Title:	Performance Analysis of Power Optimizers by Indoor Lab Testing and Shading Simulation
Author(s):	C. Allenspach, F. Carigiet, A. Bänziger, A. Schneider, F.P. Baumgartner
Keywords:	Performance, Efficiency, Power Optimizer, MLPE, Module-Level Power Electronics
Topic:	Photovoltaic Modules and BoS Components
Subtopic:	Balance of System Components
Event:	8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
Session:	3DV.1.40
Pages:	851 - 858
ISBN:	3-936338-86-8
Paper DOI:	10.4229/WCPEC-82022-3DV.1.40
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	paper, poster

Abstract/Summary:

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Photovoltaic systems, which are partially shaded, operate with non-uniform conditions within their module array. Power losses are the consequence in conventional systems as they cannot track each photovoltaic modules in their highest individual maximum power point. In contrast, module-level power electronics can potentially improve the performance of shaded systems, while the increase compared to standard string inverter systems is sitespecific. To investigate this, power optimizer and string inverter efficiency measurements were conducted in the ZHAW indoor laboratory. The results were integrated in simulations, with which a module-level power electronics system with power optimizers at every module, and a standard string inverter system was analysed. In detail, the P370 power optimizer and 3500H inverter was used for the power optimizer system and for the standard string inverter setup, the string inverter SUN2000- 3.68KTL-L1, was chosen. The results of the annual simulations with partial shading by a chimney showed a gain of the MLPE system between -0.2% and 0.8% (13-modules), depending on the position of the shading object. Furthermore, the shading adaption efficiency is described, which is a method of quantifying the annual performance for shading situations with weightings to few indoor measured power electronic component efficiencies.