Quasi-Z-Source Inverter-Based Photovoltaic Power System Modeling for Grid Stability Studies

Abstract

Quasi-Z-source inverters (qZSIs) are becoming a powerful power conversion technology in photovoltaic (PV) power systems because they allow energy power conversion in a single stage operation. However, they can cause system resonances and reduce system damping, which may lead to instabilities. These stability problems are well known in grid-connected voltage source converter systems but not in quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI)-based PV power systems. This paper contributes with Matlab/Simulink and PSCAD/EMTDC models of qZSI-based PV power systems to analyze transient interactions and stability problems. These models consider all power circuits and control blocks of qZSI-based PV power systems and can be used in sensitivity studies on the influence of system parameters on stability. PV power system stability is assessed from the proposed models. The causes of instabilities are analyzed from numerical simulations and possible solutions are proposed.