Modeling and Testing of a Grid-Tied Inverter Controller

Grid-tied inverters convert the direct current (DC) produced by renewable energy sources into alternating current (AC) suitable for connection to the electric utility grid. Engineers must design and implement a robust control system to ensure optimal performance and reliable operation of these inverters. In this video series, MathWorks and Speedgoat experts explain how to use Simulink®, Simscape Electrical™, and Speedgoat real target machines to model, simulate, and implement such a control system.

Design Considerations

The first video delves into the essential design considerations and workflow steps when developing a grid-tied solar inverter controller. These considerations include:

• Algorithm design
• Desktop simulation
• Control hardware selection
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Compliance evaluation against the grid code.

Understanding these considerations sets the foundation for designing a control system that meets regulatory requirements and ensures seamless grid integration.

Control Design Workflow

The second video outlines a comprehensive control design workflow tailored to grid-tied solar inverters. It introduces key components like the MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) algorithm, grid current control, and grid voltage control. The video emphasizes the importance of model-based design and demonstrates how Simulink can be used to create a virtual environment for testing and optimizing control algorithms.

Control Design Tasks

The third video delves deeper into the specific control design tasks of developing a grid-tied solar inverter controller. It covers topics such as model fidelity, designing the MPPT algorithm, and automatic tuning of PID gains.

Deploying a Control Algorithm

The fourth and final video focuses on the practical aspect of deploying a control algorithm onto a physical grid-tied solar inverter using Speedgoat hardware. It discusses considerations for real-time implementation, automatic code generation for C and HDL code, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, and deployment of the control algorithm to a microcontroller. This step ensures that the designed control system operates reliably in real-world scenarios and maximizes the efficiency of the solar inverter.

By following these steps, engineers can design and implement robust control systems for inverters that will ensure optimal performance and reliable operation over their entire lifespan.

Featured products

MathWorks® products

• MATLAB
• Simulink
• Simscape Electrical

Speedgoat products

• Speedgoat Target Computer

Learn more

If you would like to take your education to the next level, check out our Training Services. But if you don’t have time to learn, model, and implement a grid-tied inverter controller yourself, you should still be aware of world-changing trends. Reach out to our Consulting team, and get a ready-made solution perfectly customized for your project.