1632
4, APRIL 2013
A New DC Anti-Islanding Technique of Electrolytic
Capacitor-Less Photovoltaic Interface in DC
Distribution Systems
Gab-Su Seo, Student Member, IEEE, Kyu-Chan Lee, Student Member, IEEE, and Bo-Hyung Cho, Fellow, IEEE
AbstractThis paper proposes a photovoltaic (PV) generation
system interfaced with a dc distribution system. DC interface
allows for the improvement of system efficiency by fully utiliz-
ing dc-based renewable sources and storage devices. In this paper,
issues on PV interface for dc distribution systems are discussed
for energy-efficient and reliable system implementation. AC and
dc PV interfaces are mathematically analyzed. In dc distribution,
eliminating electrolytic capacitors in PV interfaces improves sys-
tem reliability, increases system efficiency, and reduces cost. In
addition, this paper proposes a new anti-islanding technique for
dc distribution as a system protection scheme. The operating prin-
ciple is presented in detail and analysis shows that the proposed
injected current perturbation technique is an effective solution for
anti-islanding operation. A prototype converter features a simple
structure with no electrolytic capacitor, which ensures a longer
lifetime of the PV power circuit. Experimental results of the proto-
type circuit show a maximum efficiency of 98.1% and a European
efficiency of 97.5%. The proposed anti-islanding technique shows
fast response to the islanding condition in less than 0.2 s. It also
shows that the average maximum power point tracking efficiency
is 99.9% in normal conditions, which verifies the performance of
the proposed scheme.
Index TermsAnti-islanding, building integrated photovoltaic
(BIPV), dc distribution, islanding, photovoltaic (PV).
I. INTRODUCTION
HE penetration rate of distributed generation (DG) has
T rapidly increased as their feasibility and reliability improve
through technology advances, and as environmental issues and
sustainable developments have become a major concern [1]. In
this trend, the research on optimization of the traditional power
system by utilizing state-of-the-art power electronics is widely
expanding [2]. Among the efforts, dc application approaches,
such as dc distribution systems, are especially promising for the
use of renewable power sources and dc loads. DC interface can
Manuscript received March 31, 2012; accepted June 24, 2012. Date of current
version October 26, 2012. This work was supported by the New and Renewable
Energy Program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and
Planning funded by the Korea Government Ministry of Knowledge Economy
under Grant 20104010100490. Recommended for publication by Associate
Editor S. Valkealahti.
G.-S. Seo and B.-H. Cho are with the School of Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea (e-mail:
gabzzu@snu.ac.kr; bhcho@snu.ac.kr).
K.-C. Lee is with the Interpower Company, Ltd., Seoul 151-869, Korea
(e-mail: kyuchan6@empas.com).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this paper are available online
at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TPEL.2012.2208226
0885-8993/$31.00 2012 IEEE
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 28, NO.
be much more energy efficient than ac because power generated
from dc sources, such as photovoltaics (PVs), can be directly
supplied to the loads, which allows for a reduction of conversion
loss by eliminating dc-ac and ac-dc conversion stages [3].
DC interface systems have been applied in data centers, such
that ac-dc and dc-ac conversions required for traditional uninter-
ruptible power supplies can be completely eliminated [4][6].
An analytical evaluation of a variety of data center system archi-
tectures is presented in [4], where the feasibility of a 400-VDC
distribution system is discussed. In view of system realization,
design and control issues, such as operation modes and transi-
tion conditions, are discussed for data center applications in [6].
System performance of dc systems is maximized when the
system components, such as dispersed generation sources, stor-
age devices, and loads, are efficiently configured and managed,
as shown in numerous studies related to system configuration
and control schemes [7][11]. Low-voltage bipolar-type dc mi-
crogrid for a residential complex is proposed in [7]. Each house
can share its generated power with others within the dc system.
Minimization of the energy exchanged with the ac utility, using
a super capacitor as a storage device, enables the system energy
efficiency to be optimized. Issues related to current-controlled
bidirectional inverters are discussed in [8], where cost effective
approaches are presented for system realization. In addition,
several control methods are presented in [9][11] for dc system
operation.
Research on dc system feasibility evaluation has also been
widely conducted [12][15]. Loss comparison of dc distribution
with conventional ac is made based on the system component
models in [12] and [13], where an ac and dc hybrid system
is also considered. In [14], availability evaluation of dc micro-
grids is presented considering the system configurations and
power converter topologies. Economic feasibility considering
replacement and installation cost is discussed in [15]. Based on
previous research, it is clear that a dc distribution system is an
effective solution considering the increasing use of renewable
sources and storage devices with dc preferred loads.
This paper focuses on a PV generation system interfaced with
dc distribution. The penetration rate has dramatically increased
due to its attractive features, e.g., ease of installation, and static
operation [16]. In conventional applications, PV generation sys-
tem is interfaced with the ac utility. Generated energy must be
converted to ac, which causes inefficacy of energy generation
and usage. When PV generation is interfaced with dc distribu-
tion, the energy efficiency can be improved because redundant
conversion is eliminated [17][20]. In addition, system lifetime
SEO et al.: NEW DC ANTI-ISLANDING TECHNIQUE OF ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR-LESS PHOTOVOLTAIC INTERFACE 1633

issues can be improved by utilizing the advantages of dc dis-

tribution. Module-integrated solutions, which address mismatch
issues, typically utilize an electrolytic capacitor. The electrolytic
capacitor is employed to block the alternate current fluctuation
on the PV side from the ac system; however, it is also the main
cause of power circuit failure [21]. In a dc distribution system,
the decoupling capacitor is not necessary because there are no
ac fluctuations. Thus, the short lifetime electrolytic capacitors
can be eliminated, extending the PV generation system lifetime
toward PV panel lifetime of 25 years.
For system protection, there are many implementation chal-
lenges [22], [23]. In PV applications, anti-islanding technology
is a key requirement for human safety and equipment protec-
tion. This paper proposes a new anti-islanding technique for
dc-interfaced PV generation systems. The solution detects the
island and disconnects the PV system from dc distribution in
0.2 s. Depending on the system configuration and operation
principle, the technique can be utilized not only for system pro-
tection but also as a system control signal for operation mode
change.
In Section II, PV generation system structures are reviewed Fig. 1. PV generation system configurations in ac distribution: (a) centralized,
for system cost, efficiency, and reliability. In Section III, the (b) string, (c) ac module.
analysis of PV voltage variation in an ac- and dc-interfaced PV
generation system is presented and the feasibility of electrolytic
Another solution is to have individual modules controlled by
capacitor-less converter implementation in dc distribution is ver-
their own conditioners, as shown in Fig. 1(c). Harvest energy
ified. In Section IV, islanding operation is discussed and a new
can be maximized and safety issues can be eliminated by at-
dc anti-islanding technique is proposed. In Section V, a dc PV
taching the conditioner at the back of the module such that users
interface is designed for building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV)
are not exposed to high dc voltage and installation becomes
modules and the prototype PV converter is implemented. Ex-
easier [28]. By applying the ac module concept, harvest effi-
perimental results of the prototype PV converter are shown to
ciency can be kept high even in mismatch conditions. However,
verify the feasibility of this study. In Section VI, the conclusion
its relatively high cost and low efficiency compared to the cen-
is presented.
tralized structure have been obstacles for its wide application.
II. PV GENERATION IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS In addition, the lifetime issue caused by the use of electrolytic
capacitors for ac decoupling is also a drawback for this ap-
Although PV panel cost has been continuously declining as a
proach [25]. Because the module-integrated inverter is installed
result of PV technology advances, it is still relatively expensive
on the back of the PV module frame, the power circuit must
compared to conventional energy sources. In many countries,
sustain harsh conditions and high temperature. The lifetime of
the installation of PV generation systems is driven by govern-
electrolytic capacitors, which is much shorter than that of other
ment grant and it is still an efficiency driven market due to the
components and heavily depends on operating temperature, be-
high cost. Therefore, efficiency and cost are the most important
comes the main obstacle to extending the lifetime of PV module
driving factors in the PV market [24], [25].
generation systems [29], [30].
The centralized inverter architecture has been widely em-
In this paper, a dc PV generation interface based on dc dis-
ployed due to its high efficiency and low cost. Because one
tribution is proposed as a compensatory solution to ac module
integrated inverter controls a group of PV modules in the cen-
concept. Retaining the advantages of the ac module concept, dc-
tralized structure, as shown in Fig. 1(a), the efficiency of the PV
interfaced PV generation systems have lower cost and higher
power circuit is relatively high and the cost per watt is reduced
power conversion efficiency due to lower part count and less
due to its high power capacity. However, mismatch between
conversion stages from source to load. In addition, reliability is-
panels caused by partial shading and panel characteristic differ-
sues are addressed by eliminating the short lifetime electrolytic
ences makes it difficult to achieve individual maximum power
capacitors in the PV power circuit.
point tracking (MPPT) for each PV module [26].
String and multistring structures have been used for improved
harvest efficiency. In the string structure, energy lost due to mis- III. ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR-LESS PV INTERFACE
WITH DC DISTRIBUTION
match is reduced by conditioning a single string of PV modules
as shown in Fig. 1(b). However, the structure is not suitable Figs. 2 and 3 show the schematic of ac and dc distribution
for applications such as residential rooftop or BIPV generation systems, respectively. Renewable sources, storage devices, and
system due to the partial shading problem and safety issues of loads that are connected through their own ac-dc interfaces in
high voltage wiring [27]. the ac distribution system are directly connected to the dc link in
1634 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 28, NO. 4, APRIL 2013

Fig. 2. Schematic of ac distribution with renewable generations and storage devices.

Fig. 3. Schematic of dc distribution with renewable generations and storage devices.

the dc distribution system. An integrated ac-dc converter, shown

in Fig. 3, controls the dc-link voltage and balances the power
flow with the ac utility.
In the ac module concept, a PV converter enacts MPPT and
output commutation current control. Because the output current
must be injected to the ac utility in a sinusoidal manner, as
shown in Fig. 4, large decoupling capacitors are required to keep
PV operation near its maximum power point (MPP) regardless
of the sinusoidal alternate current. Electrolytic capacitors have
been widely used for decoupling due to their high energy density
and relatively low cost. Due to the short lifetime of electrolytic Fig. 4. Flyback-type PV inverter with a thyristor unfolding stage.
capacitors, research focusing on increasing system lifetime is
being widely investigated [28].
operation. Electrolytic capacitors are located between the PV
module and converter to decouple ac fluctuations. Average PV
A. AC Utility Interactive PV System
module output power and instantaneous output power trans-
Fig. 4 shows a conventional ac line interactive PV inverter, ferred to the ac utility are expressed as
flyback-type converter followed by a thyristor unfolding stage,
which is widely used for its low component count and ease of Ppv = Vpv Ipv (1)
SEO et al.: NEW DC ANTI-ISLANDING TECHNIQUE OF ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR-LESS PHOTOVOLTAIC INTERFACE
Fig. 5. PV voltage variation in dc distribution. (a) Equivalent circuit model.
(b) Voltage and current waveforms.
and
Pac (t) = Ppv (1 cos(2grid t))
where Ppv , Vpv , Ipv , and grid are the average power, voltage,
and current of PV module, and grid angular frequency, respec-
tively. Based on (1) and (2), voltage ripple at the PV side is
Ipv
vpv =
2grid Cdc
where vpv and Cdc are the operating voltage variation of PV
module and PV dc-link capacitance, respectively.
If the PV voltage variation tolerance is chosen as 2% to en-
sure high harvest efficiency, a minimum capacitance of 10 mF
is required for a 60-Hz ac utility, 35-V MPP voltage, 200-W
PV module application. The electrolytic capacitors relatively
short lifetime, usually several thousand hours, is a limiting fac-
tor for product lifetime guarantees. Capacitor size reduction or
elimination techniques using additional circuitries have been
explored to tackle the issue [31].
B. DC Distribution Interactive PV Generation System
In dc distribution systems, an electrolytic capacitor-less PV
interface can be implemented to improve lifetime of PV power
circuits. The dc-link voltage is tightly regulated such that there
are no ac fluctuations in the dc distribution system. Thus, elec-
trolytic capacitors can be replaced with film capacitors, extend-
ing product lifetime for electric devices, such as PV interface
or LED driver circuits. The lifetime of film capacitors is about
ten thousands hours, which is an order of magnitude longer than
electrolytic capacitor lifetimes [32].
Fig. 5(a) shows an equivalent circuit model of a PV module
connected to a boost converter with a parallel capacitance. The
PV is modeled as a constant current source and the boost con-
verter is shown as a current load which is shown in Fig. 5(b). It is
assumed that the boost converter employs boundary conduction
mode (BCM) for this analysis.
Considering the current through the capacitor Cdc , the voltage
variation at the PV module in dc distribution is
IL p
vpv =
8 Cdc fs
where IL p and fs are the peak inductor current and switching
frequency of boost converter, respectively. Voltage variation is
1635
proportional to current and reversely proportional to capacitance
Cdc and switching frequency fs . The relationship is similar
to that of the ac module in (3), but a much smaller current
and voltage variation occurs in a dc interface with the same
capacitance because the dc PV converter switching frequency
is in the range of tens of kilohertz, while the ac grid frequency
ranges from 50 to 60 Hz. A small capacitance of about 10 F
one thousandth of ac caseis enough to meet the required
2% voltage ripple on the same 35-V MPP voltage, 200-W PV
module application.
In short, utilizing the lack of ac fluctuations in dc distribution,
an electrolytic capacitor-less PV interface can be realized. DC
distribution not only enables efficiency improvement and cost
reduction, but also helps improve system reliability.
(2)
IV. NEW ANTI-ISLANDING TECHNIQUE FOR DC PV
GENERATION SYSTEM
Anti-islanding is a key requirement for PV conditioners in-
(3) terfaced with the ac utility to guarantee human safety and equip-
ment damage protection. A variety of anti-islanding technolo-
gies have been developed that utilize the amplitude of voltage,
frequency, phase, and harmonic characteristics [33]. DC distri-
bution systems also require anti-islanding technology. In this
section, a new anti-islanding technique is proposed for dc PV
generation system.
A. Need for Anti-Islanding Method in DC Distribution
The ac utility can be considered as an infinite source, which
means that it is not affected by other system components. There-
fore, subsystems can be independently designed and imple-
mented in ac distribution systems. However, it is more difficult
to design reliable systems in dc distribution because all system
components are directly connected to the dc link, which is easily
affected by their operation. In a conventional system, bidirec-
tional ac-dc converters are employed to tightly regulate the dc
distribution voltage. The ac-dc converter balances energy ex-
change with the ac utility and the system goes into island condi-
tion when the converter is disconnected from the utility [3]. With
the ac-dc converter disabled, the dc distribution voltage must be
regulated by another component or the system should be shut
down for safety. In this case, charging/discharging of storage
device can be enabled for dc-link voltage regulation. Using the
storage interface, system efficiency can be improved by reducing
the energy exchange with the ac utility. For effective dc system
operation, several schemes have been proposed [7], [11], [17].
The anti-islanding method may seem to not be required, given
the utilization of the ac-dc converter and energy buffer interface.
However, it is still required for system protection. The ac-dc
converter and energy buffer interface cannot perform properly
(4) in some conditions, such as when the devices are disconnected
from a dc distribution system or renewable sources are islanded
by an accident. Therefore, anti-islanding is essential in dc dis-
tribution systems for safety and protection.
1636
Fig. 6. DC system diagram with PV generation and line conditioner including protection devices.
Fig. 7. Equivalent circuits of normal and island conditions. (a) Normal con-
dition. (b) Island condition.
B. New DC Anti-Islanding Technique for
DC Distribution System
Because voltage is the only measurable parameter in dc distri-
bution system, while the frequency and phase can be measured
for ac systems, a new dc anti-islanding algorithm is required
to smoothly interconnect renewable sources to the dc distribu-
tion system. The system diagram including protection devices
is shown in Fig. 6, where a PV converter, ac-dc converter, and
equivalent resistance for the loads are connected to the dc link.
DC circuit breakers and dc relays are utilized for safety and pro-
tection. When the difference between generated and consumed
power is large enough to make the dc-link voltage reach the un-
der or upper limit of operating voltage, the islanding condition
can be easily detected. This is considered a passive method, like
the over under voltage method in ac systems. However, based
on the IEEE Standard 9292000, the hardest islanding condi-
tion to detect is when the difference is near to zero because
the dc-link voltage does not change quickly. Thus, an effective
anti-islanding method should be able to detect the island in this
worst case.
In this paper, the proposed anti-islanding algorithm is
equipped with passive and active detection methods imple-
mented in software. With the proposed injected current pertur-
bation technique, the algorithm can detect the island condition
within 0.2 s while maintaining high PV MPPT efficiency.
For the analysis of islanding condition in dc distribution sys-
tems, equivalent circuits of normal and island conditions are
shown in Fig. 7(a) and (b), respectively. The PV converter is
modeled as a current source with an output capacitor Co , loads
are modeled as an equivalent resistor, and the dc link is shown
as a constant voltage source. The proposed anti-islanding al-
gorithm is based on injected current perturbation. By causing
a current imbalance for a short time at a scheduled frequency
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 28, NO. 4, APRIL 2013
fp , as shown in Fig. 8, island conditions can be detected. In
normal operation, ac-dc power converter is operating and the
dc-link voltage is not affected by the current injection. How-
ever, without the dc-link regulation, the voltage is affected by
the perturbation. If the fluctuation caused by injected current
perturbation exceeds a set threshold value, algorithm increases
the amount of perturbation as shown in Fig. 8, which creates
positive feedback. The voltage change caused by the current
imbalance is accelerated and the island is quickly detected by
under voltage protection. The performance of the algorithm is
determined by the perturbation factor k, perturbation frequency
fp , and perturbation duration Tp . In addition, the effect of the
algorithm on MPPT efficiency in normal operation should be
considered.
Based on the equivalent circuit in Fig. 7, mathematical analy-
sis is carried out. In the analysis, it is assumed that the resistor is
exactly matched to the injected current before the perturbation,
and injected current id is considered a constant current source,
which means that switching ripple in PV converter output cur-
rent is ignored. After islanding, the dc-link voltage is expressed
as
 
dvdc (t) 1 1
= k Id vdc (t) (5)
dt Co Ro
where vdc (t), Co , Id , and Ro , are dc-link voltage, PV converter
output capacitance, average current from PV converter to output
capacitor, and equivalent resistance of the load, respectively. The
solution of (5) can be expressed as
vdc (t) = k Id Ro + [(Vdc k Id Ro )e1/(R o C o )t ] (6)
where Vdc is the initial voltage right before islanding occurs.
Nominal distribution voltage is assumed to be 380 V.
Based on (6), the voltage drop curves as a function of time
with different perturbation factor k values are shown in Fig. 9
and the circuit parameters are shown in Table I. As the factor
k decreases, the detection time decreases. However, a smaller
k creates larger perturbations on the PV input side, which is
closely related to MPPT efficiency and the required PV out-
put capacitance. Because large perturbations can affect the PV
operating point and reduce MPPT efficiency, proper perturba-
tion factor must be determined. The perturbation frequency
fp exhibits a tradeoff between detection time and MPPT ef-
ficiency. Thus, perturbation duration Tp should be determined
SEO et al.: NEW DC ANTI-ISLANDING TECHNIQUE OF ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR-LESS PHOTOVOLTAIC INTERFACE
Fig. 8. Key waveforms of the proposed dc anti-islanding algorithm.
Fig. 9. DC-link voltage drop curves with different k values.
TABLE I
SPECIFICATIONS OF A PROTOTYPE PV CONVERTER
considering dc-link voltage condition such as dc-link voltage
ripple and voltage dynamics in normal operation.
V. PV CONVERTER IMPLEMENTATION AND
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
A. PV Interface Design and Experimental Setup
To verify the proposed dc PV interface and dc anti-islanding
technique, a 380-V dc distribution system in an office building
with a 50-kW ac-dc converter and a 40-kWh battery storage
was considered. A variety of LED lights and office appliances,
such as personal computers, are powered by the dc distribution
1637
Fig. 10. BIPV module (SPECTRA-100T).
system. The building is also equipped with a 23.1-kW PV gen-
eration system consisting of 210 BIPV modules to implement
the energy efficient dc distribution system. The PV modules are
connected to the dc link through their PV converters in parallel.
The BIPV module is an attractive candidate for DG with dc
distribution systems due to its feasibility as a building material,
which helps to reduce installation cost [27]. In addition, the rel-
atively high MPP voltage, higher than 100 V, helps achieve high
efficiency using simple transformer-less converters.
The SPECTRA-100T BIPV module was used for the PV gen-
eration system. The BIPV modules were installed on a building
in Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, for the dc distri-
bution system realization. The photograph and specifications
of the BIPV module used are shown in Fig. 10 and Table II,
respectively.
The boost converter was operated in BCM for the high-
efficiency BIPV interface. BCM operation improves efficiency
by not only achieving zero voltage switching of the active switch
S, but also achieving zero current switching of the passive switch
1638
TABLE II
SPECIFICATIONS OF A BIPV MODULE
D [34]. The diagram of the BCM boost converter and functional
blocks of the digital signal processor are shown in Fig. 11.
The power stage parameters such as boost inductance L and
PV output capacitance Cdc of the PV converter are specified
in Table I, which were determined based on the electrical char-
acteristics of the BIPV module, converter operating conditions,
and analysis results shown in (4). Long lifetime film 10 F ca-
pacitors were used in place of electrolytic capacitors in the PV
circuit. The designed prototype PV converter shown in Fig. 12
was implemented using 56F8006, a low-cost digital signal pro-
cessor manufactured by Freescale Semiconductor. A dc relay
circuit and power line communication module are included for
anti-islanding operation and PV generation information trans-
mission to monitoring systems.
A solar array simulator (SAS) manufactured by AMETEK,
which simulates electric characteristics of PV modules, was
employed to evaluate the performance of the PV converter. Us-
ing the embedded computerized program, MPPT efficiency and
power conversion efficiency were tested over the full range of
operating conditions.
B. Experimental Results of Electrolytic Capacitor-less
DC PV Interface
Fig. 13 shows the operation waveforms of the prototype con-
verter at full irradiation conditions (1000 W/m2 ), where the con-
verter is operated in BCM at about 65 kHz. Fig. 14 shows the
converter operation at 20% irradiation (200 W/m2 ), in which
the converter operates in valley skipping mode, where the first
valley is skipped to reduce switching loss. Fig. 15 shows the
operation waveforms at 5% irradiation (50 W/m2 ), where the
converter operates in low-frequency discontinuous conduction
mode (DCM) for switching loss and operating power reduction.
The switching frequency is controlled at 25 kHz to keep the
voltage variation within the required range and avoid audible
noise. Fig. 16 shows a capture image of the SAS embedded
software where the SPECTRA-100T BIPV module is simulated
at the irradiation of 1000 W/m2 . The converter operates the PV
module near the MPP with harvest efficiency higher than 99.9%
from the PV panel. The experimental results verify the analysis
and feasibility of the proposed dc PV interface.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 28, NO. 4, APRIL 2013
C. Experimental Results of the New Anti-islanding Algorithm
The proposed dc anti-islanding algorithm was implemented
for the prototype dc PV converter shown in Fig. 12. To detect the
island within 0.2 s, the perturbation frequency fp is determined
as 6 Hz (0.167 s). Perturbation duration Tp of 8 ms is determined
from the dc-link voltage variation and MPPT efficiency. The
factor k starts from 0.9 and it continuously decreases by 0.1
until under voltage protection detects island operation or it is
reset to 0.9 once it is determined that the dc-link voltage is
tightly regulated, indicating normal operation.
A compensation technique is employed right after the injected
current perturbation, as shown in Fig. 8, to balance the average
output current, and maintain high MPPT efficiency. Fig. 17
shows the voltage estimation curve in island operation with the
proposed algorithm. The island is detected within 15 ms of the
perturbation.
To verify the proposed algorithm, the prototype converter
is constructed with a dc relay. The dc relay, FTR-J2AK012W,
shown in Fig. 12, is manufactured by Fujitsu Components for
dc distribution systems. The relay can interrupt direct current
up to 10 A at 450 VDC within 15 ms.
Figs. 1820 show the experimental results of the prototype
PV converter with the proposed algorithm. In Fig. 18, it is clear
that the island is detected within 15 ms after the injected current
perturbation. The perturbation factor k is decreased three times
from 0.9 to 0.6, accelerating the voltage drop and resulting in
faster detection response. In addition, a 12-ms delay for the dc
relay to completely turn-off is observed. Finally, the algorithm
guarantees island detection in less than 0.2 s in total: 0.167 s
between current perturbations, 0.015 s to detect islanding, and
0.015 s to turn off the dc relay. Fig. 19 shows normal operation
waveforms of the PV converter. It is clear that the injected cur-
rent perturbation occurs every 0.167 s and additional current for
PV current compensation is drawn right after the perturbation to
improve MPPT efficiency. Fig. 20 shows recovery operation. As
the dc-link voltage returns to its normal range, the PV converter
delivers the generated power to the distribution line after
reconnection.
Fig. 21 shows the MPPT efficiency measured by the PV sim-
ulator during normal operation for 100 s. The average MPPT
efficiency is 99.9%, unaffected by the current perturbation
technique. This verifies the performance of the proposed dc
anti-islanding method. Fig. 22 shows the prototype converter
efficiency over the full operating range. The efficiency was
measured based on the European efficiency expressed as
Euro = 0.035% + 0.0610% + 0.1320% + 0.130%
+ 0.4850% + 0.2100% . (7)
The prototype PV converter shows a maximum efficiency of
98.1% and European efficiency of 97.5%, which verifies the
performance of the dc distribution system and proposed dc PV
interface. The light-load efficiency is maintained higher than
93.0%, even at 5% load condition, by utilizing valley skipping
and DCM operation that reduce switching loss and operating
power consumption.
SEO et al.: NEW DC ANTI-ISLANDING TECHNIQUE OF ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR-LESS PHOTOVOLTAIC INTERFACE 1639

Fig. 11. Diagram of the proposed BCM boost power converter for dc PV interface with a digital signal processor.

Fig. 12. Prototype dc PV power circuit.

Fig. 15. Operation waveforms of the prototype converter at 5% irradiation.

Fig. 13. Operation waveforms of the prototype converter at full irradiation.

Fig. 16. Capture image of SAS software with SPECTRA-100T simulated at

1000 W/m2 irradiation.

Fig. 14. Operation waveforms of the prototype converter at 20% irradiation.

1640 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, VOL. 28, NO. 4, APRIL 2013

Fig. 17. Voltage estimation curve of the detection algorithm. Fig. 21. MPPT efficiency during normal operation for 100 s.

Fig. 18. Islanding detection waveforms of the prototype converter.

Fig. 22. Efficiency of the prototype PV converter over the full operating range.

VI. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a new PV interface concept for dc distribution
has been proposed. Utilizing the dc distribution system, elec-
trolytic capacitors can be replaced with film capacitors at the
PV dc link, which extends PV product lifetime. Also, dc dis-
tribution systems achieve high efficiency with simple dc power
converters by eliminating the ac-dc interface.
Islanding detection is a key requirement for dc distribution
systems to ensure safety and protection. A new anti-islanding
algorithm has been proposed for dc systems. Based on math-
ematical analysis, the algorithm perturbation factor, duration,
Fig. 19. Normal operation waveforms of the prototype converter. and frequency parameters can be designed to guarantee detec-
tion time and maintain high MPPT efficiency.
A prototype converter for BIPV modules was implemented
with a digital signal processor. Its experimental results have
verified the feasibility of the converter showing a maximum ef-
ficiency of 98.1% and European efficiency of 97.5%. This study
should be helpful to implement high efficiency and long lifetime
guaranteed PV interface converters without electrolytic capaci-
tors. In addition, the experimental results have showed that the
proposed dc anti-islanding algorithm detects the island condi-
tion within 0.2 s, as estimated from the analysis. The algorithm
minimally affects the MPPT efficiency, whose average is 99.9%
in the experiment.

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Fig. 20. Recovery operation waveforms of the prototype converter.
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Gab-Su Seo (S10) received the B.S. degree from
Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea, in
2008, and the M.S. degree in electrical engineer-
ing from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea,
in 2010, where he is currently working toward the
Ph.D. degree.
His research interests include design, analysis, and
control of photovoltaic power conditioning systems,
DC distribution systems, integrated resonant convert-
ers, and low profile power supplies.
Kyu-Chan Lee (S97) was born in Seoul, Korea, in
1964. He received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees
in electrical engineering from Seoul National Univer-
sity, Seoul, in 1987, 1989, and 2001, respectively.
From 1989 to 1999, he was a Research Engineer
with Hyosung Industries Company, Ltd., Seoul, de-
veloping and designing power electronics systems
such as high-power converter and inverter systems.
Since 2000, he has been a Chief Executive Officer
at Interpower Company, Ltd., Seoul. His research in-
terests include developing and designing converter
topologies and control methods for dc distribution systems, photovoltaic con-
verter, and electronic ballast for metal halide discharge lamps.
Bo-Hyung Cho (M89SM95F11) received the
B.S. and M.S. degrees from the California Insti-
tute of Technology, Pasadena, and the Ph.D. degree
from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Uni-
versity (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, all in electrical
engineering.
Prior to his research at Virginia Tech, he was a
member of the Technical Staff with the Department
of Power Conversion Electronics, TRW Defense and
Space System Group. From 1982 to 1995, he was a
Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineer-
ing, Virginia Tech. In 1995, he joined the School of Electrical Engineering,
Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, where he is currently a Professor.
His current research interests include power electronics, modeling, analysis,
and control of spacecraft power processing equipment, and distributed power
systems.
Dr. Cho is a recipient of the 1989 Presidential Young Investigator Award from
the National Science Foundation. He chaired the 2006 IEEE Power Electronics
Specialists Conference. He is a Member of Tau Beta Pi.