
Solar energy systems are on a dramatic rise worldwide. As (1) analyze the existing inverter circuits to find their pros
far back as in 2016, the International Energy Agency reported and cons;
that there were more solar farms than coal-fired power (2) develop an alternative circuit.
plants.[9] Russia is no exception to this trend.
Consider several types of inverters.
Actual applications of renewable energy (spe-cifically solar
panels) make broad use of converting the VDC of series- and The first type (in this classification) operates autonomously
parallel-connected photovol-taic cells into VAC using an on a battery. Such inverters are manufactured for various
inverter that powers the load. As a rule, the inverter should be a battery voltages (12, 24, or 48 V) and may have different
high-performance one (high specific power, high efficien-cy, output voltage. The output signal might also vary, it is either an
high power factor, etc.) and provide high-quality electricity as approximated sinewave (the multistage output signal is similar
indicated by the sinusoidal voltage curve, the frequency and to a sinewave) or a purse sinewave. Figure 1 shows the
connection circuit.
978-1-7281-4590-7/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE
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2020 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM)
TABLE I. OVERVIEW OF INVERTER MANUFACTURERS AND MODELS
Manufacturer Specifications
A-Elektronika, Inverter; UPS; grid-tie inverter for renewable energy
Russia sources; can permit or stop supplying alternative energy
to a 220-V grid; can prioritize battery as a source of
energy
BINEOS, Multifunctional inverter/charger that combines the
China, Taiwan functionality of inverters, battery chargers (can connect
to a grid or to a solar panel), and grid parameter and
load monitoring (additional equipment required)
ECOVOLT, Uses a hybrid topology to simultaneously power the
SUNRISE, load and charge a battery. Can use a battery if solar Fig. 2. Circuitry of a grid-tie inverter synced to the grid
China power does not suffice. If the battery is depleted, the
inverter will instantly switch to the grid. In case of A hybrid inverter is a voltage converter used in solar and
outage, provides uninterrupted power from the battery. wind farms and capable of running in parallel with a 220 VAC
Can be combined with a generator thanks to the DSP
technology grid or independently of it; it has an internal 12-48 VDC
GoodWE, The inverter is supplied with special software for generation grid. Figure 3 shows the connection circuit of
China heliosystem design hybrid inverters.
MPPSolar, This is a trifunctional unit, as it can be used as an
Taiwan inverter, a controller, and a charger. Table 1 lists the cons of different connection types.
Piko, Kostal, Single-phase and three-phase units. Includes an AC
Germany switch, MPP trackers, a monitor, and S0 meter, and
These cons can, in our opinion, be addressed in two ways:
many other options. (1) combining a hybrid inverter and an electronic stabilizer
Poversine, TBS Has a pure sinewave at the output. Protected against
Electronics, the short circuits, temperature jumps, and overloads
to maximize the utilization of renewable energy while also
Netherlands providing stabilized output voltage and backup. This solution
Schneider A high-performance device. The case coating is has all the desired features. See Figure 4 for the circuit.
Electric, Conext resistant to corrosion. No electrochemical capacitors.
XW, France (2) developing a new hybrid-inverter circuit to maximize
SILA, OOO Combines the functionality of an inverter, a solar-panel the utilization of renewable energy and to use the grid to
Sila, Taiwan, battery charge controller, and a 220-V battery charger compensate for insufficient power while also stabilizing the
Russia to provide uninterrupted power supply; can be output voltage.
configured to prioritize charging vs load. Large charge
current, increased range of input voltage (from the solar
panel), can operate at down to -10C, no dry contact to
trigger the generator, no parallel connectivity
SolarWorks, Combines a solar charge controller, an inverter, and a
China charger. Can be configured to prioritize battery
charging or power supply
MAP Energia, The company produces several lines of inverters:
Russia (1) pure sinewave inverters MAP SIN;
2) sinewave converters with additional battery power
outtake MAP HYBRID;
(3) three-phase inverters MAP HYBRID 3-Phase
Fig. 3. Connection circuit of hybrid inverters.
TABLE II. CONS OF DIFFERENT CONNECTION TYPES
Independent Grid-tie inverters Hybrid inverters
system
Fig. 1. Connection circuit of an autonomous battery-powered inverter
- large-capacity - no generation in - cannot stabilize the output
battery needed; case of outage; voltage if supplemented with
Type 2, grid-tie inverters, are connected directly to the - continuous - no backup power power from renewable
house grid and are synced to the grid to ‘feed’ it with the charge-discharge sources;
energy from photovoltaic cells. Figure 2 shows the circuitry of cycling - battery charging and
such inverters that are, similarly to generators, synced to the discharging continually when
grid. the renewable energy
utilization is maxed out
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2020 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM)
(2) a DC/DC inverter to charge the battery and sustain the
loads in case of grid outage;
(3) an MPPT controller for solar-panel power outtake;
(4) a DC/AC inverter to generate pure-sinewave output
voltage.
The output voltage is programmable via the inverter menu
in a range of 10V to 240V.
Fig. 4. Connection circuit of a hybrid inverter + electronic stabilizer
The solution presented herein is based on the cutting-edge
circuitry. Figure 5 shows the diagram of the hybrid inverter
under development.
The logic behind it is based on the following principles:
(1) rectify and stabilize the grid voltage;
(2) stabilize the energy from a renewable source as
required;
(3) the charging inverter charges the battery or inverts the
voltage as required;
(4) the output is pulse-width modulated to generate pure Fig. 5. General circuitry of the hybrid inverter under development
sinewave.
The hybrid inverter designed by the authors hereof Figures 6 to 11 show the basic circuitry and electrical
comprises four core units: parameters of the inverter.
(1) an AC/DC inverter to take an input voltage of 120V to
260V and generate stabilized output VDC
Fig. 6. Basic circuitry of the AC/DC voltage divider
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2020 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM)
Fig. 7. Basic circuitry of the power driver
Fig. 8. Control panel circuitry fragment
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2020 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM)
Fig. 9. Basic circuitry of the power contour of the inverter
Fig. 10. Basic circuitry of the power contour of the solar-panel controller MPPT
Fig. 11. Basic circuitry of the power contour of the inverter
Based on our analysis, this circuitry can be proposed as a power consumed, and power taken off the grid, all while not
standard for designing cutting-edge hybrid inverters for consuming much power themselves. The microprocessor
uninterrupted power supply that will generate high-quality controls proposed herein enable flexible inverter configuration.
voltage regardless of the grid voltage while maximizing the The proposed battery charge controller can extend the battery
utilization of renewable energy to reduce the grid power service life.
consumption; they can also meter the generated power, total
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2020 International Conference on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM)
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