Extending the life of single phase grid connected micro-inverter based on the specific mission profile WAJAHAT

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING DNA TECHNOLOGY,

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

PROJECT TITLE Extending the life of single phase grid connected

micro-inverter based on the specific mission
profile.

DEPARTMENT AND Electrical energy system engineering, us-

SPECIALIZTAION Pakistan Centre for advanced study in energy,
UET Peshawar.

STUDENT NAME WAJAHAT ULLAH

REGISTRATION NO

RESEARCH SUPERVISOR Dr. AFFAQ QAMAR

CO-SUPERVISOR (IF ANY)

Extending the life of single phase grid connected micro-inverter based on the specific mission profile WAJAHAT
COURSES STUDIED
S. NO. COURSE NO. AND TITLE GRADE
1. Power System Transmission and Distribution A-
2. Distributed Generation A
3. Power System Stability A
4. Power System Operation and Control A-
5. Photovoltaic Generation A
6. Renewable Energy Generation and Sources C+
7. Research Methodology
8. MOTI
9. Power System Modeling and Fault Analysis
C.GPA 3.67

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 Extending the life of single phase grid connected micro-inverter based on the specific mission profile
WAJAHAT
1. INTRODUCTION

Due to the immense growth of energy consumption in all top-tiers and low-tiers fields of
life, the conventional power generation resources are not capable to fulfill the load demand,
to fulfill the load demand; renewable energy resources are overtaking the conventional
energy resources. Among all the renewable energy resources, photovoltaic technology is
one of the fastest trends all over the world due to its unlimited availability and low operational
cost. Unlike conventional power generators, photovoltaic generators produce DC power
which is unable to entertain AC load, but this problem has been rectified by Power electronic
inverters which convert DC into AC. Inverters are classified as
 String inverters
 Central inverters
 Micro-inverters
Many of the photovoltaic generation plants are still using string inverters as it is a mature
technology, however, most of the solar plants are switching towards micro-inverters due to
the following reasons
 Plug and play operation
 Small size and low installation cost
 Better performance in shading
 The power plant can be easily extended
However, since the micro-inverters are costly as compared to the string inverters so it is
expected that the life of micro-inverters should be as high as the life of solar module.
According to [1], the life of the solar module is about 20-25 years, but the micro-inverter
has to be replaced after every 5-10 years, this short life span of micro-inverters have
compelled the researchers to somehow improve the reliability of micro-inverters to boost the
life of the device under consideration so that it might be adopted as one of the mature
technology.

2. The research problem

Micro-inverters technology is one of the emerging trends in photovoltaic industry due to the
mentioned advantages; however the main problem of micro-inverter is its very short life span
as compared to the life of solar module. The very short life span of micro-inverter is due to
the following reasons

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 Extending the life of single phase grid connected micro-inverter based on the specific mission profile
WAJAHAT
• The micro-inverters are always placed on the backside of solar module, hence it is very
exposed to solar irradiance and temperature of the sun, and this causes stress on the different
components of the micro-inverters which significantly affects the life of micro-inverters.
• Switching losses in the transistors of micro-inverters create electrical losses in the
micro-inverters; these electrical stresses extirpate the life of micro-inverters.
• The conduction losses in the micro-inverters also cause a prolific decrease in the life of
micro-inverters.
The above constraints can’t be eliminated, however, it can be controlled. If these constraints
are not properly handled for a large photovoltaic plant, the overall installation cost and
maintenance cost of the plant increase, hence the system becomes uneconomical.
.
3. The objectives of the study

If the conduction losses, thermal stresses, and electrical stresses have not been properly
controlled, the life of micro-inverters will be compromised, hence following are the core
objectives of my research topic
• In depth analysis and identification of those components of single phase grid connected
micro-inverter which is severely affected by thermal and electrical losses, causing overall
damage of micro - inverters.
• In depth examination of power losses in the identified component of micro-inverter and
finding a real approach to extend the life and reliability of micro-inverters.
• A special study on type of decoupling capacitor to be used as the decoupling capacitor
is always the first candidate for thermal and electrical stresses, therefore using a proper
decoupling capacitor can provide bonus life to micro-inverters.

4. CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE & STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

4.1 Contribution for community
The micro inverter technology is not a highly demanding technology around the world in
photovoltaic generation community as compared to the string inverters because of the high
cost and less life span of the micro inverters however this research work focuses on the
reliability issue and life extension of the micro inverters hence this research work will help

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 Extending the life of single phase grid connected micro-inverter based on the specific mission profile
WAJAHAT
to increase the demand of micro inverters around the word for photovoltaic generation
community

4.2 Contribution for industry

Different researchers around the world are working on different issues of the inverters and
solar modules regarding efficiency, reliability and harmonic mitigation etc., every
researcher is sharing his contribution in photovoltaic technology and thus trying to make
the photovoltaic industry as one of the most prominent industry to over attack the
conventional generation. My research work will add a good contribution to the micro
inverter market in term of reliability and will make the inverters industry more attractive
and more demanding.
5. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
Research study will flow in the following way
Since my research study is based on specific mission profile, hence I will collect
mission profile data of a specific area and based on that data I will calculate
• Thermal stresses and electrical stresses using thermal and electrical models for
decoupling capacitor, diodes of micro-inverter and switching transistors of the same
micro-inverter.
• The thermal and electrical stresses will be used to estimate the life of each
component of a micro - inverter and in the same study, the annual accumulative damage
of the components will be studied using models.
• Since the mission profile is constantly changing, which leads to lifetime model
parameter variations, so I will use Monte Carlo simulation to account for the
uncertainties due to life time model parameters? Similarly, manufacturing process
variations also lead to uncertainties, these uncertainties due to manufacturing process
variations are also handled with the Monte Carlo simulation approach.
It is of foremost importance to mention that my research study is totally based on
theoretical and simulation environment.

6. BUDGET AND FEASIBILITY

Estimated cost of this Research work is approximately 30000/-
SCHEDULE
01 Jan, 2019
a. Proposed starting date
01 July, 2019
b. Expected date of completion

c. Are facilities available for the Yes

work?

Include a plan of expected progress in Gantt chart form. A sample is provided below:

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 Extending the life of single phase grid connected micro-inverter based on the specific mission profile
WAJAHAT
Activity 2019
January February March April May June July August

Literature
Review
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Thesis Write
up
Submission

7. CONCLUSION
After introducing the importance of the micro-inverters and stating the problem associated
with the emerging micro-inverter technology we come to simple conclusions as stated below
“If the life and reliability of micro-inverter have been enhanced, it will be the next
pedigree of the future photovoltaic industry”
“If the reliability and life related issues are properly taken down, the micro-inverter
technology will not only rise to the peak in term of maturity, but it will also be a
paradigm for the future photovoltaic power generation”.

REFERENCES
[1] M. A. Maehlum, “The Real Lifespan of Solar Panels,”available
online [2017], http://energyinformative.org/lifespan-solar-panels/.

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