Dynamic Model Validation of PV Inverters under Short-Circuit Conditions

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) modules have dramatically decreased in price in the past few years, spurring the expansion of PV deployment. Residential and commercial rooftop installations are connected to the distribution network; largescale installation PV power plants have benefited from tax incentives and the low cost of PV modules. As the penetration of PV generation increases, the impact on power system reliability will also be greater. Utility power system planners must consider the role of PV generation in power systems more realistically by representing PV generation in dynamic stability analyses. Dynamic models of PV inverters have been developed in the positive sequence representation. We developed a PV inverter dynamic model in PSCAD /EMTDC. This paper validates the dynamic model with an actual hardware bench test conducted by Southern California Edison's Distributed Energy Resources laboratory. All the fault combinations, symmetrical and unsymmetrical, were performed in the laboratory. We compared the simulation results with the bench test results.