th
THE 9 INTERNATION
NAL SYMPOSIUM ON ADVANCED TOPICS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
May 7-9, 2015
Bucharest, Romania
P-Q Diagram Construction for Multii-inverter
Photovoltaic Poower Plant Connected to MV grid
Mihovil Ivas
Telenerg ltd, Zagreb, Croatia
mihovil.ivas@fer.hr
Abstract– Article describes the constructionn of operation chart
for typical photovoltaic plants connected to medium voltage
grid. Such distributed source is comprised of multiple grid
inverter units which connect photovoltaic panel field to low
voltage AC grid which is, through LV V/MV power plant
transformer substation and MV cable, con nnected to network
operator transformer substation, which is po oint of connection to
grid. When looking on such power plant ass on one generating
unit connected at point of connection, such h "operation chart"
shows all possible operation points in P-Q diaagram.
Keywords: P-Q diagram, multi inverter, photoovoltaic power
I. INTRODUCTION
For numerous research reasons (e.g. for island possibility
assessment) there is a need for development of substitute
model of photovoltaic multi-inverter type power plants at
point of connection to grid, with parametters defining active
and reactive power for such substitute sourcce model.
Opposite of the common assumption of (pre)defined power
factor for this type of power plants (phhotovoltaic inverter
plant), all elements that make this plant have influence on
operation point of substitute source model.
II. TYPICAL INVERTER-TYPE POWER PLANT CONNECTED TO
MEDIUM VOLTAGE NET
TWORK
Due to incentive scheme, there are many connection
requirements for connection of distributeed sources having
nominal power rating of more than 500 kVA, mostly solar
photovoltaic power plants, to grid operrated by Croatian
distribution network operator (HEP-ODS) [1]. According to
regulatory standards [2], these plants have to be connected to
medium voltage network.
A. Principal diagram
Generally, with this type of powerr plants, although
connection is on MV grid (10 or 20 kV), the generation source
itself is connected on LV side, and thhen through "unit"
transformer connected to MV grid. There are a two main types,
one with centralised inverter of large poweer rating, and other
with multiple grid inverter units of smaller power ratings. The
practical experience shows that almost all a requests are for
power plants with multiple smaller invertter units which are
standardised products and economically more m preferred by
investors [1].
Principal diagram of (solar photovolltaic) power plant
comprised of multiple grid inverter units and connected to
978-1-4799-7514-3/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
E
medium voltage grid [3] is shoown on Figure 1. The part of
network feeder to which power plant is connected is shown
symbolically.
Power plant is usually conn nected to one of the existing
medium voltage feeders from trransformer substation HV/MV,
on which there is already conneccted certain number of MV/LV
transformer substations with its consumers. The connection is
made through two plants: poweer plant transformer substation
and distribution network operatoor (DNO) interface transformer
substation [4]. The point of connnection of the power plant to
grid is at interface substation, inn outgoing bay towards power
plant transformer substation. Feeeder to which it is connected is
powered radially in operation, looking from the side of the
"main grid", i.e. from feeding transformer substation, and in
general has the option of being g powered from the other side,
usually from the other section of the MV switchgear in the
same feeding substation or from some other HV/MV
transformer substation. Switchinng in the local grid, depending
on operation needs, is done by ddistribution network operator.
B. Substitute model
In accordance with stated in introduction above, it is
possible to create substitute moddel for a power plant shown on
Figure 1, in a way that this model encompasses the complete
inner power plant grid with all the inverters, LV cables,
transformer and MV cable to intterface substation.
C. Operation chart
Considering that power plantt point of connection to grid is
in DNO interface transformerr substation, in outgoing bay
feeding the power plant trannsformer substation [4], and
considering substitute model from previous chapter, such
model of distributed source in the
t point of connection can be
used to define "operation chartt" of the power plant, i.e. P-Q
diagram showing area of possiblle operation points.
Inverters have adjustable powwer factor, but in practice they
are set to deliver only active po
ower, i.e. power factor is set to
1. On operation point of the co omplete power plant, regarding
the reactive power, the other ellements have major influence,
and that is power transformer on inductance, and cables on
capacitance. Special case wouldd be solar power plants which
have panels connected to inverters
i that do not have
galvanically isolated DC and AC A side (which often is case)
and parasitic impedances of pho otovoltaic panels are transferred
to AC side [5]. Depending on size
s of the panels field and the

SS MV/LV POINT OF
CONNECTION (DNO)
SS HV/MV - MV FEEDERS
SS MV/LV
SS MV/LV
SS MV/LV
SS MV/LV SOLAR POWER PLANT
M
I>
I>>
I>>>
INVERTER 1
SOLAR POWER PLANT 1 MW
Fig. 1. Principal diagram of photovoltaic power plant comprised of
multiple inverter units connected to MV grid [3]
way panels are installed, this capacitive power can be
significant and during night it dominates, especially in case of
smaller solar power plants.
III. CONTRIBUTION OF INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS
The power generated by photovoltaic panels, which is from
DC side, through inverters, delivered to AC side of the power
plant grid, has major influence on active power of the power
plant. There are certain losses of this active power on AC side,
it is dissipated on resistances of individual elements. This
article does not consider these losses, the accent is put on
determining of the reactive power of the power plant, and
active power decrease is neglected.
Methods of calculation or assessment for contribution of
individual elements of the power plant to total reactive power
in point of connection are listed below.
A. Inverters
There are great differences among inverters made by
different manufacturers, regarding the mode of reactive power
generation. The best inverters are capable of giving any
reactive power amount, with automatic control of power factor
set. Usually, power plant owner wants to maximize active
power production, due to selling tariffs, and power factor is
therefore set to 1.
However, there is a problem with inverters working when
there is no generation from panels (night work). Inverter then
has no input power and therefore no output power nor power
factor regulation. The output L-C filter at nominal frequency is
of capacitive character and dominates during night work [6].
SS MV/LV
Also, at solar power plants which have panels connected to
inverters that do not have galvanically isolated DC and AC
SS MV/LV
side, parasitic impedances of photovoltaic panels are
transferred to AC side [5]. Depending on size of the panels
SS MV/LV field and the way of installation, this capacitive power can be
significant and is in a range of few percent of rated power in
case of single phase inverters without galvanic isolation.
With almost all single phase inverters without galvanic
isolation (transformer), half of the grid voltage amplitude (115
V) passes to DC side and PV modules. With three phase
inverters this effect is largely supressed [6]. With inverters
with transformer for galvanic isolation, voltage which passes
oscillates within only few Volts (2 V), changing constantly
charge of parasitic capacities of PV modules.
Capacitive current which appears in this case is [6]:
ΔQ ΔU
I= =C⋅ = C ⋅ 2π f ⋅ V (1)
Δt Δt
with: C – capacitance of PV modules, f – frequency (50 Hz)
and V - effective value of transferred AC voltage.
Capacitance of PV modules can be assessed from:
A
C = ε0 ⋅εr ⋅ (2)
d
INVERTER n
with: ε0=8.85·10-12 (As/Vm) - permittivity constant for vacuum,
εr=5-10 – relative permittivity of glass (of which PV panels are
made of), A – surface area of PV panels and d - distance
between condenser surfaces (panel width).
Capacitive reactive power at inverter output is:
Qcap _ inv = 3 ⋅ U f ⋅ I = 3 ⋅U f ⋅ C ⋅ 2π f ⋅ V (3)
with: Uf – phase voltage.
B. Low voltage cables
Low voltage cables connect inverters to power transformer,
through multiple gathering points (panels and switchgears).
With no load, cables are of mild capacitive character. When
having long lengths (when area of power plant is large) this
capacitive power is more significant.
The assessment can be done by measuring or using
catalogue data for cable in order to calculate capacitive power
from the following equation:
U2f S2
Qcab =−3⋅ +3⋅ I 2 ⋅ XL =−3⋅U2f ⋅ 2π fCk ⋅l +3⋅ ⋅ 2π fLk ⋅ l (4)
XC U2f
with: Uf – phase voltage, Ck, Lk – specific capacitance and
inductance, l – cable length, S - power flowing through cable.
C. Transformers
Transformers are of inductive character when working with
no-load, and inductive reactive power increases with the
transformer load rising. Value of reactive power can be
catalogue information or can be calculated from the following
equation:
2 2
⎛ S ⎞ ⎛ S ⎞
Qind _ tr = Δ Q0 + Δ Qk ⋅ ⎜ ⎟ = i0 ⋅ Sn + uk ⋅ Sn ⋅ ⎜ ⎟ (5)
⎝ Sn ⎠ ⎝ Sn ⎠
with: Qind_tr – inductive power of transformer, Q0 – reactive
power of transformer in no-load condition, Qk – load
dependent reactive power of transformer, S – load power, Sn –
rated power, i0 – no-load current, uk – short circuit voltage.
D. Compensation units for transformer inductance
It is important to take into account compensation batteries
installed in low voltage switchgear whose purpose is to
compensate inductive losses of transformer. These are
generally of standardized sizes dependable on transformer
rated power. Installation is usual, although it can be
counterproductive, for the reason that reactive power of the
complete power plant is not analysed during design stages.
Resulting reactive power can easily be capacitive and in such
case these compensation units with its capacitive power
(Qcap_bat) only make situation worse. The equation for it is:
U 2f
Qcap _ bat = 3 ⋅ = 3 ⋅ U 2f ⋅ 2 ⋅ π ⋅ f ⋅ Cbat
X C _ bat
with: Uf – phase voltage, XC_bat – capacitive reactance of
the "operation chart" of typical photovoltaic power plant
connected to MV grid at its point of connection.
Application of the above concept is done on real case study,
Photovoltaic power plant Kanfanar, for which the P-Q diagram
with area of possible operation points will be constructed from
measurements and assessed data.
VI. MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS CONDUCTED ON CASE
STUDY SOLAR POWER PLANT
Solar photovoltaic power plant Kanfanar, in Istria region,
with rated power of 1MW (999 kW installed panel power, 912
kW installed inverter power), is currently the biggest solar
power plant in Croatia and is the first solar power plant
connected on medium voltage grid of local distribution
network operator. It is connected to 20 kV grid of Distribution
area Elektroistra Pula. Principal diagram of power plant
configuration is shown on Figure 1.
A. Conducted measurements
During test operation of power plant measurements are
conducted, of which some results are shown in this article [7].
Figure 2. shows daily power generation curves for power
plant on 16/2/2013. Curves partially have typical shape for
sunny (winter) day, and there is one decrease of generation in
(6)
afternoon hours, caused by cloudy sky. Curves show active
power (P), reactive power (Q) and apparent power (S) of the
900

transformer, Cbat - capacity of the compensation unit. 800

700

E. Medium voltage cable 600

500

Medium voltage cables connect power plant with interface 400

substation where point of connection to grid is established.

300
200

They are of highly capacitive character and in case of lengths 100

0

longer then few hundred meters they become dominant -100

0:00 2:00 4:00 6:00 8:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

-200
element which influences the reactive power at point of -300

connection. Values can also be calculated from equation (4). -400

-500
-600
IV. REACTIVE POWER OF POWER PLANT AT POINT OF -700

CONNECTION -800
-900
P Q S

In order to calculate total reactive power of the power plant

kW/kVAr

one would add up/deduct all listed element reactive powers:
Qtot = −Qcap _ inv ± QcabLV + Qind _ tr − Qcap _ bat ± QcabMV
Looking the previously listed equations for reactive power
of individual elements it can be seen that total reactive power
of the power plant at point of connection to grid will change
with the change of the following variables: current power plant
generation power (inductive part) and current grid voltage
(capacitive part).
V. OPERATION CHART IN P-Q DIAGRAM
Putting equations (3) to (6) into (7), while keeping fixed
certain values that are characteristics of the equipment and not
hard to define in each specific case, with assumed possible
(allowed) grid voltage range of 0,9 Un to 1,1 Un, and by
varying the generation power from 0 to maximal power plant
power, one can construct the area of possible operation points
of the power plant in P-Q diagram. Such P-Q diagram shows
Fig. 2. Daily curve of solar power plant power production (at point
of connection)
(7) power plant, and are derived from 10-minute measurements of
average power from measuring equipment connected to point
of power plant connection to grid. Active and apparent power
have opposite signs, this in only to represents power flow
direction of active power.
From measurements shown on Figure 2, trajectory of daily
movement of operation points (P and Q) is derived, at
measuring point at interface substation (shown on Figure 3).
B. Calculation assessment and analysis of power plant
reactive power
In accordance with equations given in chapter III. for
contributions of individual elements to total reactive power of
the power plant these contributions and their actual relevance
are assessed. Calculated values are given bellow.
The contribution of parasitic capacitances of DC side of the
inverter is calculated according to equation (3) and its value is
Qcap_inv = 5,74 VAr and can practically be neglected.

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
kVAr
-100
P-Q kW
Fig. 3. Trajectory of daily movement of power plant operation
point (at point of connection) in P-Q diagram, derived from daily
power production curve from Figure 2.
Capacitance of output filter at rated frequency is not known,
and for the purpose of constructing the operation chart it will
be assumed it has a value of 2% of rated power, which
matches the measurements.
The contribution of low voltage cables, calculated according
to equation (4), has a value of QcabLV = 0,35 kVAcap when there
is no generation from power plant and value of QcabLV = 12,4
kVAind for maximum generating power of power plant.
The contribution of transformer is calculated from equation
(5) and is Qind_tr = 1,5 kVAr when there is no generation from
power plant and Qind_tr = 51,4 kVAr for maximum power.
The contribution from compensation units calculated from
(6) has a value of Qcap_bat = 59,8 kVAr.
The contribution of medium voltage cables, calculated
according to equation (4), has a value of QcabMV = 23,6 kVAcap
when there is no generation from power plant and value of
QcabMV = 23,4 kVAcap for maximum generating power.
Considering the fact that total reactive power is capacitive,
when this plant was commissioned, it was decided to
permanently disconnect compensation batteries for
transformer inductive losses compensation. Taking this into
account, according to calculation assessment of reactive power
(at rated voltage), it is changing from circa 40 kVAr
capacitive, during night, to circa 40 kVA inductive, for
maximum power plant generation power.
C. Construction of operation chart in P-Q diagram
Operation chart, constructed from values (curves) calculated
as described in chapter V., according to equations given in
chapter III., is shown on Figure 4.
By comparison of calculated and measured values (Figures
4 and 3) similarity can be noticed, but when trajectory made
from measurement values is overlapped on theoretically
constructed operation chart, certain mismatch could have been
be seen between measured and calculated values. This
mismatch can be caused by less accurate measurement
(measurements are taken via protection core of current
transformer), but this can not be asserted without additional
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
kW kVAr
0
-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Fig. 4. Constructed power plant operation chart in P-Q diagram
based on calculations.
measurements. Also, data gathered by measurement were 10-
minute average power values, and not current values.
It must be noted that possible operation situations of
disconnection of part of power plant (at one of the switching
devices which can be seen on principal diagram on Figure 1)
were not considered. In such case there would be a change in
predicted reactive powers and there will be sure deviation
from operation chart developed by described procedure.
VII. CONCLUSION
If we look at particular type of distributed source, solar
photovoltaic power plant comprised of multiple inverter units
and connected to medium voltage grid, as at one „generator“
connected to grid at point of connection, „operation chart“
shows all possible operation points in P-Q diagram.
With certain neglections (loss of active power on power
plant elements, own consumption of power plant and
possibility of partial disconnection internally are not
considered), which all can be taken to similar more developed
model, procedure is suggested for construction of operation
chart of such plant and is verified on real case study plant.
REFERENCES
[1] Decisions on approval of the status of privileged electrical energy
producers, web page of Croatian energetic regulatory agency (HERA),
(http://www.hera.hr/hrvatski/html/rjesenja.html, August 2014)
[2] Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship:’’Electrical grid
code’’ (NN36/06), Zagreb, April 2006.
[3] Photovoltaic power plant Kanfanar electrotechnical design for
construction, volume no. IZV-15-2011, San Polo d.o.o., Rovinj, 2012.
[4] PVP Kanfanar, Preliminary electrical consent no. 401102-100287-0011;
HEP-ODS d.o.o. Elektroistra Pula, Rovinj, 2011.
[5] "Capacitive Leakage Currents - Information on the Design of
Transformerless Inverters", technical information paper, SMA Solar
Technology AG
[6] F. Bernath.: Power factor compensation of photovoltaic power plants,
Energyspectrum – International e-Journal, 2011.
[7] "Plan and program for testing of parallel operation of Photovoltaic
power plant Kanfanar with distribution network during test operation
period“, Telenerg d.o.o, Zagreb, March 2012.
[8] R.Goic, J. Krstulovic Opara, I. Penovic, D. Jakus, I. Zlatunic: Large
photovoltaic plant connection to distribution grid, CIRED, Umag, 2010.