A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters

In large PV plants, a large number of PV inverters are linked together at grid-side to generate more power. However, as the number of PV inverter modules increases, the ground current problem worsens. This can result in a ground current fault, and cause the inverter failed and disconnected from the...

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Main Authors: Wenping Zhang, Donghui Li, Yiming Wang, Po Xu, Baosong Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Energy Research
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2025.1582264/full
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author Wenping Zhang
Wenping Zhang
Donghui Li
Yiming Wang
Po Xu
Baosong Liu
author_facet Wenping Zhang
Wenping Zhang
Donghui Li
Yiming Wang
Po Xu
Baosong Liu
author_sort Wenping Zhang
collection DOAJ
description In large PV plants, a large number of PV inverters are linked together at grid-side to generate more power. However, as the number of PV inverter modules increases, the ground current problem worsens. This can result in a ground current fault, and cause the inverter failed and disconnected from the grid. In this paper, the solutions, including hardware and software, are proposed to suppress the ground current. The hardware solution is to connect filter capacitors back to the DC-bus, directing more ground current to the inverter rather than the grid to reduce the ground current. Additionally, the software solutions, including carrier phase shifting and carrier frequency shifting, are proposed. In the software solutions, the ground current for PV inverters can be cancelled each other, which can alleviate the ground current problem. In the paper, the system architecture is presented first. The concept of connecting the neutral point of the filter capacitors to the DC-bus midpoint is explained. The zero-sequence mathematical model is then built. Moreover, the effect of the zero-sequence voltages of the DC/AC converter and the grid on the zero-sequence current is investigated. Then, the hardware solution is explained. The control architecture is presented, followed by an explanation of how to obtain the three-phase output voltage and zero-sequence components for PV inverters. Two software solutions, including carrier phase shifting and carrier frequency shifting, are detailed. Finally, the experiment is conducted to verify the theory.
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spelling doaj-art-c28166da25574fa7855156330d36afbb2025-08-20T02:29:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2025-04-011310.3389/fenrg.2025.15822641582264A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) invertersWenping Zhang0Wenping Zhang1Donghui Li2Yiming Wang3Po Xu4Baosong Liu5School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center, Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd., Ningbo, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center, Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd., Ningbo, ChinaResearch Center, Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd., Ningbo, ChinaResearch Center, Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd., Ningbo, ChinaIn large PV plants, a large number of PV inverters are linked together at grid-side to generate more power. However, as the number of PV inverter modules increases, the ground current problem worsens. This can result in a ground current fault, and cause the inverter failed and disconnected from the grid. In this paper, the solutions, including hardware and software, are proposed to suppress the ground current. The hardware solution is to connect filter capacitors back to the DC-bus, directing more ground current to the inverter rather than the grid to reduce the ground current. Additionally, the software solutions, including carrier phase shifting and carrier frequency shifting, are proposed. In the software solutions, the ground current for PV inverters can be cancelled each other, which can alleviate the ground current problem. In the paper, the system architecture is presented first. The concept of connecting the neutral point of the filter capacitors to the DC-bus midpoint is explained. The zero-sequence mathematical model is then built. Moreover, the effect of the zero-sequence voltages of the DC/AC converter and the grid on the zero-sequence current is investigated. Then, the hardware solution is explained. The control architecture is presented, followed by an explanation of how to obtain the three-phase output voltage and zero-sequence components for PV inverters. Two software solutions, including carrier phase shifting and carrier frequency shifting, are detailed. Finally, the experiment is conducted to verify the theory.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2025.1582264/fullPV invertersground current suppressionzero-sequencecarrier phase shiftinggrid-connected
spellingShingle Wenping Zhang
Wenping Zhang
Donghui Li
Yiming Wang
Po Xu
Baosong Liu
A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters
Frontiers in Energy Research
PV inverters
ground current suppression
zero-sequence
carrier phase shifting
grid-connected
title A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters
title_full A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters
title_fullStr A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters
title_full_unstemmed A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters
title_short A ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic (PV) inverters
title_sort ground current suppression method for systems with a large number of photovoltaic pv inverters
topic PV inverters
ground current suppression
zero-sequence
carrier phase shifting
grid-connected
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2025.1582264/full
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