Active Power Decoupling for Single-Phase Grid-Connected PV System using a Ripple Port

The paper presents a novel approach for low-order harmonic power mitigation in a single-phase, three-level DC/AC inverter. Traditionally, a bulk electrolytic capacitor is used at the DC bus to eliminate the low-frequency ripple. However, owing to the low-frequency components and large capacitor, this technique is not a practical solution. A new active filtering technique using a ripple port without an external circuit or additional switching power devices is proposed. The new technique harnesses the superior features of switched-capacitor circuits to create a topology with a multiport structure. As a result, a small DC-link capacitor can be applied by controlling the modulating reference waveforms between the different ports of the inverter. Additionally, the use of fast wide bandgap devices will allow for smaller passive components, and with high operating temperatures, the heat sink size can be greatly reduced. The theoretical analysis of the ripple reduction technique is explained in detail. The prototype was built in a laboratory, and experimental results are provided.