L vs. LCL Filter for Photovoltaic Grid-Connected Inverter: A Reliability Study
Ignacio Villanueva Martínez, N. Vázquez, Joaquín Vaquero, C. Hernandez, Héctor López, R. Osorio
Abstract
The increasing use of photovoltaic systems entails the use of new technologies to improve the efficiency and power quality of the grid. System performance is constantly increasing, but its reliability decreases due to factors such as the uncontrolled operation, the quality of the design and quantity of components, and the use of nonlinear loads that may lead to distortion in the signal, which directly affects the life of the system globally. This article presents an analysis of the reliability of a single-phase full-bridge inverter for active power injection into the grid, which considers the inverter stage with its coupling stage. A comparison between an L filter and an LCL filter, which comprise the coupling stage, is made. Reliability prediction is based on metrics, failure rate, mean time between failures, and total harmonic distortion. The analysis and numerical simulation are performed. Finally, filter considerations are suggested to extend the reliability of the inverter in a photovoltaic system.