A Hardware Implementation of a Phase Shift Control for the Power Flow Control of a Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaics

The main objective of this research is to examine and evaluate the impact of phase control on a grid-connected solar PV inverter. To achieve this, phase control is implemented using a phase-shifting circuit and a zero-cross detector circuit integrated with Arduino. By maintaining a constant voltage value, the phase difference between the inverter voltage and the grid is manipulated, and its effect on the power flow from the solar PV system is analyzed. The experimental setup involves a 100 Wp solar PV capacity. The test results demonstrate that phase control significantly influences reactive power flow rather than active power. As a result, this approach presents an alternative solution for utilizing an inverter as a Var-support inverter. By employing phase control techniques, it becomes possible to regulate and optimize the reactive power flow from the solar PV system, which can contribute to enhancing the overall performance and stability of the grid-connected system.