Teardown of a Solar PV Inverter

Which solar inverter is a teardown?

Teardown of a large solar inverter. The ABB TRIO 20 kW inverter is a three-phased inverter built around many TO-247 IGBT & Schottky diodes.

How does a solar inverter convert DC to AC?

The inverter's main function is to convert variable-voltage DC from sunlight on the PV panels or battery storage to a specific AC voltage and frequency for use by appliances and feedback to the grid. The AC output varies by region, with 60-Hz 115 VAC used in North America and 50-Hz 230 VAC in much of Europe. (Note: The passage originally mentioned 'sunlight on the PV panels or battery storage', which answers the question, but it was not at the beginning of the passage. I have rephrased the beginning to make it flow better with the question.)

How does a single-phase PV inverter work?

A typical single-phase Photovoltaic (PV) inverter, like the SMA board, uses a digital power controller, the DSP, and a pair of high-side/low-side gate drivers to drive a pulse-width modulated (PWM) full-bridge converter. This converts the variable DC voltage from the solar panels into a stable AC voltage suitable for the power grid.

How much AC power does a solar inverter produce?

The AC power produced by a solar inverter varies by region. In North America, the AC output is typically 60 Hz and 115 VAC, while in much of Europe it is 50 Hz and 230 VAC. Enter SMA Solar Technology AG, headquartered in Germany, with their "Sunny Boy" series of solar inverters.

What is the role of a capacitor in a PV inverter?

In a PV inverter, a capacitor is used to store the energy that must be stored and retrieved by the inverter. It is located on the PV bus and has to be large enough to control the voltage ripple across the bus. Failure to do so would negatively impact MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) accuracy.

How will PV power systems change the world?

As PV power systems become more widespread, they will significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. PV inverters will expand in functionality, and designers will demand more integrated, application-specific, component-level devices. These events unfold as PV power systems become a viable segment of the utility mainstream.