Design of a Three-Phase Multiport DC–AC Inverter for PV and Energy Storage System Grid Interfacing
EEE • Major
Distributed renewable energy sources combined with hybrid energy storage systems can effectively smooth power output and provide essential ancillary services to the electrical grid. Conventional implementations rely on multiple independent DC–DC and DC–AC converters arranged in complex and costly architectures. This article introduces a new nonisolated multiport DC–AC power inverter that significantly reduces the number of passive components and high-frequency switching devices. The proposed grid-connected multiport converter (MPC) enables integrated power management of a photovoltaic (PV) array, a battery unit, a supercapacitor bank, and an electric vehicle battery. The power stage is derived from an enhanced split-source inverter topology, supporting bidirectional power flow and allowing direct connection of the PV source to the DC link. A dedicated control strategy is also developed to perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) without requiring an additional converter, regulate the power flow at each port independently, and manage energy exchange among the ports. An experimental prototype of the MPC inverter has been built, and its performance has been validated under multiple power-flow scenarios.
Key Highlights
Focus Area: Power Converters