A brief analysis of the performance of photovoltaic inverters

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An inverter, also known as a power regulator or power controller, is an essential component of photovoltaic systems. Generally, the physical process of converting direct current electricity into alternating current electricity is called inversion, and the device that carries out this inversion process is referred to as an inversion device or inverter. The name of the inverter comes from this. The main function of a photovoltaic inverter is to convert the direct current generated by solar panels into alternating current that can be used by household appliances. The inverter is the heart of a photovoltaic system; all the electricity generated by solar panels must pass through the inverter before it can be supplied externally. The inverter plays a crucial role in the operation of the entire system. Below, we will explain why inverters are so remarkable. The maximum power tracking function ensures that the output power is maximized. The current and voltage of solar panels change depending on the intensity of solar radiation and the temperature of the solar cells themselves; as a result, the output power also varies. To ensure maximum output power, it is necessary to achieve the highest possible output power from the panels. The MPPT tracking function of the inverter is designed to address this characteristic. MPPT tracking, also known as maximum power point tracking, estimates that systems equipped with MPPT tracking can generate 50% more electricity than those without it. Therefore, if you want a photovoltaic system to generate more electricity, you shouldn’t focus only on the solar panels; what really determines how much of the electricity produced by those panels can be effectively delivered is the inverter. The function of preventing operation in isolation helps to ensure the safety of the power grid. Many people install photovoltaic systems with the idea that they will still have electricity at home even if the power grid goes down; however, they don’t realize that their photovoltaic system will also stop functioning when the power grid is offline. The reason for this phenomenon is that inverters are generally equipped with islanding prevention devices nowadays; when the grid voltage is 0, the inverter stops operating. Hearing this, doesn’t it give you a feeling of being scammed? Don’t worry; let the editor explain it to you. An islanding prevention device is a necessary component in all grid-connected photovoltaic inverters. This measure is taken primarily for the safety of the power grid. Imagine that there is a power outage, and utility workers are already working to repair the circuits, while your photovoltaic system continues to supply electricity… That could easily lead to safety accidents, right? If you really want to have electricity at home even when the power grid is down, you might consider installing a photovoltaic off-grid system; this way, the electricity generated by the solar panels is stored, and can be used whenever needed. Based on the output power of the solar panels, they operate and shut down automatically. After sunrise in the morning, the intensity of solar radiation increases, and accordingly the output of the solar panels rises as well. Once the output power required for the inverter to function is reached, the inverter starts operating automatically. Once it is in operation, the inverter continuously monitors the output of the solar cell modules. As long as the output power of these modules is greater than the power required for the inverter to function, the inverter will continue to operate ； It operates until shutdown at sunset, and the inverter can still function even on rainy days. When the output of the solar cell module decreases and the inverter’s output approaches 0, the inverter enters standby mode. What has been introduced above are only some of the basic properties of inverters. Inverters are an important and complex component in photovoltaic systems; a reliable photovoltaic system requires a reliable inverter. Original title: Introduction to Inverters