Components for Grid Connected Solar Inverters in Residential Applications

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Typical application reqeuirements

Solar Panel Inverter Electric Grid

Solar panel: - Stack of solar cells: 24 ~ 100+ V DC - Power: 2,5 ~ 15 kW Grid: - Single phase 230 V AC

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Solar Inverter
Configuration 1 (most commonly used)

Electric Grid

Solar Panel

Boost converter: VDC input = 80 V (example) VDC output = 400 V (typical) fsw = 80 kHz (typical)

1: Mosfet. Typically CoolMOS (page 113 of short form catalog; example: IXKH35N60C5) 2: IGBT. C3 series (page 92; example: IXGH48N60C3) advantages compared to Mosfet: cost, conduction losses

3: Diode. HiPerDynFred (page 121 example: DPH30IS600H1), SONIC (page 124; example DHG20I600HA) or HiPerFRED (page 122; example DSEP29-06B) 1 + 3: CoolMOS + HiPerDynFRED in one package (page 113; example FMD4706KC5)

1, 2 & 3: variations. Isolated / non isolated package; TO220/TO247/SMD/etc; wide range of current ratings

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Solar Inverter
Configuration 1 (most commonly used)

Electric Grid

Inverter VDC input = 400 V (typical) VAC output = 230 V (typical) fsw = 15 kHz (Example)

IGBT (most typical solution). B3 series (page 92; example: IXGH36N60B3D1) IGBT (alternative). Phase leg (page 87; example: FII30-06D) IGBT (alternative). H-bridge (page 85; example: MKI50-06A7) Variations. Isolated / non isolated package; TO220/TO247/SMD/etc; wide range of current ratings; different speed

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Solar Panel

Solar Inverter
Configuration 2 (some new developments use distributed MPP tracking doe smaller cell groups for better overall efficiency)

1
Boost converter: VDC input = 18 V (example) VDC output = 48 V (example)

Electric Grid

Solar Panel

fsw = 60 kHz (typical)

1: Mosfet. Typically Trench Mosfet (page 98 - 100; example: IXTA230N075T2) 2: Diode. Typically Schottky (page 118 120; example: DSA30I100PA)

1, 2: variations. Isolated / non isolated package; TO220/TO247/SMD/etc; wide range of current ratings and voltages

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Solar Inverter
Configuration 2 (some new developments use distributed MPP tracking doe smaller cell groups for better overall efficiency)

Electric Grid

Inverter VDC input = 400 V (typical) VAC output = 230 V (typical) fsw = 15 kHz (Example)

Solar Panel

IGBT (most typical solution). B3 series (page 92; example: IXGH36N60B3D1) IGBT (alternative). Phase leg (page 87; example: FII30-06D)

IGBT (alternative). H-bridge (page 85; example: MKI50-06A7) Variations. Isolated / non isolated package; TO220/TO247/SMD/etc; wide range of current ratings; different speed
6

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