Leakage Current Reduction in Single-Phase Grid-Connected Inverters—A Review

Abstract

The rise in renewable energy has increased the use of DC/AC converters, which transform the direct current to alternating current. These devices, generally called inverters, are mainly used as an interface between clean energy and the grid. It is estimated that 21% of the global electricity generation capacity from renewable sources is supplied by photovoltaic systems. In these systems, a transformer to ensure grid isolation is used. Nevertheless, the transformer makes the system expensive, heavy, bulky and reduces its efficiency. Therefore, transformerless schemes are used to eliminate the mentioned disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks of transformerless topologies is the presence of a leakage current between the physical earth of the grid and the parasitic capacitances of the photovoltaic module terminals. The leakage current depends on the value of the parasitic capacitances of the panel and the common-mode voltage. At the same time, the common-mode voltage depends on the modulation strategy used. Therefore, by the manipulation of the modulation technique, is accomplished a decrease in the leakage current. However, the connection standards for photovoltaic inverters establish a maximum total harmonic distortion of 5%. In this paper an analysis of the common-mode voltage and its influence on the value of the leakage current is described. The main topologies and strategies used to reduce the leakage current in transformerless schemes are summarized, highlighting advantages and disadvantages and establishing points of comparison with similar topologies. A comparative table with the most important aspects of each converter is shown based on number of components, modes of operation, type of modulation strategy used, and the leakage current value obtained. It is important to mention that analyzed topologies present a variation of the leakage current between 0 to 180 mA. Finally, the trends, problems, and researches on transformerless grid-connected PV systems are discussed.