© 2018 IJRAR July 2018, Volume 5, Issue 3 www.ijrar.

org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138)

MATLAB/SIMULINK MODEL OF TWO-STAGE,

GRID CONNECTED 50kW SOLAR SYSTEM
1
Usha Sharma, 2Vikramaditya Dave
1, 2
Department of Electrical Engineering
1, 2
College of Technology and Engineering, MPUAT, Udaipur, India
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Abstract: Renewable energy sources, principally solar energy is the clean, green, and most abundant energy source in the world. This
paper presents a step by step Simulation modeling of a two stage grid connected solar system with associated controllers. Single stage
system consists of photovoltaic (PV) array, inverter and utility grid. Two-stage system consist of PV array, inverter and utility grid
with the boost and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller to extract maximum power from the solar system, hence more
efficient as compared to single stage system. The proposed system consist of a PV array for converting solar energy into electricity ,
boost converter with MPPT controller to step-up the output voltage of PV array, three phase voltage source inverter (VSI) for
conversion of DC voltage into AC voltage and utility grid of 25kV. The proposed model is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink
R2017a. Finally the Simulation result shows the effectiveness of the proposed system.

Index Terms - Photovoltaic, Maximum power point tracking (MPPT), Voltage source inverter (VSI), Boost converter, grid.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I. INTRODUCTION
The decrease of greenhouse gas emission can be polished by shifting towards the non conventional energy sources such as solar and
wind energy system. Among all the renewable sources solar energy is most promising, widely available and pollution free. Now, days
PV power supplied to the electric grid is gaining progressively visibility due to many governmental encouragement. The development
and growth of grid-connected system is demanding improved evaluation of the performance of the system under fault conditions, as
well as power quality. There are lot of power energy converter topologies are available such as two-stage (DC-DC-AC), single-stage
(DC-AC), with transformer, without transformer and others [10]. Two-stage conversion system usually has two high frequency
switching stages. The first stage of the system is a DC-DC converter regulating the input voltage to another level. The second stage,
inverter-stage converts DC into AC.
Stand-alone PV system uses photovoltaic array with DC batteries to store its solar energy providing a complete self-contained
solar power system. However, this type of solar system works fine providing there is enough solar radiation during the day to recharge
the batteries for use during the night. Stand alone solar systems are self contained fixed or portable solar PV systems that are not
connected to any local utility or electrical grid as they are generally used in remote and rural areas. Different from stand-alone PV
system, grid connected PV system are connected to and feed generated electricity into utility grid [13]. Grid connected PV system,
also known as a “grid-tied”, or “on-grid” solar system. PV array can sometimes produce more electricity than is actually needed or
consumed, this extra or surplus electricity is either stored in batteries or as in most grid connected PV systems, fed directly back into
the utility grid. In grid connected PV systems, electricity flows back-and-forth to and from the mains grid according to sunlight
conditions and the actual electrical demand at that time.
This paper shows the step by step simulation modeling of two-stage, grid connected solar system. Fig. 1 represents a block
diagram of a basic scheme of a grid-connected PV system. PV is used to convert solar energy into electricity. A Maximum Power
Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm provides the maximum power point for the operation of the solar system, which is achieved using
the Perturb and Observe algorithm. Additionally, a DC-DC boost converter ensures that the output voltage will always be greater than
the grid peak voltage. Moreover, a DC-AC inverter and a current control unit provide an AC voltage that meets the grid requirements
for connection and synchronization [2].
Boost converter Inverter
PV array Grid
(DC to DC) (DC to AC)

Duty ratio Duty ratio

MPPT control
(Perturb and Current control
Observe)

Fig 1. Basic scheme of grid connected solar system

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II. COMPONENTS OF SOLAR SYSTEM

Grid connected solar system consist of a PV array, Boost converter, MPPT controller, Inverter with current control unit,
transmission line, utility grid and load.

2.1 Modeling of PV array

The PV module is machinery used for conversion of solar energy into electricity. In other words, when a PV module is exposed to
solar irradiation, it generates direct current without any harmful effect on the environment. PV modules contain series and/or parallel
connections of PV cells. PV modules can be connected in series and/or in parallel, forming photovoltaic arrays. The studied model
consists of 165 modules with a total power capacity of 50 kW (33 parallel strings of 5 PV modules in series) [5]. Fig 2 shows the PV
module subsystem. A mathematical model of PV array including fundamental components as current source IL (light-generated
current), diode, series resistance Rs, and shunt resistance Rsh to represent the irradiance- and temperature-dependent I-V
characteristics of the modules is modeled with Tags in Simulink environment. . The parameters are given under Standard Test
Conditions (STC) with module temperature of 298 K (25 ºC) and irradiance of 1000 W/m2. Table I shows the electrical characteristic
of PV module named SunPower SPR-305E-WHT-D [11-12].

Fig 2. PV module subsystem

Table I - Electrical data of PV module
Maximum Power (Pm) 305.226W
Short-circuit current (Isc) 5.96A
Open-circuit voltage (Voc) 64.2V
Voltage at maximum power point (Vmp) 54.7V

Current at Maximum power point (Imp) 5.58A

Temperature coefficient of Isc (Ki) -0.27269 %/ºC
Temperature coefficient of Voc (Kv) 0.001745 %/ºC

2.2 Modeling Boost converter with MPPT

To connect solar system to the utility grid we have to increase the magnitude of the output voltage. Which can be done with the
use of a DC-DC converter, here we use Boost converter to increase the level of source voltage to higher levels. Fig 3 shoes the
Simulink model of boost converter. Converter consists of an input dc voltage source, controlled switch (IGBT), diode, inductor coil,
filter capacitor C1 and C2. When the switch is ON, the current in the inductor increases linearly and the diode is in OFF state .When
the switch is OFF the energy stored in the inductor will be released through diode to the RC circuit. The output voltage is directly
proportional to the duty ratio of the converter.

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Fig 3. Boost converter subsystem

The V-I characteristics of PV module is non-linear, therefore PV system needs to calculate maximum power point in order to
transport maximum power under the varying environmental conditions. Fig 4 shoes the MPPT control scheme for controlling the
output voltage level of the PV array by adjusting the duty ratio of the boost converter. There are different techniques to calculate the
maximum power point from the PV Array’s output, here we uses the perturb and observation algorithm to calculate the maximum
power point [6-7].

Fig 4. Flow chart of Perturb and Observe algorithm

The most favored method is P&O algorithm because of its simplicity and ease of its implementation. In this method the
perturbation is in the operating voltage of the PV array. As the algorithm of P&O cannot compare the array terminal voltage with
the actual maximum power point voltage so the change in power will be considered as a result of perturbation of array terminal
voltage. The output from this method has some oscillations which can be reduced by minimizing the size of perturbation. The
flow chart for P&O has been shown in Fig. 5 in which the change in the terminal voltage of the PV array is responsible for the
change in the duty cycle. The P&O algorithm operates periodically by increase or decrease of the PV array voltage or current by
comparing the output power P(k+1) with the previous value of power P(k). If the perturbation in the terminal voltage leads to
increase in power then (dp/dv=0) then perturbation must be kept in the same direction or else it should be moved in the opposite
direction. This cycle of perturbation must be repeated till the maximum power is reached.

2.3 Modeling of Inverter with current control unit

A significant part of a grid connected PV system is the inverter and its control unit for grid synchronization. The control unit
includes a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) controller, which is used for the synchronization of the PV system with the grid. Fig 5 shows the
Simulink subsystem of inverter with current control loop for grid synchronization. It consists of a three-level power inverter that
consists of three arms of power switching devices. Each arm consists of four switching devices along with their antiparallel diodes
and two neutral clamping diodes [8].

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Fig 5. Inverter with current control subsystem

The current controller of the inverter consists of PLL, Vdc regulator, current regulator, reference generator and Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM) generator. Vdc regulator measures DC voltage and compare it to the reference voltage. PLL control unit convert
grid voltage and current from abc to dq reference frame by using Park's transformation. The grid voltage is uncontrollable, the most
effective way of controlling the operation of the system is by controlling direct current (Id) and quadrature current (Iq) that are
flowing to the grid. As active power is dependent on the current Id, so to inject real power to the grid, Id must be set to zero. Current
controller consist of integral controller used to set Id = 0, thus reactive power injection to the grid set to zero. The output of current
controller is fed into the switching pulses through PWM generator to generate the gate pulses of inverter.

III. MATLAB/SIMULINK MODEL OF GRID CONNECTED SYSTEM

Fig 6 shows the simulation model of two-stage, grid connected PV system. Here the PV array delivers output power as per the
standard test conditions with module temperature of 298 K (25 ºC) and irradiance of 1000 W/m2. The boost converter is used to step-up
the PV voltage from 260 to 500V. The duty cycle of the boost converter is controlled by MPPT controller. Inverter converts 500V DC
into AC voltage. To compensate the harmonics produced by inverter, 10kvar capacitor banks are used. A 100kVA three phase
transformer is used to connect the solar system to 25kV utility grid.

Fig 6. Simulink model of two-stage three phase grid connected 50kW

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IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Fig 7 to 13 shows all the experimental results of the proposed system, starting with the output power of the PV array which is 50kW
followed by the output voltage (250V) and current (191A) of the PV array, switching pulse of Boost converter and output voltage
(500V) of boost converter, inverter switching pulses and output of inverter which is grid compatible and last the filtered waveform of
the three phase voltage supplied to the utility grid.

Fig 10. Waveform of output voltage of Boost converter

Fig 7. Waveform of output power of PV array

Fig 8. Waveform of output voltage of PV array Fig 11. Waveform of switching pulses for inverter

Fig 8. Waveform of output current of PV array Fig 12. Waveform of output voltage of inverter

Fig 9. Waveform of switching pulse of boost converter

Fig 13. Waveform of three phase voltage of grid

V. CONCLUSION
This paper presents the model of two-stage, grid connected PV system. A practical case developed in MATLAB/SIMULINK
R2017a environment. The 50kW system consist of a PV array, Boost converter, Voltage Source Inverter, Utility grid and two
controllers, first MPPT controller by using Perturb and Observe algorithm and second, Current controller of inverter. The proposed
control strategy provides the maximum power transfer capability and grid synchronization capability. Experimental result confirms
the effectiveness of the each stage of the proposed system.

VI. REFRENCES
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[10] S., G. M., Cavalcanti, M. C., S., F. A., Limongi, L. R., & Oliveira, K. C. 2010. Grid connected photovoltaic topologies with
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