Highly Efficient Constant Power Generation Using

Solar Tree
Siddhesh Sawant1*, Subhash Bane2*, Sourabh Bhokare3*, Prayag Bute4*, Kiran Gosavi5*, Akshay Gawade6*

(SSPM College of Engineering, University of Mumbai)

(siddhupsawant@gmail.com,subhash23bane@gmail.com,sourabhbhokare@gmail.com,butepr7369@gmail.com,kiran.gosavi225@gmail.com,akshaygawade@gmail.com)

Abstract- In the solar system which is connected to the grid; it is done by the master switch of the active snubber cell. A
essential to select reliable and efficient solar converter and converter proposed is able to work at higher frequencies with
inverter with higher efficiency. The electrical converter ought to
management the injecting power to the inverter and the inverter soft switching. All the semiconductor devices in this converter
ought to be in the position to control the injecting power to the are also operate with the soft switching. Across the master and
grid. This paper discusses an efficient concept of solar power auxiliary components the additional voltage stress is zero.
generation called as Solar Tree and also the ZVT-ZCT-PWM
In a PV system, inverters are needed to transfer
boost converter topology and HERIC inverter topology for
highly efficient system. Also we have done a simulation for this power DC to AC. The first inverters used are motor generator
system which has desirable results. sets which were very expensive, heavy in weight and
KEYWORDS- PV system, Solar Tree, ZVT-ZCT-PWM boost inefficient. Currently, modern inverters used which has solid-
converter, HERIC inverter.
state designs as well as microprocessor control to produce
highly efficient AC power. Earlier H-bridge inverters, two
INTRODUCTION
level inverters etc. were used. But the efficiency of these
Solar energy availability is in very high amount and inverters is very less up to 50%, harmonics produce at large
also it is the clean source of the non-conventional energy. amount, low output voltage and voltage regulation is not
Solar emission is converted in solar photovoltaic and many adjustable. Hence to remove such disadvantages, new
other parameters like solar architecture, solar thermal, etc. topologies and reviews were introduced in the concept of
Solar tree is a man-made tree which generating electricity by inverters. By introducing such topologies the voltage
arranging photo-voltaic cells in a special style in the place of regulation, output voltage and efficiency can improve. There
tree's leaves [1-2]. This man-made tree generates greater are basic two type of inverters are - 1) Single phase inverters
energy than a regular arrangement of solar panels over a 2) Three phase inverters. Out of which we use single phase
distance. Without compromising efficiency in generation, this inverters because we have to generate power for residential
new technology of electricity generation can be implemented purpose. Whereas for large power usages and also for
in village regions with the same cost as the cost of the solar industrial purpose three phase inverters are used.
energy generation using conventional method. For the
The Hardware schematic and complete controlling
implementation of regular solar system a large land area is
system of the two-stage single phase grid-connected PV
needed, to fulfill the demand of solar energy. Hence, to avert
system design is such that the system will become efficient.
such a difficulty, an effective way is to install a solar tree in
very small space. The countries having large population as
well as less space for efficient energy production like India,
the sun power is the most advantageous. Therefore the best
option is solar tree for energy generation.
In two stage systems, the power generation using the
photovoltaic (PV) system is very low. So, we have to boost up
that voltage which can be done by using the dc-dc boost
converters. The regularly used DC-DC boost converter has
high switching losses, high power ripples and it also has
electromagnetic interference (EMI), so the decrease in the
converter efficiency takes place. This work gives a latest step
up converter with snubber cell. Turn on with zero voltage
transition and switch off with the zero current transition is Figure 1 - Hardware implementation for constant power generation
SOLAR TREE-
Photo-voltaic cells have been organized in Fibonacci
series in the replacement of tree's leaves which looks as a
man-made tree called as solar tree. The power generation by
this artificial tree is much more than solar cells arranged in an
array. Solar Tree is made with metal parts or a strong skeleton
of died tree so that by arranging solar panels it will seem like
a real tree, where solar panels are the leaves of solar tree.
Solar power is captured by PV cell and it converts this light
energy directly into electricity and stores it in batteries for
charging of mobile phones, laptops, tablets and for many
applications based on DC supply. The solar tree seems fancy
and generates electrical energy. Numbers of panels are
organized in a long tower or pole like branches which
provides shape like real tree [3-4].
Figure 2 - Solar Tree Model

In nature, by Photosynthesis trees generate their own

food using sun power and human society directly or indirectly
depend on them to fulfill our food demand. In the same way,
the solar panels which are nothing but leaves of solar tree
collect the solar power and transform directly into the
electricity. Hence to accomplish the energy requirement of
human society is dependent of solar tree [3]. Therefore it is
very correct and appropriate to call this new technology of
solar generation as solar tree. A solar tree is an economic
means of solar generation as compared to the conventional
technique which is very expensive. Hence an economic and
efficient generation of electricity is possible using the
technology of a solar tree.
In this project of highly efficient constant power
generation, the solar tree is generating the electricity in terms
of DC component in very efficient manner and it is provided
to DC to DC step up converter for further process to use this
power generation by keeping it constant. Hence we can supply
this generated power straightly to the grid by converting it
first into AC power using inverter.
The main intension to implementing this project is
that, every house and industry can be generate their own
electrical energy so that the load on non-renewable energy
sources will be reduced. As a result the conventional resources
will conserve. Also the energy utilization will be free from the
pollution. To show the demo of our project solar power
generation we have successfully implemented a model of the
solar tree as shown in figure below-
ZVT-ZCT-PWM BOOST CONVERTER-
As we know boost converter is essential to boost the
DC output obtained from PV panels. The soft switching
techniques can be amended the capability of a boost
converters. Interleaved converters experience the power loss
during the switching operations. Conventional ZVT-PWM
converters operate as; the master switch switches off with
ZVT and it switches on at zero voltage transition [5-6].
The main diode switches on-off with ZVS. Whereas
in conventional ZCT-PWM main switch get switches off with
ZCS and ZVS. The auxiliary switch gets switches on
approximately at zero current switching. There are
disadvantages of such converters as a current stress on master
switch voltage stress exerted on a main diode is high. Though
ZVT is commonly used technique, ZVT has several
disadvantages such as:
x Turn-on losses in capacitor at auxiliary switch,
x Master switch current stresses are higher,
x Also higher auxiliary switch voltage stresses,
x Operation can be done under limited voltage
converter ratio,
x Works with additional components count
To overcome these problems the ZVT-ZCT-PWM
boost converter is introduced. The ZVT-ZCT-PWM boost
converter is given in Figure 3. This combines ZCT and ZVT
methods. In case of these converters, the main switch gets turn
off and on at zero current and zero voltage respectively.
Whereas with the soft switching, the auxiliary switch gets turn
off and turn on [7-8].
 HERIC INVERTERS-

The boosted DC output of ZVT-ZCT-PWM step up

Figure 3 - Circuit of ZVT-ZCT-PWM boost converter
The ZVS condition is applied during switch on and
off of the main diode. In earlier topology of this converter as
the master switch works under ZVT and gets turn off with
ZCT, there are no extra current and voltage stresses in the
main diode and main switch. The magnetic coupling used in
this discussed converter is not good then the parasitic
oscillations as well as losses occur because of leakage
inductance. In the proposed converter active or live snubber
cell is used, which is responsible to solve maximum problems
of ZCT-PWM converters. In proposed converter main switch
gets switch on at ZVT and gets turn off under ZCT. Soft
switching is applied to all the semiconductor devices [9].
converter is to be converted into AC for further utilization.
For that it is mandatory to select inverter with proper ratings
and high efficiency. The transformerless PV system connected
to grid includes different topologies which improves the
performance of inverters. Out of which HERIC topology
(Highly efficient and Reliable Inverters Concept) is the best
option.
HERIC topology is the best topology as the system
efficiency is improved using the topology. The inverter output
can be controlled and provided to the grid or load efficiently
by designing the HERIC inverter. Hence to convert DC into
AC with higher efficiency HERIC inverter is very reliable [10,
11, 12].
The HERIC inverter is in Fig. 4, where the DC-link
capacitor is given by Cdc. L1,L2 are the filter inductance at grid
side and C0 is the filter capacitor. HERIC inverter has 2
additional switches at output side[14-15]. There two major
functions of additional switches:- isolation of the PV cell from
the grid and prevention of exchange of the reactive power
between the filter inductance and filter capacitors at the zero
voltage state, hence efficiency increases. Also the path of
leakage current is cut off.

Advantages of proposed converter:

x The switching power losses of main diode, auxiliary

switch and main switch are reduced in great manner
by means of snubber cell.
x There is little increase in the conduction losses
because of the fewer amounts of circulation losses
which only occurs in resonant period.
x The switch on and switch off operation of almost
semiconductor devices are with soft switching.
x No any additional voltage stress is applied on any
semiconductor devices.
x The main switch experienced the current stress which Figure 4 - HERIC Inverter
is at acceptable level. The main diode is not under
any current stress. The HERIC inverter topology has total four modes
x Soft switching conditions can be applicable at wide operation. Figure 5 shows that, in mode (i) switches S1, S4
load ranges. conduct along with switch S5. In Mode (ii) switch S5 along
x It can operate under very high frequencies with the with diode D6 are in conduction. In Mode (iii) switches S2, S3
less energy is circulated in it. conduct along with switch S6 and in Mode (iv) switch S6 and
diode D5 conduct. Table of above 4 mode of operation can be
given as follows [15-16] -
 Mode Half Conducting Vout freewheeling action take place through S6 and D5 as shown in
Period Devices mode 4. Negative vector is appear across Vg i.e. Vout=-Vin and
during freewheeling action zero vector is obtained.
Active Positive S1,S4, S5 Vin Parameters of HERIC Topology are as follows:-
Free Positive S5,D6 0
wheeling INVERTER VALUE
PARAMETERS
Active Negative S2, S3, S6 -Vin
Input voltage 350VDC
Free Negative D5,S6 0
Grid voltage/frequency 230V/50Hz
wheeling
Rated power 230V/50Hz

Table 1- Four-mode operation of HERIC Switching frequency 8kHz

DC bus capacitor 250 mF
During positive half cycle, known as active mode Filter capacitor 2 Mf
where conducting devices are S1 and S4 along with S5 are gone
in conduction. The current attends the path PV-S1-L1-L2-S4- Filter inductor 1.8mH
PV and freewheeling action take place through S5 and D6 as
shown in mode 2. Positive vector is appear across Vg i.e. Table 2 - Parameters of HERIC Topology
Vout=Vin and during freewheeling action zero vector is The efficiencies of HERIC inverter is 97.09%.
obtained.[13] HERIC inverter has less thermal stress. So we conclude that
HERIC is the best for INVERTERS which we are using in
this project.

CONTROL STRATEGY -

For firing technique of step up converter and inverter

we used Arduino microcontroller based programming. After
experiments, the results for boost converter and inverter are
given below.

(A)

(B)
Figure 5- Working of HERIC inverter
Figure 6- Experimental results for boost converter

During negative half cycle, conducting devices are For proper switching of the inverter the firing pulses
S2, S3 and S6 are gone in conduction as shown in mode 3. S6 is are given in diagram below.
in conduction to obtain the active or live vectors and the zero
vectors. The current follows the path PV-S3-L2-L1-S2-PV and
 We have completed a simulation for the proposed
two-stage single phase power generation which gives the
desirable results. The output is obtained as 230V AC and
input is taken 84V DC. Simulation diagram and the simulated
results are shown in this paper. The details of the simulation
are given as follows :

1. Input voltage : 84 V DC
2. Boost converter : ZVT-ZCT-PWM Boost Converter
3. Inverter : HERIC
4. Output : 230V AC

We have taken an input supply from solar tree as

84V DC. Using boost converter this voltage is made to boost
up upto 325V DC (i.e. to its max value). The inverter collects
boosted output to make it AC. The inverter output is 230V
AC(i.e. rms value).
Figure 7- Firing pulses for the inverter switches

Figure 8- Simulation diagram of discussed system.


Figure 9 - Output of HERIC Inverter
CONCLUSION
The new SOLAR technology introduced in this paper
is providing high efficiency. In the last 10 years many
research papers are published in this area to grow it up
rapidly. However, presently the research efforts are largely
focused on solar trees not only to make the solar power
generation efficient but also to fulfil the increasing energy
requirement of the whole world. This project is more
successful for economic power generation by saving land
area. So definitely we get continuous electricity supply
without any problem like power cut off.
In this paper we have discussed converter and
inverter topologies for proper choice of solar energy
conversion. We found that by using ZVT-ZCT-PWM step up
converter and HERIC inverter the energy transmission
efficiency can be increased up to 98% and 97% respectively.
We have mentioned the best topologies having higher
efficiency.
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