Voltage Detection-Based Selective Harmonic Current Compensation Strategies for Photovoltaic Inverters

Voltage and current detection-based harmonic current compensation (VDB-HCC and CDB-HCC, respectively) strategies allow the use of photovoltaic (PV) inverters to enhance the grid power quality. CDB-HCC strategies require converter hardware retrofit by inserting an extra current sensor to measure load or downstream grid currents. On the other hand, VDB-HCC strategies are straightforward solutions employing only embedded measurements used for protection, control, and synchronization purposes. This paper provides a comprehensive comparison of three VDB-HCC strategies: VDB-HCC based on a single current loop (SCL); VDB-HCC based on dual parallel current control loops (DCL); and VDB-HCC based on parallel voltage and current control loops (VCL). The comparison includes the requirement of harmonic detection algorithms, PV array maximum power point tracking (MPPT) performance, stability over grid impedance variations and inverter power rating, steady-state harmonic compensation, enabling transient response, and computational burden. Experimental results using a 1.5-kW commercial PV inverter are conducted. Based on distributed HCC applications by PV systems, VCL has shown the best performance in terms of voltage distortion reduction under weak grids.