Filter optimization of Si and SiC semiconductor-based H5 and Conergy-NPC transformerless PV inverters

Single-phase transformerless Photovoltaic (PV) inverters are synthesized by combining available solutions in terms of the power section topology, power semiconductors manufacturing technology and structure of the output filter. A design method is presented in this paper for optimizing the power semiconductors type (Si- or SiC-based), switching frequency and output filter (LCL- or LLCL-type) employed in H5 and Conergy-NPC PV inverters, considering the simultaneous impact of the factors affecting the PV energy processing performance and PV inverter cost. According to the design results, the optimized SiC-based PV inverters will inject more energy into the electric grid, compared to the Si-based structures and enable the reduction of the output filter size, weight and cost. Employing an LLCL-type output filter and simultaneously reducing the cost of SiC power semiconductors to the level of their Si-based counterparts will enhance the economic superiority of the resulting optimized H5 and Conergy-NPC PV inverters with respect to the cost of the electricity they generate.