A novel model predictive control for single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic inverters

Single-phase grid-connected inverters with LCL filter are widely used to connect photovoltaic systems to the utility grid. Among the existing control schemes, predictive control methods are faster and more accurate but also more complicated to implement. Recently, the Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm for single-phase inverter has been presented, where the algorithm implementation is straightforward. In the MPC approach, all switching states are considered in each switching period to achieve the control objectives. However, since the number of switching states in single-phase inverters is small, the inverter output current has a high Total Harmonic Distortions (THD). In order to reduce this, this paper presents an improved MPC for single-phase grid-connected inverters. In the proposed approach, the switching algorithm is changed and the number of the switching states is increased by means of virtual vectors. Simulation results show that the proposed approach lead to a lower THD in the injected current combined with fast dynamics. The proposed predictive control has been simulated and implemented on a 1 kW single-phase HERIC (highly efficient and reliable inverter concept) inverter with an LCL filter at the output.